Hideaway Cottage is a lovely and private all-season cottage near Bala, Ontario in the heart of Muskoka. This is a family-friendly house that we use ourselves when it is not rented.
Wood floors, a BBQ, a dock on a quiet lake and 70+ acres of privacy make this the ideal escape in the spring, summer or fall. Cook on the BBQ, play in the large backyard, lounge in the hammock, roast marshmallows at the fire pit, go for a swim in the lake, or just plain old hang out.
The amenities make your stay easier. There's a fully equipped kitchen with new induction stove/convection oven, fridge, microwave, dishwasher, espresso machine and drip coffee maker.
The living-dining area is L shaped with a cathedral ceiling. The dining area seats 12. The living room is bright with windows overlooking the woods and the lake, and there is a tile woodstove.
The main level master bedroom has patio doors opening to a deck looking out through trees to the lake. Two bedrooms that accommodate 7 people and a play area are upstairs, perfect for the kids. Linens are included.
There's a Muskoka Room (a screened in porch) overlooking the back garden, with a dining table and seating for 4.
The ground level has been recently renovated: there’s a bright bedroom with a queen-sized bed with an intimate view of the woods, a 3-piece bathroom, and a games room/tv room with a sectional sofa and pull-out double bed. There are DVDs, board games, books and cards, puzzles, etc. and also a high chair for those who are still at that age. Access your Netflix and other streaming services accounts on the smart TV. Did we mention the air hockey table?
Location, Amenities, Conditions:
On Porter Lake - very quiet - no motorboats or other motor craft permitted.
Canoe + 3 kayaks + 2 stand up paddleboards
Games & toys available for kids.
Outside fire pit and marshmallow forks are included! Bring s'mores!
What's Nearby:
Town of Bala and Bala Falls
Near Bala’s stores, restaurants, TD Bank, LCBO and Beer Store, library and skating arena.
Concerts at Kee to Bala
Downhill skiing Mount St Louis Moonstone
Johnston's Cranberry Marsh
Muskoka Steamship Cruises in Gravenhurst (30 minutes away)
Hardy Lake Provincial Park with great walking trails (15 minutes away)
Torrance Barrens Dark Sky Preserve (only 15 minutes away).
Restrictions:
No pets on the property.
No smoking.
No hunting on the property.
Summer rentals: 1 week or longer only. Cleaning is included.
The cottage is on a small and quiet private lake, with about 1,000 feet of frontage on each side of the lake. Swimming is primarily from the dock, with plenty-deep water that is usually quite warm in the summer. There are 3 kayaks, 2 paddleboards and a canoe for exploring and you'll find lots of lifejackets on site for adults and kids.
There is a treed slope down to the water; a mix of Canadian Shield and grass. The water is about 2ft deep at the shoreline and then deepens to more than 12ft deep at the end of the dock. The lakebed is firm to soft sand/gravel/rock bottom.
On site there are tons of books for both adults and children, a variety of board games, and toys for young children. Play soccer in the backyard or have fun playing volleyball, bocce ball or croquet. A hammock in the backyard overlooks the garden.
Bring your fishing poles - there are lots of bass in the lake.
This reservation has a flexible cancellation policy - refunds will be issued up to 14 days prior to the check in date.
A 100% refund is provided for travellers cancelling at least 14 full days before check-in. No refunds are provided for travellers cancelling less than 14 days prior to check-in.
Our house rules: primary renter must be 25 or older, no smoking, no parties or events, no pets.
No smoking indoors and no littering.
Rules for disposal of garbage must be followed.
Fires must be moderate in size and in outdoor fire pit only.
No additional overnight guests without permission.
Renter assumes liability for any and all damages including damages by family or guests.
Important limitations of liability:
- swimming, boating, hiking, skiing, encounters with wildlife (there are bears, poisonous snakes, etc. in Muskoka), walking on lake ice, use of BBQ or fire pit, and other outdoor activities may be hazardous and may present a risk of injury.
- The cottage -- including the surrounding property and any boats, life-jackets, barbeque or other items on site (collectively the "furnished cottage"), are provided on an "as is" basis without warranties of any kind, either express or implied.
- We disclaim all warranties, express or implied, including, but not limited to, implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
- In no event shall the cottage owners ("we", "us") be liable for any direct, indirect, special or consequential damages, or any other damages of any kind whether in an action in contract, tort (including but not limited to negligence) or otherwise, arising out of or in any way connected with the use or inability to use the furnished cottage.
- In no event shall the aggregate liability of us -- whether in contract, warranty, tort (including negligence whether active, passive or imputed), product liability, strict liability or other theory -- arising out of or relating to the use of the furnished cottage, exceed any compensation you pay, if any, to us for access to or use of the furnished cottage.
