Since I decided to try to build an eco-lodge in a wild and beautiful part of the Scottish Highlands I’ve found out that lots of other people have their own variation on this dream, maybe an outdoor activity centre, yoga retreat or self-sufficient commune.
My crazy plan is for Escape Lodge, an informal self-catering guest house where guests are immersed in nature and the landscape. With optional activities to suit both active and passive guests we will aim to provide an escape from busy stressful lives. The activities include working on the land and using ancient craft skills to construct some traditional Scottish thatched stone houses – hence I had to find enough land to fit everything in.
Whatever your dream project, it seems building a house with lots of accommodation, social space and – of course – acres of LAND is a splendid plan. All you need is the site… and the planning permission.
There is a rule to this game – your land must be far from mains gas, electricity, water, roads, builders’ merchants and anyone with a decently big digger.
I have finally found my suitably impossible site and am preparing to apply for planning permission. I have some experiences I’d like to share in case you find yourself in similar circumstances because there is no handbook for this one. (You think there is but there isn’t!)
Escape Lodge is a good deal more demanding, and will be used differently from, a domestic house and it is an interesting challenge to remain ‘low-impact’ in every aspect of the project. We have a burn (stream) which we hope to use for Hydro-electric generation but we are also investigating mains electricity connection and supply-back to the grid. We are deciding on wood-fuel boilers and most importantly trying to work out how much water we will need from the burn and how much to store. The journey starts with finding out if the soil can cope with sewage runoff.
Water and drainage matter more than your grandest design and if you haven’t sorted them out your planning permission is not going to happen. Next blog: carrying out percolation tests.
Find out more about Escape Lodge and The Highland Township Project at http://www.escapelodge.com/
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Becky
I.ve worked on someting similar at design stages. I created an alternative health center/spa with short term accommodation all based on landscape, nature, retreat and similar themes.
Plans like this are a real challenge and great fun to explore and put into effect.
Hi,
It certainly is challenging at the moment! I would be interested to know more about your project, especially if you touched on greywater recycling!
Dear Becky
I’ve known about Escape Lodge for some time, it sounds like an absolutely brilliant plan. What an incredible undertaking. I think you should make a film about it, it would be hilarious and insightful!
Best of Luck, Sam x
Hi Sam,
Yes the Escape Lodge project is open to being filmed and the problems we tackle every day make other builds look like a walk in the park. Spread the word…
Cheers,
Becky
If you did make a fim about this self build i think it would be great.
it would be a great idea to make a film based on Escape Lodge.
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