Our Kabns are a 7-minute drive down a private gravel track from the main road. We will provide you with a video of how to get to the sites once your booking has been confirmed. Please follow these instructions carefully. Each Kabn is over 100m apart providing you with privacy and seclusion and just a few metres from the loch shore. For further information please see our Contact page.
Kabn 1 is in a Portrait orientation with a Japanese inspired glass slatted gable. The gable faces the loch. This Kabn benefits from a slightly raised elevation along with an 'L' bench sofa.
Kabn 2 is in a landscape orientation with a panoramic glass corner. The long side of the cabin faces the Loch. Owing to the smaller bench sofa there is also an armchair made by Fern Living (the fabric of which is made from recycled plastic bottles).
Both Kabns feature the same internal floor space, identical amenities, kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms.
Each Kabn has been specifically designed to suit its exact setting, offering two beautiful and unique options to choose from. We do not feel there is 'better one', both come with stunning views and good vibes!
The Kabns are located on a very fragile and protected ecosystem which we must take care to protect. Therefore we mandate that all guests only use the washing and cleaning products that we provide.
We provide complimentary wash products which are eco-friendly, cruelty-free, vegan and specifically designed with the environment in mind.
Please do not put anything down the sink or toilet other than the cleaning products we supply and water. This is mandatory and essential to avoid breaking the treatment system.
The naturally derived soaps have been carefully chosen to be easily biodegradable for our coconut husk septic filtration system. We provide the following:
We kindly ask that you do not remove any of the washing and cleaning products provided so that other guests can enjoy them.
We provide:
We Also Provide Two Types of Pillow for different preferences:
Whilst the track is a little bumpy in places, a 4x4 is not required (although we wouldn't suggest arriving in a supercar!). Kabn Company does not own or manage the road and does not take responsibility for any damage sustained to vehicles. Please always drive at a slow speed and keep to the track outlined on the map provided with the booking confirmation. Traffic is two-way on a single track with passing spaces.
Cooking Options
Other Equipment
We know how painful it is to have to pack these items when travelling to a self-catered property. So, to make you feel at home, we have provided a set of basics.
We just ask that you only use what you need and do not remove any items provided at the end of the stay, so that other guests can also enjoy them.
Dried Herbs and spices
Oils / Vinegar
Tea / Coffee
Unfortunately, we are unable to cater for any allergies at this time. If you suffer from any food allergies, to be safe, please do not consume any of the complimentary products provided.
We have decided to choose a more private and remote setting over being closer to town and 'on mains'.
Power is a very precious commodity. We have installed 15 solar panels to capture as much natural energy as possible. However, given the climate and location, this is not an unlimited resource. We have designed a system that minimises the use of a generator as much as possible. However, the generator will be switched on at certain points during the day in Winter (Mid October to Mid February) to charge the batteries as the solar array can only top them up to a certain level.
We kindly ask that all guests try to use electricity and water as sparingly as possible and use the opportunity to try to 'disconnect' from electrical devices and be conscious of the water we waste. Overuse of power simply means the batteries will be depleted quicker and are more likely to run out during your stay. That being said the system has been thoughtfully designed to ensure that there is plenty of electricity to go around.
All cooking and heating is via gas and the woodburning stove. Gas is an efficient energy source. We are, of course, conscious that this is a fossil fuel so we plant one tree for each stay at our Kabns to help offset our footprint.
For more details please see Home Truths below.
We clean each Kabn fully before you arrive.
There is no room service given the remote location and we wish to negate the environmental impact a daily cleaning service would generate.
We operate a fair usage policy for our complimentary wood. We supply the highest quality hickory and oak charcoal (for the Green Egg BBQ), logs, kindling and firelighters for the fires all free of charge. Wood is expensive and a limited resource so we therefore supply on a fair usage policy, if you would like to purchase more we can supply (subject to availability and must be purchased at the booking stage) alternatively extra wood and charcoal can be purchased at the local 'Tree Shop' nursery next to Loch Fyne Oyster Deli.
Yes. We encourage all of our guests to enjoy spending time in the cabins and outdoors, cooking with the lovely local produce that is on offer.
However, if cooking is not your thing or you fancy a treat, for selected dates Chef William Hamer will be cooking incredible meals over fire at an enchanting greenhouse about 20 minutes walk away on the Estate. Please check out Wild Kabn Kitchen for more information and availability. Booking essential.
There are also a host of wonderful restaurants nearby. You can find more details in our Food section.
Even though we are off-grid, both the toilet and shower are 'normal'. The rain shower and flushing toilet travel through to a revolutionary wastewater treatment plant that uses recycled coconut husks to filter out all the bad stuff.
This is an off-grid property and we encourage our guests to switch off their devices and relax during their stay. For work emergencies, or if you need to get in contact with our WhatsApp concierge, we do provide low-speed WiFi. Please note this can be temperamental so please do not expect reliable WiFi. There is also mobile reception with 2/4 bars of 3g (Three, 02 and Vodafone network) which should be sufficient to hotspot (outside the Kabns) if required.
We are pleased to say that the Estate have kindly allowed us to accept dogs between 1st July and 28th February. We charge GBP 50 per dog per stay (up to a maximum of 3 dogs). This includes a GBP 5 donation to the Scottish SPCA.
Guests are not permitted to bring pets on the Estate or into the Kabns between 1st March and 30th June. The main reason is to minimise disturbance of the ground nesting birds along the shoreline.
Please note that Ardkinglas is a working Estate with farmed livestock and wild game and dogs should be on leads at all times.
Yes we do. Our off grid power system can only manage a low powered hairdryer so please DO NOT use your own. Please use the hairdryer provided sparingly as the electricity in the system is limited and if you use your own it will break the system.
We have set the experience up so that you do not have to interact with any person (face to face) during your stay.
Clear instructions of how to use the property will be provided prior to check in and in a booklet on-site. You must read and agree to the Terms and Conditions of the usage of the Kabns before arriving. This is for your own safety and information.
There are no Kabn employees on the Estate, however, we do have a dedicated concierge which you can WhatsApp or call anytime between 8am and 8pm. If there are any true emergencies please phone the emergency services (999).
From your check-in date:
Please read our booking Terms & Conditions for more information.
We are using a charity to plant one tree for each Kabn stay. The Charity we donate to is called Ripple Africa.
Ripple Africa is doing a fantastic job in Malawi helping both the lives of people living there and the environment. Ripple Africa work with farmers and communities who are planting millions of trees each year. These provide a sustainable source of timber and firewood for local people. Their tree planting project is one of the largest and most successful in the north of Malawi providing a long-term solution to deforestation caused by the destruction of indigenous forests.
Some milestones below:
Kabn Company is the perfect place for a romantic getaway. Adults only self-catering cabins for couples retreats, solo travelers retreats, and groups of friends wanting to hire both cabins for exclusive use. Ideal for a digital detox.
We have also had a number of guests coming to stay for their luxury minimoon here in Scotland.
[VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTICE]
Wood Burning stoves must be carefully operated. Please read the instructions provided in the Kabns before use.
1) Make sure all vents are open and the ashtray is empty. Please see the diagram provided onsite for vent locations.
2) Lay 8 pieces of kindling (the small thin sticks of wood) in a small pile with 1x eco fire lighter underneath. Light the firelighter and wait a minute or so until the kindling catches fire.
3) Add 1 or 2 small indoor logs carefully on the kindling and then close the stove and make sure the logs start burning.
4) Once the fire is going nicely and after 10 minutes or so you can add a larger log. Never add more than one log at a time. Never overload the fire or let the fire get too hot.
5) You can reduce the air intake so the wood lasts longer and the fire does not get too hot. Please see the instructions provided in the Kabns for further details.
The Loch Fyne Restaurant is a 7-minute drive away and has 2x charging points and 2x Tesla charging points. Inveraray (20-minutes drive away) has a few other charge points.
Under no circumstance can you plug an electric car into the Kabns. This will destroy the off-grid system.
Photos have been taken by a few talented individuals including Asad Iqbal, Paul Little (Wild Kabn Kitchen related), Sam Firth and Paul Miller.
Bombarded with notifications and updates. Doom Scrolling. Over stimulation.
Stepping away from the digital noise and embracing an off-grid experience for a digital detox can be the ideal escape.
Numerous well-established advantages come with digital detoxes, including:
Too often a website only shows the good bits of a property, the perfect vision, only for the reality to be a disappointment. Whilst we have tried our best to make the Kabns the best possible experience for you, we thought we should let you know some of our home truths so you are fully informed before you book. The last thing we want is for you to be disappointed by your stay.
Being off-grid with a strong focus on reducing our environmental impact, there are certain sacrifices we had to make in order to facilitate the trade-off between experience, comfort and cost.
We worked hard to strike that balance and we hope the overall experience will outweigh any imperfections. We are also a start-up and constantly learning and seeking to improve so please do let us know during your stay via our
WhatsApp Concierge if anything is falling short of your expectations.
We hope that you appreciate our unusual and candid approach.
In Scotland there is a true sense of freedom provided by The Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (which came into force in 2005), giving everyone rights of access over land and inland water throughout Scotland.
Given this freedom, people do regularly walk and cycle along the track in front of the Kabns (just a few metres away) so you may see other people during your stay.
To help maintain your privacy, we specifically designed the Kabns with movable Japanese inspired charred larch screens externally. In addition, there are internal blinds covering the bedroom window so you can sleep any time in privacy.
Given the secluded setting and the fact the Kabns are on a private Estate, foot traffic is generally very low.
Other people do live on the Estate, so you may pass other cars when leaving/returning. Please be conscious of your speed and use the laybys - you might need to test your reversing skills on the single lane track! Noise does travel so please be respectful to other guests and those that live on the Estate. Thank you!
The Ardkinglas Estate shore track is a little bumpy in places. 2 wheel drive access is fine but if you are wanting to bring your sports car, probably best to leave it at home! We do not own the access road and we are not responsible for its condition. Given this, we do not accept any liability, loss or damage associated with access to the Kabns.
We provide clear directions on how to get to the Kabns. Unfortunately, Google maps still does not recognise the newly formed access road from the main road turn off so please follow the written instructions provided. There are small discrete signs at the main road turn off and further along the track to help you along the way. Please follow the instructions carefully. The actual pin on Google maps is correct, just not the directions it gives you on the Estate.
We wanted to create an experience where you feel immersed in your surroundings, not closed off from the light and nature around you. There are (intentionally) no blinds or curtains internally (aside from the bedroom for privacy) so natural light floods in, including the bedroom area. We appreciate that it gets light early in the summer this far North so please bring an eye mask if you feel this might disrupt your sleep.
We have designed the Kabns to be very thermally efficient to maximise heat retention and minimise energy usage. That being said, it can get cold in the winter so we installed a small radiator in the living room and a heated towel rail in the bathroom, both powered by an LPG A+ efficient rated boiler (this is only turned on during winter to avoid unnecessary use of fossil fuels). This same boiler also heats the water on demand.
Furthermore, we installed a DEFRA compliant wood burning stove with an oven insert which does an excellent job of heating the Kabns, reduces the reliance on LPG and also serves as a small oven. This is the primary source of heat in all seasons and the only heat source during the summer months.
Depending on the weather it may get cold at night when the fire dies down. The vegan duvet made from recycled plastic bottles is a 13.5 tog and is nice and cosy. Combined with a throw also made from recycled plastic bottles we hope this will keep you warm in bed.
The Kabns are located just 5m from your own private beach, 1 hour from Glasgow and just 20 minutes from Inveraray. It is a stunning spot. However, depending on which way the wind is blowing you might hear the occasional (and distant) noise of heavier vehicles or motorbikes from the public road the other side of the Loch over 1km away. A small sacrifice for being in such a fantastic location.
We have used low energy LED lights to ensure we are using the most energy-efficient bulbs and to keep power consumption to a minimum for our battery bank. There is a remote for these lights on the internal wall by the entrance and by the bedside. Please double check all lights are switched off when leaving the Kabns so there is power for you on your return (and the other guests)!
Unfortunately, like with everywhere in the world now, plastic does occasionally wash up on the shore. Given this, we encourage you to pick up anything you see and place it in the appropriate bins behind the Kabns.
The sofa is an integrated bench seat with slightly different designs in each Kabn. It is not the most comfortable sofa but given the limited space it serves as a practical place for you to relax and enjoy the view; this is, after all, a small space. We have supplied a footstool in each Kabn so you can put your feet up! Kabn 1 has an L-shaped sofa, Kabn 2 has a smaller sofa but also has an armchair (made from, you guessed it, recycled plastic).
We have 15 solar panels each providing 330 Watts of renewable energy. This is stored in a state of the art battery storage system. This supplies all the electrical power from Mid February to Mid October.
In the deep winter months the sun does not get high enough to charge the batteries to 100% everyday. To take into account this shortfall we had to install a diesel generator to top up the battery system when either the load is exceeded or the batteries fall below 20%. We chose specific lithium-ion fast-charging batteries to limit the run time of the generator. We have intentionally set this to be on during the day [10:30-13:30] so it should not come on at night unless too much electricity has been used during the day.
Furthermore, we know the background hum of a generator can be irksome and take away from the experience we are trying to provide, so we have taken further steps to try to minimise this annoyance. We purchased a specific noise-reduced generator and housed it in a custom container located approximately 50m from each Kabn.
The less power you use, the less likely it is the generator will come on during your stay. We hope our guests will be conscious about the amount of power they are using.
During the summer months, the West Coast of Scotland does tend to suffer from an abundance of midges. Midges are small flying insects which give you a small itchy bite. They tend to loom in a cloud and will come and go, so if you notice them, it is best to keep all doors and windows shut to avoid them coming inside the Kabns. You can buy 'Deet Free' smidge spray here. This, combined with a head net and long clothing when outside should be fine to avoid the worst of it. The onshore prevailing wind does a good job at keeping them at bay most of the time.
Ticks are small, spider-like creatures which feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. They vary in size, usually between 1mm to 1cm long and they have either six or eight legs.
They can be found anywhere there is wildlife, usually in woodland and moorland areas, and are particularly common between March and October. The most common tick in Scotland is the sheep or deer tick. They do not fly or jump but climb on to animals or humans as they brush past.
In Scotland, the most common disease ticks transmit is Lyme disease (also known as Lyme borreliosis). They also carry other diseases but these mainly affect animals.
We have a tick removal tool in the first aid kit but you can easily pick one up in Inveraray to avoid the first aid kit charge.
The beach is made up of mostly pebbles, not sand. Some view it as a positive others a negative!