Words - Anna Devine
If you go down to the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise. If you go down to the woods today, you won't believe your eyes - for the Ecopod has landed or quite possibly floated to gently nestle amongst the birch trees on the shores of Loch Linnhe off the west coast of Scotland, and there's not a teddy bear in sight.
The first of their kind in the UK, Dome Sweet Domes Ecopod boutique retreats are the brainchild of Nicola Meekan and Jim Milligan. The couple, both native to Argyll spent their early twenties in the sprawling metropolis of Glasgow before rediscovering their appreciation for the stunning west coast. Driven by an equally strong conscious of their natural environment Nicola and Jim have managed to combine modern luxury and eco living without compromising either.
The retreats are in essence temporary structures, designed to leave no footprint on the land. Even the erection process of the Ecopods uses a small fraction of the carbon required to construct a conventional building. Step inside this bubble-like curiosity and you'll find light, space and an ecolicious feast of luxury living. Everything has been carefully chosen with the environment in mind. The furniture is well-made and top of the range and has, as expected, been selected as recycled classic pieces or hand-crafted from renewable sources. There's a fully fitted kitchen with modern appliances that are low energy and timber that is sustainable. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter the Ecopods have their own log burners with the cosy under floor heating and water supplied by a biomass woodchip boiler.
But what makes the pods so eco chic? There are what some may consider 'must have' modern gadgets such as a flat screen TV and ipod docking station. These may however become less significant as you tuck in to the complimentary hamper of Scottish gourmet produce you receive on arrival or pamper yourself with the luxury pod pack in the bathroom containing organic, therapeutic toiletries all produced in Scotland.
Step outside the Ecopod and you will no doubt be drawn to the cedar soaking tub on the deck as you tip toe over, slip out of your soft fluffy robe (another extra luxury) and dip in to the irresistible ambiance of this perfect eco chill out zone that soaks up the most spectacular views of Castle Stalker, the mystical mountains of Mull and the Kingairloch coastline.
The Ecopods are enticing guests all year round with a truly unique experience on the west coast of Scotland and Nicola and Jim are not only happy to impart their local knowledge to help them discover the hidden gems of the west coast but also taste the best on offer with locally sourced produce.
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