What’s so modern about a 200-year-old house in the middle of nowhere? Birch Cottage may straddle three centuries, but it is firmly rooted somewhere in the middle of the 21st. Why? This unassuming dwelling in Co Down is Ireland’s only off-grid short-let holiday home, according to its owners. As such, it could be deemed decades ahead of its time.
Having been built in the early 1800s as a simple peasant dwelling, with few facilities, it was first “upgraded” in the 1950s. It was given a range cooker, but no inside bathroom facilities or running water, although it may have had mains electricity at some point.
These days it isn’t connected to any sort of external matrix, being powered and heated by photovoltaic solar panels, a small wind turbine and a wood-burning stove. The owners say it is completely carbon neutral.
The cottage has been heavily insulated using wood fibre and sheep’s wool, as well as an “intelligent” climate-control membrane made from recycled paper. Traditional lime plaster has been used for any rendering.
It offers underfloor heating and a drying room for clothes, which houses a washing machine and tumble dryer.
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Come armageddon, food security won’t be a problem either. Situated in the Mourne Mountains in Ballyroney, the owners live next door and run a permaculture farm where they grow their own fruit, vegetables and herbs and keep chickens and ducks for eggs, as well as managing woodlands for fuel and recreation.
For £410 (€470) for a week’s stay during high season, you will also get a welcome pack of seasonal organic vegetables.
The owners also run courses to promote the self-sufficient lifestyle, covering subjects such as wood turning, basket making, spoon carving and permaculture.
There is no television at Birch Cottage — and why would you want one? — so you’ll have to occupy yourself with “a great supply of interesting reading materials”, the clockwork radio and a selection of board and card games.
Wifi is available on request. so you won’t be completely detached from the rest of the world
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The owners say they will plant trees for every visitor they have from overseas, in order to offset carbon emissions from the inbound flights. The cottage sleeps two and children and pets are not allowed.