Get us away from the world for a couple of weeks' honeymoon
February 4, 2007 7:14 PM Subscribe
My fiancée and I are looking for an isolated honeymoon cottage on the coast, in a temperate region. Can you find it for us?
We want to go somewhere wild and green and blowy where we can read books together - but on our own. Think cottage on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, west coast of Canada, Brittany. July this year with a wood fire, outside of villages and complexes, no internet (I'm bad with this). Anywhere in the world would be OK but preference to North America and Europe (languages: English, French, Spanish best but not fussy).
We want to go somewhere wild and green and blowy where we can read books together - but on our own. Think cottage on the Atlantic coast of Ireland, west coast of Canada, Brittany. July this year with a wood fire, outside of villages and complexes, no internet (I'm bad with this). Anywhere in the world would be OK but preference to North America and Europe (languages: English, French, Spanish best but not fussy).
Here's a wee place on coast of County Donegal, which is the NW of Ireland:
http://www.irishlandmark.com/properties/termon-house-donegal.asp
It's outside the town of Dungloe, which is in a very scenic area. The house is owned by the Irish Heritage Trust. They restore old historical building and then rent them out to the public. Most of their properties do NOT include phone, internet, nor TV. Read more about the Trust here:
http://www.irishlandmark.com/about_us/default.asp
They also have some other interesting properties all over Ireland, including a few lighthouses.
posted by zaphod at 7:57 PM on February 4, 2007
http://www.irishlandmark.com/properties/termon-house-donegal.asp
It's outside the town of Dungloe, which is in a very scenic area. The house is owned by the Irish Heritage Trust. They restore old historical building and then rent them out to the public. Most of their properties do NOT include phone, internet, nor TV. Read more about the Trust here:
http://www.irishlandmark.com/about_us/default.asp
They also have some other interesting properties all over Ireland, including a few lighthouses.
posted by zaphod at 7:57 PM on February 4, 2007
Lopez Island, WA. It's isolated, it's gorgeous, and July is a beautiful time of year in the San Juans.
A very strong second for Donegal, though, if you're Europe-bound.
posted by pdb at 8:02 PM on February 4, 2007
A very strong second for Donegal, though, if you're Europe-bound.
posted by pdb at 8:02 PM on February 4, 2007
We stayed in Quay Cottage in Polperro, in Cornwall, England, and I cant recommend it enough. Ancient fishing town, cliffs plunging into beautiful blue waters. Just amazing.
Check out pictures of the area here.
posted by visual mechanic at 8:07 PM on February 4, 2007 [2 favorites]
Check out pictures of the area here.
posted by visual mechanic at 8:07 PM on February 4, 2007 [2 favorites]
Best answer: Here are a few interesting places that I have bookmarked as wish-list potential that might interest you:
Village house in Frigiliana on the Andalusian coast of Spain
Donegal Ireland holiday cottages
Morocco - traditional house in the medina of the Atlantic port of Essaouira
And two not on the coast, but remote & interesting:
Borrego Valley Inn in the Anza Borrego desert - I've stayed here, it's great and very peaceful. But they do have web access.
Cedar Creek Treehouse Mount Ranier. Or if you prefer the ground, there's also a cedar log cabin
Also, you might search Vacation rental by owner - I've had some terrific luck finding unique and affordable lodging by picking the area I want to go to - coastal Maine, for example, and browsing the listings. By the way, I second blaneyphoto's idea of Monhegan Island.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:28 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Village house in Frigiliana on the Andalusian coast of Spain
Donegal Ireland holiday cottages
Morocco - traditional house in the medina of the Atlantic port of Essaouira
And two not on the coast, but remote & interesting:
Borrego Valley Inn in the Anza Borrego desert - I've stayed here, it's great and very peaceful. But they do have web access.
Cedar Creek Treehouse Mount Ranier. Or if you prefer the ground, there's also a cedar log cabin
Also, you might search Vacation rental by owner - I've had some terrific luck finding unique and affordable lodging by picking the area I want to go to - coastal Maine, for example, and browsing the listings. By the way, I second blaneyphoto's idea of Monhegan Island.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:28 PM on February 4, 2007 [1 favorite]
Strong third for Donegal! This is where we stayed on our honeymoon. Gorgeous and secluded--quite definitely wild and green and blowy. And there's a fireplace with that nice peat-ey smell, and fields of ponies, and some wonderfully fierce and moody coast nearby.
posted by paleography at 8:41 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by paleography at 8:41 PM on February 4, 2007
Huh. Link went funny. Here's the address:
http://www.iol.ie/~bruc/selfcatering.htm
The main B&B is called Bruckless House; we rented the self-catering gate cottage.
posted by paleography at 8:43 PM on February 4, 2007
http://www.iol.ie/~bruc/selfcatering.htm
The main B&B is called Bruckless House; we rented the self-catering gate cottage.
posted by paleography at 8:43 PM on February 4, 2007
How about staying in a lighthouse? Point Hicks lighthouse has extraordinary scenery and is a long way away from everywhere (particularly North America and Europe).
posted by wilful at 9:10 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by wilful at 9:10 PM on February 4, 2007
Somewhere near Vancouver Island's Rathtrevor Beach, like Tigh-Na-Mara. (Tigh Na Mara has upscale cottages, but you can probably find a nice beachfront cottage in a less resort-like location if you want.)
Gabriola Island, near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
posted by acoutu at 9:47 PM on February 4, 2007
Gabriola Island, near Nanaimo on Vancouver Island.
posted by acoutu at 9:47 PM on February 4, 2007
I love all the BC Gulf Islands, especially Saturna and the Pender Islands. Just stay away from my island (Hernando) as that is where I hope to be this summer.
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 9:48 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by Razzle Bathbone at 9:48 PM on February 4, 2007
My wife and I have used this site a couple of times with great success. The southwest coast of Sardinia is amazing and as remote as anyplace you will find on the European Med. coast.
posted by three blind mice at 10:36 PM on February 4, 2007
posted by three blind mice at 10:36 PM on February 4, 2007
Lundy Island is located off Devon, England - about 12 miles out to sea. It is a wonderful, isolated place but does have a small village with a very memorable pub. The whole place is owned by an organisation call The Landmark Trust and they look after rental of the accommodation. Several possibilities (including a lighthouse) but there is a small cottage called Tibbets which lies a couple of miles away from the village on the isolated cliff tops with views to die for and nothing but seals and sea birds to spy on you. Why not go there?
Alternatively you could try one of numerous islands in Scotland such as Jura, Rum, Gigha, one of the outer Orkneys, etc. VisitScotland would be a starting place for a search - they will let you specify exactly the kind of place you might want.
posted by rongorongo at 3:44 AM on February 5, 2007
Alternatively you could try one of numerous islands in Scotland such as Jura, Rum, Gigha, one of the outer Orkneys, etc. VisitScotland would be a starting place for a search - they will let you specify exactly the kind of place you might want.
posted by rongorongo at 3:44 AM on February 5, 2007
Order the handbook from Landmark Trust. Trust me, it's worth it. Of course, if you end up booking the small fort on the shores of Cornwall for the weekend my wife and I hope to, no drawbridge, scenic vista, or late medieval architecture in the world shall save you from our wrath!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:54 AM on February 5, 2007
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:54 AM on February 5, 2007
Try the West Algarve? Wild and Atlantic and not too many people. Try or http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk or www.palmerparker.com
posted by sebp999 at 8:54 AM on June 8, 2007
posted by sebp999 at 8:54 AM on June 8, 2007
Response by poster: Donegal. We went to one of the links in the response I marked best answer. Great stuff. Hit all the buttons.
posted by TrashyRambo at 10:05 PM on October 26, 2007
posted by TrashyRambo at 10:05 PM on October 26, 2007
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posted by blaneyphoto at 7:26 PM on February 4, 2007