I’m sitting on the deck of our eco-hut, enjoying a cuppa in the morning sunshine. The only sound comes from birds singing, insects buzzing, and the wind gently rustling through the nearby trees. It reminds me of being in New Zealand, but we’re only around 20 minutes from Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands.

We first came across The Lazy Duck on social media a few years ago. Dreaming of lazy evenings in the forest, we soaked up pictures of cabins through the seasons. We wanted to visit but The Lazy Duck was always fully booked every time a holiday rolled around.

Until June 2022 when a four-night stay was unexpectedly available. We booked and decided to treat ourselves to a sauna and massage, courtesy of The Lazy Journey while there.

Eco-friendly living off-grid

I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from our stay in an eco-hut. But having spent many of our holidays in a tent, this was a step up in luxury.

My first impression walking into the hut was of a cosy and clean space. The box bed was tucked away with a stargazing window above. That said, with dawn around 3am in June, we only made the mistake of leaving the window uncovered on the first night.

The hut had electricity, giving lighting, a fridge, and sockets for charging electrical equipment. The kitchen area had an LPG gas stove for cooking and boiling water.

Insulation in the hut is so good that no extra heat was needed when we stayed. But there is a small wood burner for colder weather. I was almost disappointed that it was too warm to use!

Drinking water is provided in containers. Water for the kitchen sink and shower then comes from a couple of old whiskey barrels collecting rainwater.

“Interrupting normal patterns calms the nervous system”

Living without mains water means basic daily necessities take a little extra work. And according to Duckeeper, Sarah, that’s good for our nervous system.

“Interrupting normal patterns calms the nervous system. Waiting for the kettle to fill slowly from the water butt. Boiling it for the shower. It forces you to slow down in a nice way.”

Washing up, washing my face, and showering all meant boiling a kettle. And washing my hair was a two-person job with a jug and bowl.

We did have a rainwater shower in an enclosed area to the side of the hut. But I wasn’t going to waste any of that luxury on washing and conditioning my hair!

I loved the simplistic nature of it all.

Working for my warm water made me very aware of how much I take for granted. And how much water we use every day.

But what about the composting loo?

I’m going to confess. The one thing which nearly put me off booking The Lazy Duck was the thought of a loo without flushing water.

An off-grid toilet can simply mean disappearing into the woods, armed with a shovel and loo roll. And that was almost a better prospect. But, I’d never experienced a composting loo. So, before I poo-poo’d the idea, I decided it was something which needed ticking off the list!

My imagination had conjured up flies, festival Portaloos, and noxious odours. The reality was very different. Housed in a separate building, it was clean, smelt only of sawdust, and even had a jug of flowers to welcome the user. For an extra special bonus, a fold-down window gave a view into the forest.

Adventure is right on the doorstep

The Lazy Duck is set in the heart of the forest. It’s a wonderful location and it’s enough to simply stop, sit and read. But if you’re looking for adventure, the area is jam-packed with outdoor activities.

Nethy Bridge is the local village, just a short walk from the hut. The village website has a PDF download of paths around Nethy Bridge.

The area is also great for gravel rides. We’d planned one from the book Gravel Rides in Scotland but (long story) Jason had to venture out solo. However, I can report that he thought it was an incredible ride.

We spent time wandering around the forest at Boat of Garten. Ate fabulous pizza from Cheese and Tomatin Aviemore on the shores of Loch Garten. And walked our first Corbett, Meall a’ Bhuachaille.

But I’ve only scratched the surface of what’s available. Much more is listed on the Explore section of The Lazy Duck’s website.

Wellbeing at The Lazy Duck

From the deck of our hut, we could see the wood fired hot tub in the distance. It’s set close to the forest and has twinkling fairy lights for night time dipping.

I mentioned earlier that we’d booked a sauna and massage for our stay. Sadly, I had to cancel mine as a case of Covid a month earlier had brought on shingles just before our holiday. But Jason was still able to enjoy a treatment and came back with glowing reviews.

The well being studio is a cabin looking out into the forest. It looks incredible. I’d love to visit again sometime and enjoy a yoga session followed by a massage.

Why holidaying off-grid is so relaxing

Our stay at The Lazy Duck was one of the most restful holidays we’ve had. But you may wonder why, when it’s clear there’s more work involved day to day.

My thought is that modern life and technology means we’re always ‘on’. Emails. Text alerts. Social media. All expecting a rapid response. And that’s on top of busy jobs, busy home lives, and squeezing as much out of life as possible.

Our brains secrete stress hormones to deal with this. It’s part of the flight, fight, freeze response. Without calming our bodies, this continues indefinitely. And it affects sleep, digestion and body repair. Physically it creates tension in our neck and shoulders, and affects our breathing.

We live in a state where everything feels urgent.

Interrupting this day to day rush allows everything to settle and rest. It helps our bodies and minds to calm and slow down.

I’ve always said that a couple of nights in a tent gives me a reset. I guess this is exactly the same, only with the luxury of a warm cabin and comfy bed.

Note that we paid for our own stay at The Lazy Duck.

The Lazy Duck has a Gold award for Scottish Green Tourism. Current Duckeepers, Sarah and Phil, signed the lease in August 2019. They are committed to reducing waste, taking responsibility for the local environment, and sourcing products and services responsibly.

www.lazyduck.co.uk