Off grid eco cabin retreats, forest gardens, and creative permaculture homestead on the Black Isle.
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 offer accommodation in two self built, off-grid eco cabins in our regenerative woodland.
Designed with simplicity and comfort in mind, the cabins offer a quiet, nature based place to stay while exploring the Black Isle and the Highlands, or simply taking time away from everyday life.
Regenerative WoodlandPermaculture Forest GardenThe Forest Garden from aboveDolphin Watching, Chanonry PointThe Fairy Glen, Black Isle
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 whisky barrel 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.
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
We had an amazing time staying at the tiny house. It‘s very conveniently located for lots of activities in the area. The place has everything you could need in a beautiful setting. We loved how well thought out every aspect of the cabin‘s design was and would definitely stay here again when we visit the Highlands again. Clive and Judie were super helpful and thoughtful. Ps. the jam is highly recommended.
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Jan
2 years on Airbnb
Aug 2025
Wij hebben onwijs genoten van onze tijd in de hut van Clive en Julie. Het verblijf was exact zoals beschreven. Het geeft je echt het gevoel even weg te zijn van de buitenwereld. Het contact met Clive was erg prettig, hij reageerde altijd en snel. Daarnaast had hij goede tips voor de omgeving. Wij zouden dit verblijf zeker aanraden en wij hopen in de toekomst nog eens terug te komen.
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Lena
5 years on Airbnb
Aug 2025
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay! Not only is The Warren a fantastic example of regenerative living and design, it’s a peaceful getaway where you get to immerse yourself in the beauty of the natural world. Clive was super helpful, responsive and took the time to show us around the amazing gardens. It’s a truly unique experience and the cabin is cozy, beautifully designed and comfortable. We also enjoyed the breakfast basket full of homegrown and homemade goodies. Highly recommend!
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Jason
Bozeman, Montana
May 2026
Julie and Clive handcrafted this beautiful and comfortable wooden cabin. It is well equipped and we loved the details, like the pieces of art on the wall and the hand knitted kitchen cloths. We really enjoyed this place. Julie and Clive are the best hosts and gave us a lot of recommendations. We loved the laid back atmosphere on the Black Isle and enjoyed the surroundings nearby. We also did nice day trips to Glen Affric and the highlands (a very impressive walk up mountain Stac Pollaidh north of Ullapool). The only one thing that could be improved is the mattress. For me this mattress is too firm; I could feel the iron springs. So perhaps a mattress topper could be a good solution? Altogether, we wish to return and can highly recommend this place.
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Janneke
10 years on Airbnb
Aug 2025
Clive and Julie were great hosts! We got the breakfast hamper and it was perfect! Lots of local recommendations and very helpful advice. We will be thinking about our perfect stay at this cabin for a long time to come! Loved loved loved!
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Rhonda
Halifax, Canada
Aug 2025
Everything about this stay was amazing, beautiful cabin, peaceful surroundings, had everything we needed! We will certainly be back for anther longer stay.
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Alexander
4 years on Airbnb
Oct 2025
We loved our stay in Coll Cabin. Clive and Julie put a lot of love, care and passion into this project. We felt instantly at home in the cabin. The heating with firewood worked spectacularly well. At no point did we have smoke in the cabin and the cooking with the gas stove worked perfectly as well. The view from the cabin over a beautiful meadow was lovely to wake up to. We booked a little tour of the gardens and an introduction to permaculture with Clive, which was extremely informative and truly inspired us. Reaching other destinations by car worked very well. This was the highland getaway that we dreamed of.
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Nyasha
Bern, Switzerland
Apr 2026
We had a lovely stay at the cabin! Clive was very friendly and made us feel right at home, giving us lots of ideas on what to do during our stay 🙂 The cabin was so peaceful and beautiful and not too far from local activities! We would recommend anyone to come stay here
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Caitlin
7 years on Airbnb
Aug 2025
Would recommend this stay to any one. Everything you need from a place and more. Really makes you think about how you consume stuff in a more ‘normal’ living situation. So relaxing and great opportunity to just be, read or look out the window watching the birds. Close to lots of fun things- including great farm shops, local brewery and a short walk from the sea! Clive had great communication with us and gave us a grand tour when we arrived. The permaculture food forest is beautiful to be staying in too.
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Lauren
6 years on Airbnb
May 2026
Sehr liebevoll eingerichtete Cabin, in der man mit dem gemütlichen Kamin und umgeben von Bäumen sehr gut entspannen kann. Die beiden Gastgeber waren immer gut erreichbar und sehr hilfsbereit. Insgesamt eine tolle Erfahrung!
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Michaela
3 years on Airbnb
Aug 2025
We had a lovely week in Clive and Julie's beautiful little cabin. It's very peaceful in its woodland setting with a great view over a grazing meadow. The space is small and very comfy with everything we needed. In true Permaculture fashion, everything has been well thought through and carefully designed. Our hosts were super friendly and accomodating and Clive gave us a tour of the land, which reminded me how elegant Permaculture principles are. Black Isle is gorgeous, with beautiful walks, great places to eat, museums, history and culture galore. We fully enjoyed this visit to the future 🙂
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Justin
14 years on Airbnb
Jul 2025
I had the most restorative stay at Coll Cabin. While not too far from the house, the woodland surroundings were so peaceful. I love how the eco-cabin and information inside makes you mindful of your habits and consumption - perfect for slowing down. There is plenty to do in the local area if you love nature, history or exploring generally. Clive and Julie are great hosts and were very friendly and responsive while leaving me to do my own thing! I would happily stay here again.
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Anna
8 years on Airbnb
Oct 2025
Our stay at Julie & Clive’s was wonderful. Really enjoyed all the details they put into the design of the eco-cabin and the permaculture approach to their hosting as well as gardening. Great for people and the planet 🙂
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Angelika
6 years on Airbnb
Jul 2025
My friend and I were lucky enough to spend six days at Siskin Cabin, and it was unforgettable. Clive is a wonderful host: attentive, proactive, and full of great tips and information about the area. You can really tell how much effort he puts into his work and how thoughtful he is with details, especially in the way he built his cabins. The cabin was very cosy and comfortable, even in colder weather, thanks to its natural sheep’s wool insulation that keeps it warm in a sustainable way. It was even better than we imagined: well furnished, beautifully maintained, with attention to every detail, and set in Clive and Julie's beautiful woodland. We did not have a car but found it easy to reach the cabin and explore the area using public transport. We enjoyed every second of our stay. If you love nature, sustainability, and the philosophy behind cabin life, this is the perfect place for you. We’d love to come back!
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Ginevra
2 years on Airbnb
Aug 2025
A perfect woodland haven!I spent a lovely, long weekend in Siskin eco-cabin with one sunny day where I got out walking and one wet day where I stayed cooried in, enjoying the thoughtful and well-designed space.The hosts, Clive and Julia, were friendly and helpful. They lit the fire for my arrival which gave me a nice warm welcome, and let me pick raspberries from the garden for my breakfast. I enjoyed reading up on the planning and design of the cabins, and the permaculture ethos, which I knew a little about already but was interested to learn more.The cabin was designed with thought and care, with everything I needed for a weekend of peace, quiet and reconnection with nature. I enjoyed the autumn woods, the spectacle of the wild geese, the beauty of the local area (the cabin has maps and recommended walks), and the rain drumming on the roof, the second day when I decided to stay indoors for some mindfulness practise and a much-needed digital detox. Just what I was looking for!
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Catriona
9 years on Airbnb
Oct 2025
Notre séjour dans ce cadre bucolique était tout simplement magique. Nous avons adoré l'idée de retourner à la nature tout en profitant d'un confort très agréable. C'était amusant et rafraîchissant de chauffer l'eau pour la douche, et l'absence de Wi-Fi nous a permis de vraiment déconnecter et apprécier notre environnement.Les petits déjeuners étaient délicieux, avec un pain fantastique qui a rendu chaque matin encore plus spécial. L'attention aux détails et la qualité des produits locaux ont vraiment fait la différence.Nous recommandons vivement cet endroit à tous ceux qui cherchent à échapper à l'agitation de la vie quotidienne et à se ressourcer dans un cadre naturel et paisible.
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Antoine
11 years on Airbnb
Aug 2025
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 a gentle walk to the Beauly Firth and the ruins of Redcastle.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Or follow us on Instagram @thewarrenforestgarden or @bipa_studio_blackisle
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.
