Snuggly Cabot Trail Stay at Pottery and Bookstore

Artful stay at Pottery Studio on the Cabot Trail. The Potter's Porch Vacation Rental is found at Wildfire Pottery and Used Books; a well-know stop along the Cabot Trail's North Shore. Snuggle into your new, petite guest suite (double bed) in a tranquil neighbourhood. This little gem has eclectic decor, outdoor tiny kitchen, shower, composting toilet & hammock for relaxing. A perfect retreat after a day of exploring nearby beaches and hiking trails or shopping at the many local artisan studios. Guest Suite: The Potter's Porch is a newly created private guest suite at Wildfire Pottery and Used Books, located about 25-35 minutes south of Ingonish. The suite was once just an outdoor porch but the room has been enclosed and has two private entrances and cozy, bohemian furnishings. The bed is a double sized mattress because the room is fairly narrow. A few steps out onto the back deck (another porch!) takes you to the covered kitchenette and bathroom area which features a propane heated shower and composting toilet. (Don't be afraid of the toilet, it is easy to use and just needs a scoop of sawdust after using. A quiet fan keeps it odour-free and we empty it between stays. Men do have to sit to pee though!) The tiny kitchenette has a mini fridge, microwave, toaster oven and one gas burner for cooking if you are so inclined. There are good restaurants close by as well. The suite is insulated but the ceiling panels are one-pane, so the room can be cool in the off-season(June and Sept-Oct). You will have a fan in the heat of summer and in the spring and fall when nighttime temperatures drop you will be provided with a space heater. It is still a bit like camping, your shower is outdoors, so be aware that can be a little chilly in the cooler air. (Hot water, but cool breezes!) Firepit: Toast marshmallows or roast hotdogs if you like! The firepit (actually a more of a fire bowl) is in a grassy area facing the Cabot Trail. Sit out in the evening and look at the stars with a glass of wine as the embers die down. Potter's Loop Trail: A short trail that winds along a little ridge behind the shop, this is a nice little meander to walk while nursing your morning coffee or perhaps after supper at the Clucking Hen (a nearby restaurant). It is mostly a wooded trail but there are a few glimpses of the highlands in the distance. Hammock area: The shop and suite are surrounded by birch trees, which create a leafy canopy for snoozing in the hammock, located on the hillside behind the rental. HST is included in the price. We work at the pottery during the day, arriving at about 9:30-10 and leaving between 5 and 6. We like to visit with our guests but we aren't intrusive either. We can always be reached if you need us and we live 5 minutes away. The Potter's Porch is located in a very special area of the island called "St Ann's Bay and North Shore" spreading from The Gaelic College to the foot of Cape Smokey. In 2011 we won the Nova Scotia Lieutenant Governor's Community Spirit Award because we are so awesome! If you enjoy shopping for fine handmade crafts you will be in heaven as the many St Ann's Artisan shops are all nearby. (Pottery of course, Fine Art, Leather, Glass, Pewter, Iron, Wood, Textiles and more) We have restaurants with great food and great names; The Clucking Hen and The Dancing Moose, as well as a pizza shop that is Simply Pizza, simply named, but deliciously made! There is Little River wharf and beach about a 3 minute drive north of your rental where you can get fresh-cooked lobster when in season (from mid-May to mid-July) and have a swim on a popular sandy beach. The Red Island hiking trail is a 10 minute drive to the south and the Tearoom Ceilidhs, traditional celtic music concerts, are every Tuesday and Friday throughout July and August (not running in summer 2021). The island has a thriving celtic tradition and the St Ann's Gaelic College and museum is about 1/2 hr away. Our vibrant community is located roughly 45 minutes driving time to Baddeck which offers groceries, dining, sailing and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum. Being right on the Cabot Trail means you wont get lost when you do the scenic drive. "The Trail", as it's called here, loops around the central and northern part of the island and takes a full day to complete if you plan on stopping to browse the shops, take in the scenery and enjoy some seafood. Things are a bit spread out here so car is the best way to get around, or bike if that's what you have. The suite was once a porch that has been turned into a comfy room. It is fully insulated except for the slanted part of the roof, which is just opaque panels, so the room does have a little bit of a tent feel to it. We think of it as indoor camping! You can clearly hear the night noises, coyotes in the distance, foxes calling and owls hooting. The kitchenette and bathroom (with composting toilet) are located outside on another porch. You will have to take a few steps to get to that roofed area, if it's raining it is wet for those two steps. The Pottery is open from 10-5 or 6 every day, with customers coming and going. The used bookstore is right on the other side of the wall from your suite, so voices can be heard there during the day. (ie. the room isn't sound-proof in either direction....hint-hint!)