Highlights
- A holiday home designed, built and run with the environment in mind.
- Constructed from locally sourced renewable, recycled and repurposed materials.
- Construction involved 10 students who lived and worked on site learning the techniques of the eco-build.
- Permaculture and no-dig gardening, supporting biodiversity across their site.
- All aspects of the business have an environmental focus, creating a unique experience for guests.
The Hideaway was purposely designed and built to make a minimum footprint in its construction, lifetime use and eventual deconstruction. Built using natural, local and plentiful materials, namely wood, straw, stone, mud, clay and lime, and furnished using repurposed and recycled materials, it is a true eco home including its off-grid water, 100% renewable energy and on-site sewage treatment.
Its build process included a pop-up learning village for 10 students who lived and worked onsite, and numerous others who either visited in person or followed the journey on social media. A short documentary “Building with Nature” was commissioned to continue to share the learning journey.
The purpose of sharing the experience with as many interested people as possible was to encourage and inspire others to consider the possibility of constructing homes using the same principles, and with minimal impact on the environment.
The building is rented out as a holiday home, and guests have reported a very high level of satisfaction. It’s a place which inspires low impact living with its simple yet luxurious feel and close connection to nature. It is a truly unique and highly sought after location, offering an alternative experience and a relaxing escape from the pressures of daily life.
The building is surrounded by grounds that are managed to support biodiversity, with areas set aside for nature. This includes ponds and the planting of over 200 trees throughout the site. The owners grow food for themselves and guests, using permaculture and no-dig methods.
Guests use the recycling and composting facilities, enjoy environmentally kind cleaning products, fair-trade drinks and can learn more about low impact living from a selection of books on natural living and building, environmental protection and health and well-being. They can participate in the “Pledge Project”, using the hand-made book of ideas to pledge small lifestyle changes, which are supported with gentle email reminders and encouragement.
The Hideaway hosts Workaway volunteers (21 since 2019) and worked with Friendly Access to ensure that the holiday home was suitable for those who are neurodivergent and/or live with hidden disabilities. They have used the Hideaway to research the effects of a natural home on mental health and wellbeing, originally with the charity Get Rugged and now with Strathclyde University. They regularly donate two-night stays for charity auctions, including Clan Cancer Support, Befriend a Child Aberdeen, Aberlour Primary School and MFR Cash for Kids.
The sustainable operations, in addition to running a green office, include using 100% renewable energy, off-grid water and sewage treatment, waste minimisation and sustainable travel and purchasing. They have achieved Green Tourism Gold (2019), Best Green Holiday Home (European Holiday Home Association, 2019), Environmental Award (FSB, 2020) and they were a finalist in the 2021 Herald Scottish Family Business of the Year, Environmental category. The Hideaway practices, demonstrates and encourages environmental protection, one guest at a time!