Welcome to your magnificent forested retreat at the Highland House! This 4-season cottage boasts 2300 sq feet of living space, where you can enjoy views of the forest on almost 3 acres of this private but easy to access property. Enjoy everything that Haliburton has to offer including hiking, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, beaches, hunting, ATVing, and the many sites and attractions of the area!
NOTE: Large adult groups are not permitted. Our cottage is ideally suited for families with max of 6 adults
Ask us about longer term rentals if you would like to enjoy this property for longer!
THE INDOOR SPACE:
You'll love spending time in the expansive living room and dining rooms, featuring cathedral ceilings and a fantastic view of the changing forest throughout the seasons. Furnished for comfort, the living room also includes a large pull out couch, an electric fireplace, and a 75-inch smart TV where you can bring your own streaming device, plus with Netflix available for guests. Adjacent to the dining area is a games room with an air hockey table, dart board, yoga mats and access to the outdoor hot tub.
The dining space offers a picturesque view of the forest with ample seating for up to 8 guests, with additional chairs available for up to 10 people, and a substantial dining table for special meals together. The kitchen is fully equipped, including a high chair. If you prefer to cook outdoors, we also provide a barbeque fully stocked with propane.
The Highland House features four bedrooms. You'll love the large master bedroom, featuring a handmade king sized bed, as well as the views from the queen bedroom. There is also a bedroom with two twin beds, and one bedroom that is set up as a dedicated office space, with a murphy bed to come in Summer 2024 (this posting will be updated at that time).
Enjoy the treehouse-like views from the loft area which features a reading area, a pull out couch, and an additional television – perfect for a separate retreat space.
THE OUTDOOR SPACE:
The property boasts breathtaking views of the forest and is enveloped by mature trees, providing ample shade. Extensive space at the rear and side allows for various lawn activities. With no neighbors to the left or behind you, you'll enjoy a sense of seclusion and a natural barrier of trees ensures privacy and tranquility with the neighboring property to the right.
Kids will enjoy exploring the private pond at the front of the property throughout the year, with the ability to view frogs and ducks from Spring to Fall, and to have your own ice skating pond in the Winter (subject to ice conditions and maintenance. Owners will explicitly inform you if the pond is skateable). And everyone will love relaxing in the hot tub throughout the seasons.
A fire pit is also available for roasting marshmallows, enjoying a soothing fire together, and stargazing at the end of the day.
NEARBY ACTIVITIES:
We love everything that Haliburton has to offer and we know that you will too! We're centrally located close to Boshkung Lake, Twelve Mile Lake, Beech Lake, and Maples Lake, as well as many other attractions. Nearby activities and amenities include:
• 2 mins to Carnarvon (Carnarvon Family Golf, Haliburton Highlands Brewery, Mill Pond Restaurant, Pepper Mill Restaurant)
• 4 mins to Twelve Mile Lake Public Beach, 5 mins to Bissett Public Beach, and close to many other beaches
• 10 mins to Lakeside Golf Club, 13 min to Gull River Golf Club, 15 min to Blairhampton Golf Club, and 25 min to Haliburton Highlands Golf Course,
• 20 mins to Sir Sam Ski and Bike: skiing, mountain biking, hiking and view tower
• 25 mins to Haliburton Forest and Wild Life Reserve (Wolf Center, trails, Canopy Tour, Astronomy Centre, Sawmill Tour, ATV, fishing)
• 20 mins to Glebe Park (mountain biking, trails, and Sculpture Forest trail
• 15 min to Minden (Minden Farmers Market, restaurants and patios, Minden Hills Cultural Centre, Museum and Heritage Village, and much more)
• 35 min to Winterdance Dogsledding
• 15 minutes to boat rental at Harper Powersports and Marine
• 10 mins to Abbey Gardens (groceries, specialty coffee, trails, Haliburton Highland Brewery, wood fired pizza, and programs/events for kids and adults)
• 50 min to Algonquin Provincial Park
• Extensive ATV trails (Haliburton ATV Association), snowmobile trails (Haliburton County Snowmobile Association), and cross country skiing (Haliburton Highlands Nordic Trail and Ski Club Association)
Guest access:
Driveway access directly from a main road. Extensive parking is available behind the house, as well as part way down the driveway, and is large enough to accommodate vehicles and trailers of various sizes.
2 minutes away from Carnarvon that has LCBO, groceries, firewood, restaurant, and other attractions and amenities. Also close to Minden (15 mins), and Haliburton Village (20 mins), all of which offer access to Food Land, Valu Mart, Beer Store, Rexall, and other retail shops.
SECURITY CAMERAS:
For your safety and liability purposes, there are two cameras (also records audio) on the exterior of the property. One faces the entrance and driveway and the second faces down the hill towards the bottom of the driveway and road. On occasion, we may also have a trail camera set up in the clearing in the wooded area to the left of the shed.
OCCUPANCY CAPACITY:
No day visitors allowed. All guests need to be registered with host.
Fines will start at $500 for breaking capacity limit.
PET POLICY:
Restricted pet policy. We are unable to approve all dogs, please make the request during booking. Pets must be kept on the property and cannot be allowed onto neighbouring properties.
SMOKING:
Smoking/vaping/marihuana are not permitted inside the cottage or by doors and windows. All cigarette butts to be removed in a safe manner in designated receptacle.
SEPTIC SYSTEM:
We are on a septic system. Flush nothing but human waste and toilet paper, no fats or solids down any drains.
CAMPFIRES:
April 1st to October 31st: Camp fires are only allowed between 7pm to 7am (this is a Town by-law), unless fire ban in place. 1 bundle of firewood provided. Guest can buy extra wood in the area.
Fires can only be made in the enclosed fire pit. Do not move the fire pit.
QUIET HOURS:
Quiet hours are 10pm to 8am. Please turn off all outdoor music and keep outdoor conversations to a reasonable limit
HOT TUB:
Please follow the guide and rules in the guidebook and wall postings. No glass is allowed outside - plastic cups and cans only.
LAUNDRY:
Laundry (washer/dryer) on site and free for guest use. Only 1 washer load per day.
HEATING AND ELECTRICITY:
The house has in floor heating with an adjustable thermostat. We are connected to the electrical power grid but are located in a rural area – power outages may occur and there are no refunds due to these situations.
DRINKING WATER:
The cottage is on a drilled well with a water purification system. Water is drinkable and tested on a regular basis.
CLEANLINESS/DISHES/GARBAGE:
Cottage to be left in tidy condition, with all furniture in its original location, fridge cleared, dishes loaded in dish washer, floors swept, and garbage/recycling dealt with according to the cottage guide. All outdoor furniture and lawn toys returned to its original location.
Guest is responsible for removing all garbage/recycling and bringing it home.
FIREWORKS/TIKI TORCHES:
No fireworks or tiki torches of any kind are allowed on the property.
WILDLIFE:
We are in a forested area and you may be lucky enough to see wildlife such as deer, snakes, frogs, moose, bear, mice, and insects. For the safety of people and animals, please do not approach animals - simply enjoy observing them.
We work to keep our home clear of mice and insects but because we are in a forested area, you may on occasion see a smaller critter in the house. There are no refunds in these situations.
HUNTING:
We welcome hunters but no hunting or discharge of firearms is allowed on the property or on adjacent properties.
WINTER (December to April):
It's highly recommended that guests have AWD vehicles and winter tires. Our driveway is sloped, and the area may experience significant snowfall. The driveway is maintained by a contracted company, and the plowing schedule may vary each time, which is beyond the control of the cottage owners. Please note that there is no on-demand snow plowing service available, and therefore may experience some delays after a significant snowfall. Guests may need to do some shovelling to clear snow around their vehicles for safe exit. We provide sand and snow shovels for your convenience on a seasonal basis.
