Escape the Grid: Solar-Powered Cabin Retreat Under the Stars

Five minutes from the village of Tamworth, this charming location has been a family retreat for 2 generations. The 19th century farmhouse has wooden beams and plank floors, standing amidst 100 acres of abundant nature. Much of what was once pasture is now 50 year-old pine forest with 7000 more planted in 2023. This is rustic. The house maintains a simple authenticity, with limited solar power. Cook on the covered kitchen deck. Come for peace and quiet. Turn off devices. Be at one with nature.

The space
Sitting by itself in a valley, the house is very private. Powered by solar panels there is electricity for lighting and device charging. Rain barrels provide water for the outdoor kitchen, wash basin and shower, and there is a well with a hand pump for additional water.

Kitchen: There is a BBQ and a propane camp stove for cooking on the outdoor kitchen deck. Stocked with pots, pans, plates, cups, cutlery etc, all you need to bring are your own coolers for food storage. Dine by the fire pit, in the mosquito tent, inside or ‘al fresco’.

Living Room: Couches provide perfect shady reading nooks on hot summer days, while the wood stove is available for use on cooler nights.

Bedrooms; With the new extension there are 3 bedrooms each with queen beds, and the loft has a combination of 2 doubles and 4 single beds, making the farmhouse perfect for family gatherings. Accessed by a steep staircase, the loft is not suitable for those with mobility challenges, but young folks will love it.

Outside: A mosquito tent covers the outdoor picnic table to keep the bugs at bay. The firepit by the house can be used unless there is a fire ban in dry periods (which unfortunately are common in summer).

Bathrooms: There is an indoor washing room with a waterless toilet (mostly for peeing at night) and the airy composting outhouse – “loo with a view” – with a southside vantage.

Note: There is no WiFi onsite, but cell reception is getting more and more reliable. It may fade in and out, but you can make calls and texts.

Activities: There is a walking trail down to the river, a hammock for relaxing afternoons overlooking the valley. There’s endless bird watching and listening, or take a picnic to hang out with the baby trees, sit and meditate at the top of the hill, bike along the country roads, bring books to read, board games to play or simply enjoy the location.

There are local lakes 15 minutes drive away (Fifth Depot Lake up Mountain Road and Beaver Lake in Erinsville) - perfect for canoeing, kayaking or swimming. Day trips to Bon Echo and Frontenac Parks are 1 hour away.

The small village of Tamworth is 5 minutes away and has a number of shops: an excellent used bookstore, art gallery, hardware, pharmacy, grocery store, honey shop, LCBO liquor store, diner and cafés. If you run out of any supplies, they are not far away. The area has weekly open air markets and events scheduled on various days, in different locations. Check for local listings.

In the region
Kingston or Napanee are less than 1 hour away if you are staying for longer and want to explore further. And beyond that, Prince Edward County and the 1000 Islands. To the north is Bon Echo Provincial Park. There are plenty of back roads and lakes to explore. Centennial Park on Varty Lake is not too far away and has a dock for swimming.
There is also a small park at Beaver Lake in Erinsville.


Getting around
Walk the property, bring your bike to explore the local country roads, immerse yourselves in nature and enjoy all things rural.

Guest access
You will have access to all areas. Cooking is done out on the screened kitchen deck and dining can be in the mosquito tent or inside the main room. The living rooms and 3 main bedrooms are on the ground floor. The upstairs loft has 6 beds in an open space, accessed by a steep staircase (not suitable for those with mobility challenges). The wood stove in the main living room can be used for the cooler nights of late summer and fall.

Other things to note
The location is very private, being in an isolated valley. Although we are close to neighbours and only a 5 minute drive to the village of Tamworth, you will feel far removed in nature.

Recent improvements include the renovated extension with 2 bedrooms, more mosquito tents for the beds and a solar battery replacement. A bevy of flashlights helps with night time movements.

For fall stays, there is a wood stove in the main room and bringing firewood to heat for the cool nights is recommended. There are plenty of duvets, but it does get chilly.