A Cottage on a Private Island Big Rideau Lake

Three-bedroom cottage and bunkie on a one-acre private island. The island, Potato Island, is situated in Horseshoe Bay on Big Rideau Lake. Spectacular water views and excellent privacy. A traditional Canadian cottage experience. Pet friendly. Week-long bookings only.


The Space

Well treed one-acre island including three-bedroom cottage, bunkie, two docks, a small swimming area and a fire pit. Excellent views of the lake from both sides of the cottage. The cottage includes an open living and dining area with a wood stove, small well-appointed kitchen, a three-piece bath, three bedrooms and a large deck. Other cottage amenities include two kayaks, two canoes, two rowboats (for access), water toys, a new barbeque, reading material, art supplies, games and kids toys.

Important Cottage Notes:

About Potato Island
- The cottage is located on Big Rideau Lake. It is located approximately 20 minutes southwest of Perth, Ontario, on a bay on the north side of the lake called Horseshoe Bay. It is a little bit southwest of Murphy’s Point Provincial Park.
- It takes about 90 minutes to get to the cottage from central Ottawa, including a 10 minute canoe or rowboat ride.
- Good fishing, canoeing, kayaking, sailing, boating. Wildlife includes herons, loons, ducks, geese, turkey vultures, turtles, mink, muskrat, beavers, bullfrogs, the occasional deer, garter snakes, dragonflies, monarch butterflies and lots of bird life.
- We'll send you detailed directions as to how to get there if you decide to rent.

About the Cottage
- The cottage is an older seasonal uninsulated structure and thus, it is prone to have the occasional spider, ant, wood roach, mouse or other insect. Although, we do make an effort to keep these critters out of the cottage, you may see some. If this is a problem, you may want to consider a different type of rental.
- The cottage is ideal for individuals and families who want peace and quiet and relaxed play. Although it can accommodate large groups, it is not designed to be a party palace.
- Because it is an old structure, some of the facilities are relatively primitive. We have hot and cold running water, but there is a limit to the amount of hot water that can be generated at any one time. The environmental toilet works very well, but also requires a little bit of understanding and water conservation measures.
- Bed linens, beach towels and bath towels are not included in the rental due to there being no washer and dryer on the island, but can be provided for an additional fee. Pillows and spare blankets for cold nights are included.
- The wood stove heats the cottage quite well in the event of cooler temperatures. Guests are responsible to bring their own firewood, or it can be arranged to be provided for an additional fee.
- Cell phone signal is somewhat limited at the Island (1-2 bars most phones)
- No air-conditioning, but good breezes off the lake and lots of windows with screens. There is also a ceiling fan and two tower fans in the cottage.

Island Living Advantages
- No neighbours
- Privacy and quiet
- No need to tether pets
- Lots of shoreline
- Many different types of landscapes

Island Living Disadvantages
- Time of canoe/rowboat ride (4 minutes)
- Transportation of food and drink
- Transportation of building materials, tools and repair items!
- Isolation in case of an accident (Although there are neighbours within shouting distance, and the mainland shore is about 150m away at the nearest point)
- Travel to the island after dark

Children
- There are lots of things for the children to do, but primarily non-electronic. No music system and television except a wind-up radio. We don’t mind other people bringing these, just don’t expect them to be supplied.
- There are lots of games and puzzles, swimming masks and flippers, a badminton set, climbing, fort building, frog-spotting, crayfish baiting (use bacon!) and other old time honoured cottage pursuits.

Swimming
- The level of the lake is regulated, and can change over the course of the season by up to 30 inches. The water is clear and good, but off the main dock is weedy. We have a small beach a little further down the island and from this you can walk out with no weeds. The sand is fairly gritty (we provide water shoes) and the beach itself is only exposed at the end of the year when the water level is at its lowest.
- The quality of the swimming is good, but not excellent.

Boating
- Small boats may be launched from the landing dock, otherwise there is a public launch about half a kilometre away from the cottage.
- The fixed dock on the lake side on the cottage is suitable for docking boats up to 20' in length.
- If you bring your own motor boat you can travel a long distance up and down the lake.
- You can also make long voyages by our two kayaks or two canoes.
- Horseshoe Bay is quite calm and excellent for canoeing and kayaking.
- Weather can pick up on the main lake, so caution and planning should be taken with longer adventures.

Guest access
Full use of the island including the three bedroom cottage and bunkie. Parking available on mainland for two vehicles.

Other details to note

This is a pet-friendly cottage, so even though it is cleaned thoroughly between guests, we can't eliminate all causes of pet-allergies, so if you or children could be affected, please take that under consideration.

Because this is a pet-friendly cottage, so even though it is cleaned thoroughly between guests, we can't eliminate all causes of pet-allergies, so if you or children could be affected, please take that under consideration.


Bookings
- Bookings are (mostly) restricted to FULL-WEEK rentals, Saturday to Saturday. 5 DAY RENTAL MINIMUM.
- The cottage is uninsulated, but does have a wood stove, so it is available for rent May - October.

Neighbourhood description
Potato Island is located in Horseshoe Bay on Big Rideau Lake. Big Rideau Lake is part of the Rideau system and is renowned for its excellent bass, walleye, trout and pike fishing. Horseshoe Bay is a large calm bay off the main lake.


Getting around
A car is definitely required. The nearest towns for shopping are Perth and Smith Falls.