Review of The Ecocabin, Shropshire

> For contact details and to book a stay at The Ecocabin, see its full listing: Ecocabin, Shropshire. 

The Ecocabin, Shropshire. Photo: Catherine Mack

As I sit on the verandah of this wooden Ecocabin, with freshly brewed coffee in hand, listening to the Shropshire chorus of serenading songbirds, I realise I am living a Waltons moment. This is probably not something anyone under the age of 35 might appreciate, The Waltons being a 70’s TV series about a huge American family living a simple and sickeningly sappy-happy life during the 1930’s Great Depression. The only thing missing at the Ecocabin is the gaggle of Walton children, and macho woodcutting men. What's left are the good old fashioned simple beauties of natural living and, unlike Ma Walton, I have the chance to enjoy them all alone for a whole weekend of pure me-time. 

The Ecocabin was built by Kate Grubb, a young Mum and farmer, on their land in the South Shropshire hills. It is a timber framed cabin, with two bedrooms, and an open plan kitchen with parlour-type sitting room, the heart of which is a state of the art wood pellet burning stove which heats the whole building. The natural building techniques started with the Douglas Fir frame, and Larch cladding, sheep’s wool insulation, reedboards and hemp plaster. The sofa and armchairs are upholstered with hand dyed organic cotton, all paints are natural, and curtains are hand tinted organic poplin. All that's missing is Grandma's rocking chair with a bit of quilting draped over the side. Colours have been carefully chosen to reflect the garden outside, where wild flowers and grasses abound, all meticulously designed to look as if it hasn’t been designed at all. 

The Ecocabin has a frugal yet feminine feel to it. There are no kitchen gadgets, telly, wi-fi or cd player. Just me and a small solar-powered radio, and it is bliss. This is a place to read, relax and fall asleep, letting nature wake you up when you are good and ready.  When I do wake, I am immediately drawn out to the verandah, an OS map spread out in front of me, working out which hill or woodland to take on. Shropshire is, for many,  one of those “Whereshires?” - it has no big obvious tourist attraction so it’s not really pushed as much on the tourist board front, and yet its cup runneth over. The good side of the lack of promotion is that it isn’t falling down with hikers and bikers all wanting to bathe in its beauty.  So don’t tell too many people, but it’s one of the border counties with Wales and very accessible via another well kept secret, the Wrexham and Shropshire Railway.

I hire a bike from a local cycle tour company (wheelywonderfulcycling.co.uk) and explore sleepy lanes, where the grass still grows in the middle of the road, sit on river banks and watch fathers teach sons to fly fish, struggle with some tough hills – butMedieval bridge in village of Clun, Shropshire enjoy the ample supply of downs . I am even tempted to swim in the River Tern, but didn’t think to bring my togs, although this area is so quiet that a bit of skinny dipping would only have turned the heads of a few sheep. 

Indeed there is something about the naked purity of The Ecocabin which allows me to completely switch off. Its stripped back simplicity is rare in a world of gimmicks and gadgets. Kate believes that the secret of sustainability is to cut out excess in our lives. This policy also means she can keep the place affordable for guests.  She has dropped her prices by no longer supplying posh organic toiletries and treats,  and you have to bring your own sheets and pillow cases, although duvets are provided. She is happier with the business now, as a result. As a busy working Mum, she found she couldn’t sustain the business as she spent her whole time doing laundry. She also believes that her clientele is more ‘real’ now, the Ecocabin attracting people who want a genuine ecobreak in the country, where they can count the birds and bees not just the GSM’s in an organic cotton sheet. 

Judging by the repeat visits in her impressively full guest book, this back to basics philosophy is now not only sustainable for her, but also a huge hit with wandering Waltons like me. I go home inspired to plant more wildflowers, make elderflower juice, nettle tea, and bake bread. In reality, if do one of them I will be pleased. My first step: ordering The Waltons box set for Christmas.

Booking:
For contact details and to book a stay at The Ecocabin, see its full listing: Ecocabin, Shropshire. 

An edited version of this article, by Catherine Mack,  was first published in The Irish Times.