Stay in Handcrafted Woodland Eco Cabins on Scotland’s Black Isle
Welcome to The Warren, our home and a low-impact eco retreat nestled in a thriving forest garden on the beautiful Black Isle in the Scottish Highlands. Our life here is rooted in permaculture, creativity, and care for the land. We’re a small-scale, low-impact homestead where connection to nature shape everything we do. We offer accommodation in two self built, off-grid eco cabins in our regenerative woodland.
Designed with simplicity and comfort in mind, the cabins provide a quiet, nature rich place to stay while exploring the Highlands or enjoying time away from busy life. Whether you’re here to explore the Black Isle or simply slow down, you’re warmly welcome to stay with us. Our eco cabins offer a calm and private base for reconnecting with nature, enjoying peaceful days, and experiencing the unique landscape of the Scottish Highlands.
Our Eco Cabins: Simple, Sustainable & Comfortable
Our two handcrafted eco cabins, built with care and natural materials, are designed for simple, sustainable living. They blend rustic charm with thoughtful design and creative touches, all in harmony with the land around them. The Warren has earned a Green Tourism Gold Award for its eco-friendly ethos. Relax by the woodburner, wake to the gentle sounds of birdsong, enjoy the unique bucket shower, and sip your morning coffee on the private deck. Wander forest paths, explore nearby coastal villages, or discover tranquil Highland glens at your own pace.
Siskin Cabin – Off-Grid Eco Retreat
Siskin Cabin at a glance
- Handcrafted off-grid tiny house for two
- Cosy double bed with woodland views
- Wood burner with firewood from our woodland
- Compact Kitchen, hob and coolbox
- Private deck overlooking forest and fields
- En suite compost toilet and bucket shower
- Ideal for a quiet, slow-paced nature escape
About Siskin Cabin
Siskin is our smaller, simpler cabin, ideal for guests seeking quiet, nature and a slower pace. Cosy and low impact, it’s designed for guests seeking quiet, nature, and a slower pace.
A low impact retreat for two
There’s a cosy double bed looking out across the fields. French doors open onto a private deck with table and chairs, overlooking peaceful woodland — perfect for relaxing, forest bathing, or watching Red Kites soar overhead after a day of exploring.
The cabin is fully off-grid, with a compact kitchenette, compost toilet, and a characterful bucket shower. Solar power provides lighting and USB charging, and while there’s no WiFi, 4G signal is available on most networks.
Designed for simple, sustainable living
Siskin Cabin embodies low-impact living. Built from locally sourced timber, reclaimed materials, and natural finishes, Siskin reflects our commitment to sustainable living. The cabin and surrounding forest garden are Green Tourism Gold rated.
Perfect for couples, solo travellers, or anyone seeking a restorative escape in nature.
Coll Cabin – Spacious Eco Hideaway
Coll Cabin at a glance
- Handcrafted off-grid eco cabin for 2 guests
- Comfortable double bed with forest views
- Woodburner and cosy living space
- Kitchen with oven, grill, hob and 12v fridge
- Private deck with seating for forest immersion
- En suite compost toilet and bucket shower
- Optional workspace for digital detox
About Coll Cabin
Experience Coll Cabin, a larger off-grid eco cabin tucked into the same peaceful woodland. Designed for comfort and connection with nature, it is ideal for two guests seeking a slower pace, restorative break, or creative retreat
Comfort and creativity in nature
Inside, the cabin offers a comfortable double bed with forest views, a cosy living and dining space, and a wood burner for warmth and atmosphere. A built-in bench doubles as a small desk, making Coll well suited to reading, writing, or quiet creative work.
A stable door opens onto a private deck with seating, looking out across woodland and open fields. It’s an easy place to pause, watch Red Kites overhead, or enjoy the changing light through the trees.
Coll is fully off-grid, with a compact kitchen, compost toilet, and simple bucket shower. Solar power provides lighting, USB charging, and a small 12v fridge. There’s no WiFi, though 4G is available on most networks for those who need it.
Thoughtful off grid living
Like Siskin, Coll Cabin is built with low-impact materials, locally milled timber, and reclaimed furnishings, reflecting our regenerative approach to living lightly on the land
Perfect for couples, creatives, writers, or anyone wanting a spacious, peaceful escape with a light footprint.
Explore Siskin & Coll Cabins →
We chose the names Siskin and Coll Cabin taking inspiration from the place and nature around them. A Siskin is a tiny bird which is common around the woods. Coll means Hazel in the ancient Ogham tree alphabet, symbolising wisdom, creativity, and knowledge in Celtic mythology
What our guests think
What to Expect: Forest, Wildlife & Slow Living Experiences
Connect with Nature
- Wake to birdsong and enjoy the peace of our forest garden.
- Relax on the private deck or wander the woodland boardwalk.
- Spot red kites, wildflowers, and other local wildlife.
Explore & Adventure
- Take gentle walks to Beauly Firth, Redcastle, or Monadh Mor.
- Discover coastal villages like Cromarty, Avoch, and Rosemarkie.
- Enjoy unique wildlife experiences, including dolphin watching at Chanonry Point.
Learn & Slow Down
- Optional guided tours of the gardens offer insights into permaculture.
- Experience a low-impact, off-grid lifestyle, from bucket showers to solar-powered comfort.
- Sip morning coffee, cosy by the wood burner, or simply take time to unwind.
Whether you’re here to explore, learn, or simply slow down, we invite you to stay awhile and reconnect with nature.
Our Story: Permaculture, Creativity & Daily Life
We’re Clive and Julie, and The Warren is where we’ve made our home on the Black Isle. What began as a neglected garden has grown into a thriving permaculture homestead. Here, we welcome guests to our eco cabins and live at a gentler pace, guided by the seasons. Most days you’ll find us in the gardens tending plants, or in the studio, bringing creative ideas to life. More About what we do →
Explore Our Forest Garden & Wildlife Habitats
When we arrived in 2015, the land was mostly lawn and neglected woodland. Since then, we have worked to transform it into a rich mosaic of edible landscapes, wildlife habitats, and regenerative systems.
Designed with Nature
Using permaculture design principles, we’ve shaped the land with forest gardens, ponds, meadows, and no-dig beds. These systems nourish the soil, support pollinators, and grow beauty and abundance through the seasons.
We continue to learn, adapt, and design as the land evolves with us.
Walk Through the Garden →
Arts, Making & Daily Creativity
Alongside nurturing the gardens and hosting guests, we make time for creative hobbies.
Clive is a visual artist working across painting, collage, photography, books, and site-specific responses to place. You can see some of his work online at Axisweb, SSA and VAS, or when his work is featured in gallery exhibitions.
Julie brings a background in environmental science, along with a wide range of creative and practical skills. These include organic gardening, breadmaking, and food preserving. In particular, she enjoys sewing, knitting, upcycling textiles and making clothes.
See Our Creative Practice →
Connect with us
To stay connected with life at The Warren—sign up for our Substack newsletter for updates on our eco cabins, forest garden, creative projects, and seasonal reflections from the Black Isle.
Our eco cabins are booked through Airbnb, where you can see current availability, pricing, and guest reviews.
If you have any questions about the cabins, the forest garden, or your stay, please email us at hello@blackislepermacultureandarts.co.uk and we’ll be happy to help.
