Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge

Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Sunset at Taffy Lake - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
This is what I like to see kids doing - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Firepit area (please respect fire bans) - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
View from upper deck - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Dock area, pedal boat & floating dock in backroung - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
The welcoming committee (courtesy of one very talented 12 year old) - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Our welcome committee courtesy of one very artistic teenager <3 - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
A cozy (and sheltered) place to sit - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Ample deck, dining and lounge areas - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Outdoor dining area - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
You will love the outdoor dining area - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Floating dock & pedal boat - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
view from the water - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Living room area - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Living room area with large window overlooking lake - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Love finding this type of stuff - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Quaint kitchen - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Master bedroom with king size log bed - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
King size log bed in master bedroom - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Queen size bed in smaller bedroom - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
part of our open concept area, it is a loft style area with a double bed, custom child's bed and twin bed.  This is an area at the top of the stairs, it does not have a door. - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Outdoor washroom with composting toilet.  There is also a rustic shower to the right of the washroom door - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
The shower area of the outhouse, for when dunking in the lake isn't cutting it - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Upstairs washroom, composting toilet, bath tub and sink. - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Upstairs washroom - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
antique clawfoot tub with overhead shower - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Perfect sunsets after a perfect day - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Special thanks to the Waugh family for letting me use their family vacation photos - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Special thanks to the Waugh family for letting me use their family vacation photos - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Every once in awhile a friend will brave the elements to stay during the winter. It is not for the faint of heart, but oh so worth it. - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge
Drone footage courtesy of a few friends who braved a winter stay. It gives you an idea of the proximity of the other cottages to our retreat (Center with red roof) - Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge

Taffy Lake Retreat - Howland Ridge

Taffy Lake Retreat
8 Guests · 3 Bedrooms · 1 Bathroom · Cottage · Entire place
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87 reviews
NatalieIcon
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Pets are allowed
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Set on the tranquil waters of Taffy Lake, our retreat is designed for you to unplug and get away. Ideal for couples or families. This is a partially off grid cottage, meaning there is no regular septic (there is a clean outdoor outhouse and indoor compost toilet), there is running water but drinking water is brought in. This is a quiet spot with approximately a half dozen camps on this end of the lake. It is family/couple friendly, not for parties. Our space is comfortable for families with two adults and up to two or three children. The accurate number of guests is asked to be confirmed at the time of booking to make sure we have set things up appropriately. There are some group sizes that we will not be able to accommodate.

A note on our cottage: it is located in the middle of the woods, so of course we are surrounded by nature. This means that you will likely encounter squirrels, spiders, mice, squirrels, snakes, frogs etc. We do use an environmentally friendly spray for bugs (including spiders) on a regular basis. The birds favor making nests by the back door facing the driveway and outside the patio doors upstairs. So if you observe them nesting, please let us know as we try to safely relocate them. We also trap for mice outside and inside. Being in nature, of course they will try to get in the cottage. At times, we may have had to set a mouse trap inside. If this is the case, we will let you know and you can let us know if you are still comfortable staying. We will dispose of any trapped mice if it makes you uncomfortable to do so. The cottage is regular checked and sanitized for pests.

When you enter into the cabin, you are immediately on the ground floor. The downstairs is an open concept and includes kitchen, dining and living room area. The entire space is cozy and has a warm feel with it’s golden wide, pine floors and touches of colour including reds, greens and cream. The kitchen is spacious and includes a full-sized fridge, stove, microwave, coffee maker and toaster. It does not include a dishwasher but has a charming old farm sink. There is no shortage of pots, pans, dishes, cutlery, etc. The living room has a sofa that pulls out into a double bed, an electric fireplace, ceiling fan and tv with DVD player (a small selection of movies provided). There is a dining room spacious enough for six, with an overhead deer antler chandelier. An indoor wood stove to take the chill off when the weather turns cold, a supply of wood is provided. A large picture window overlooks the lake with breathtaking views.

Long weekends require Friday, Saturday, and Sunday night to be booked as we value our own family time.

Outside, a spacious covered deck has some Adirondack chairs, it is a perfect spot for your morning coffee. A lower deck has ample seating for everyone to enjoy. There are large umbrellas can be set up for protection against the sun. They will need to be removed when stormy. There is an outdoor barbeque under a sheltered roof for cooking. There is a firepit area and wood is supplied, but we encourage you to check for fire bans. Generally if the weather is nice, we try to set up the firepit for you. If the weather is not, paper and cardboard are in a wooden trunk behind the door. Owners kayaks and canoe available for your use, including a limited supply of life jackets. There is a wooden floating dock for your use if you wish to swim out. The floating dock is not typically in the water until the water is warm enough to swim in (towards the end of May is typical). Because honestly, hypothermia is not on our wish list. The pedal boat is ideally suited for smaller people or older children. It is an older style and has had many loving fix ups. Our area is generally good for swimming and fishing. It is a clean lake, not a pool. There are fish, frogs and other critters that live there too.. The lake is deep enough for swimming, canoeing, kayaking, etc. It is not a huge lake, it is smaller in size. Some of the neighbouring cottage owners have been able to jet ski, use small motorized watercraft, etc. If you wish to bring your own motorized boating equipment, we suggest you figure out where you can safely use your equipment (there are some spots that are too shallow to navigate any motorized boats). We are not responsible for damages due to shallow spots. On the smaller back deck, there is an uninhabited, decorative hornets nest by the window (but you should let us know if you observe hornets themselves there or elsewhere trying to build a nest).

To the left when entering, a flight of stairs leads you upstairs. An open hallway houses a small bed suitable for a younger child (about a ten year old), tucked under the eave of the roof. To the left is the larger master bedroom, to the right is a smaller, but good sized bedroom. All three areas connect to the indoor washroom.

The master bedroom has a king size log bed, some antique trunks and bureaus. Both rooms have ceiling fans. The master bedroom’s source of light is via patio doors leading to a private deck overlooking the lake. The deck is complete with a porch swing and lounge chair.

A note on the decor; the decor itself remains the same, however since we launder all used bedding every time; quilts, comforters, duvets, etc. may not be exactly the same as pictured.

The bathroom has a tub with overhead shower, sink and composting toilet. Whenever possible we encourage you to use the facilities in the detached wash house. The indoor washroom has limited capacity and will be overwhelmed by general use. It is intended for your use in inclement weather and nighttime use as excessive use puts a strain on our system. If you have never heard of a composting toilet, you should be aware that it functions much like a normal toilet except it uses a very minimal amount of water for flushing. Only human waste and toilet paper should go in the composting toilets. Everything else should go in the garbage.

The second bedroom has a queen bed, a large window, an armoire for closet space.

In the hallway there is a custom made bed suitable for a younger child (approximately age 10 & under).

With the help of a booster, guests should be able to get cell phone reception within the camp. We have found you can send texts quite easily and make emergency phone calls. We don’t have wifi because we have yet to find both a reliable and unlimited server for our area. So if binge watching Netflix and gaming is your thing, this probably isn’t the spot for you.

We provide drinking water via a dispenser set up in the kitchen. The water for washing, showering and laundering is filtered lake water.

Up the hill, there is a wash house that has a second composting toilet, a sink and a sheltered shower. We encourage larger groups to use the wash house for their needs as excessive use of the indoor washroom with larger groups would put a strain on our system. Only human waste and toilet paper should go in the toilet; anything else should go in the garbage.

What this place offers

IconIron & Board
IconHair Dryer
IconLinens Provided
IconTowels Provided
IconOven
IconFridge
IconFire Pit
IconGas Grill
IconHigh Speed Internet
IconSmoke Detector
IconCarbon Monoxide Detector
IconFirst Aid Kit

Nearby activities

IconKayaking
IconSwimming
IconFishing
IconHunting
IconWalking
IconNature Viewing
IconBird Watching

Suitability

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Child friendly
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No events allowed
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No smoking allowed
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No Parking
Note; if staying during the winter a walk down may be required

Meet The Host

IconMember since: May 2020
IconSpeaks: English
IconResponse rate: 100%
IconResponse time: within an hour

Scenic views

IconLake view
IconWater view
IconWoods view

Location

Waterfront
Lakefront
Woods

Getting around

Taffy lake is located at the end of Howland Ridge road. Specific details available upon booking.

Directions

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These directions are for planning purposes only. You may find that construction projects, traffic, weather, or other events may cause conditions to differ from the map results, and you should plan your route accordingly. You must obey all signs or notices regarding your route.
Check in
Check out
Guests
1 guest
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Adults
Over 18 years of age
1
Children
0-17 years of age
0
Pets
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Policies and Rules

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Check In: 12PM - 11PM
We will provide you with an access code to the door. Generally check in is 12 p.m. or after
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Check Out: 12PM
Maximum occupancy: 8
5 person maximum from October 23-May 1
House Rules
No smoking

You should be prepared and comfortable to use the outhouse as your primary washroom as the indoor washroom has a composting toilet that can easily get overwhelmed by anything other than occasional use. The occasional night time use when it is cold or rainy is fine.

Do not expect to check in before 4 p.m. If you come before 4 p.m. you may be asked to wait while we finish cleaning and maintenance. We will generally let you know when/if early check ins or late check outs are possible.

If there is a fire ban due to dry conditions, you cannot have a campfire. Renting the property does not guarantee the use of the firepit area.

If you are bringing more than our maximum (4), you are required to let us know and pay per extra guest. We will send a request for more funds for extra guests.

If something breaks or is not functioning during your stay (by accident, misuse, age of equipment, etc) you are required to let us know so that we can attempt to fix and/or rectify the problem. In this way it will only impact you in a minimal way and future guests can also enjoy the equipment and/or cottage.

Pets are $25 additional (for 2, each pet after is $12.50 each). We reserve the right to limit the number of pets.

Quiet hours after 11:00 p.m.

At some point during your stay host and/or maintenance might be in the vicinity doing routine maintenance. We will try to notify ahead of time. Guests staying for longer periods may use these opportunities to get water jugs replaced, refresh linens, get supplies such as additional paper towels, toilet paper etc. Outdoor maintenance that the host may perform includes trash removal, replenishing wood supply, removal of empty propane tanks to be refilled, watering plants, fixing items that might have broken, accessing composting toilet, etc.

Fires only allowed in the firepit

If bringing children, please keep them well supervised as this is on the water

Do not remove kayaks, canoes, etc to use anywhere other than Taffy Lake.Not suitable for infants (under 2 years)No smokingNo parties or eventsCheck-in is 4:00 PM - 11:00 PM
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Payment Policy
$200 due at time of booking. Balance due 30 days prior to stay or immediately if stay is within 30 days
Refundable Damage Deposit
Refundable after check out
Cancellation Policy
Cancellation greater than 30 days in advance = full refund
Less than 30 days in advance = refund depending on what we are able to book
Notes


There is some cell phone service. The best service seems to be in the kitchen/dining room area. Sometimes it will not work and we have found that we have to drive to the top of the hill (about 2 km), but 95% of the time it works fine.

The camp is in the woods, off the beaten path and on a dirt road. The road to the camp is not maintained by the government, so any repairs to the road are approved and paid for by the lake counsel and we apologize if they are rough at times; take your time and you will be fine.

The camp is in the wilderness, so you can expect wild animals and insects of various kinds. There are frogs, squirrels, snakes, mice, birds, etc. The most probable animals you will see are squirrels and loons. Bears and coyotes are in the area, but garbage is not left out to attract such, so we have yet to have problems. May and June is typically black-fly and mosquito season, the breeze off the lake does help. The loons can sound deceptively like coyotes and/or wolves. In short, we love nature, and nature hosts animals and insects so don’t be surprised if you see some. We do our best to maintain the outside areas, however spiders like to claim their space by weaving their webs within days.

The hunting and fishing is good in this area, the tales of such are even better.

Our end of the lake is shared with about half a dozen camps and joins up to the wheeler trails.

We are 25 minutes services such as grocery store, liquor store, gas station and bank. The village of Millville (5-10 minute drive) has a newly reopened gas station and some basic snack/food items. Come prepared, but feel free to ask and we will try and get you what you need.
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