Beaconstone Eco Lodge

The composting toilets are handled well, though getting to them is a nuisance at night or in bad weather. And with barely any mobile data and no Wi-Fi, sorting bookings, checking forecasts, or managing the holiday was difficult. Bring power banks too, since the in-room charging struggled with modern devices even in sunshine and wouldn't charge them at night. The bigger disappointment was the fossil fuel use for hot water, cooking, and personal transport. That made this feel neither like an eco-stay nor an off-grid one. It seems preferable to be connected to the grid for electricity, since the West Coast is 100% hydro power, than to rely on fossil fuels. Burning them harms the environment and personal health, and plastic bottles of eco-store products don't offset that. There's plenty of room and potential for renewable generation and storage here, and I hope they move quickly toward genuinely environmentally friendly accommodation.

The cottage had everything we needed for cooking and was very clean. We also enjoyed the games, CDs, and the books and magazines. Liane was lovely to meet, as were her two sweet dogs. The place itself is charming and comfortable in a way photos don't quite show, and the setting is gorgeous, especially the sunset views.

Such a relaxing stay. The place felt really comfortable and homely, and our host was lovely. We enjoyed it, thank you.

A relaxing, rustic little cottage, with lovely walks and exciting things to do around the region. It's chalet-like and well stocked, and the hosts made us feel so welcome. Delightful people.