BOGANCLOCH-TREEHOUSE
This is an educational holiday: sample life "off-grid" and still have plenty of time to yourself to walk around the hills and woods or tour the whisky factories in Dufftown or visit the castles, battlefields and Pictish relics.
The Educational Stuff:......mix and match what you're interested in:
1) "Offgrid" living
2) History and culture... lots of self-guided tours
3) My home-made planetarium
The accommodation:..... This is a 1960s touring caravan , 4 meters up in a tree
The space
The caravan had a full life when it was on the road, so the interior could be truthfully described as 'shabby'.
At present, we ask you to bring your own sleeping bag (or sheets)... there isn't mains electricity here to run a washing-machine, so it's just not practical to provide fresh sheets for every new guest.
So bring a sleeping bag......there are extra quilts and blankets in case it's an extra-cold night, or if your sleeping-bag is a cheap thin one.
The beds are just about 6 feet 3 inches long, so if you are very tall, you might have to sleep with your knees bent.
There is no mains electricity, but it's possible to be comfortable.There are paraffin lamps, plus headtorches are available that are good enough for reading. There is the original gas cooker, with one hotplate and a grill. There is no 'background' heating, you don't need it in the summer, and in the winter i assume that you will be doing some walking etc during the day so your circulation will be working well when you come in; you get warm as soon as you are standing at the gas-cooker heating your supper; and you won't be lounging around for hours in the evening.
It's a 1960s touring caravan so obviously there is no shower or bath ... I recommend having an allover wash the 'japanese' way, with two kettlefuls of water and two facecloths, one for soaping and one for rinsing yourself. (Or use the showers at the swimming pool in huntly)
There is no internet, though EE mobile broadband works ok for texts and simple emails without much attachments.
Because the email is a bit dodgy, you're better to use airbnb's "InstantBooking" if you're booking at short notice, rather than their "Request accommodation" system. Of course, if you have a question about anything that isn't clear in the description, then you're welcome to phone or text or email.
Pubs and cafes in Huntly(15 miles north) or Dufftown(15miles west) have wi-fi.
There are no street-lights within 5 miles. I recommend arriving during daylight if possible, so you are settled-in before it's dark. The advantage is that you can see the stars (and occasionally the Northern Lights) if the sky is clear
Guest access
The treehouse itself is your own realm. There is an outdoor kitchen in the yard, with a fireplace and some pans and seats, that you can use.... the fireplace is quite economical but if you use a lot of firewood, i'll ask you to help me for 10 mins the next day hauling in a new bundle of firewood from the forest.
Other things to note
Dry 'composting' toilet at ground level.
This treehouse is 12'6" (4 metres) above the ground, and it's 15 miles to the hospital......we don't pay any public-liability insurance, so if you're a sleepwalker or a big drinker, please be careful.......
Next-day bookings don't always work, as the internet and phone here are a bit dodgy. You're better to use Airbnb's "Instant Booking" system if you are booking at short notice.
