Get off grid for a taste of pioneer life at Mount Freedom Cabins in the Carrick Hills, South Ayrshire.
On a working sheep farm near the pretty harbour village of Dunure in Ayrshire are Baron, Brae and Bennan, three beautiful, pioneer-style log cabins overlooking the Firth of Clyde and the mighty Ailsa Craig. Dog friendly and perfectly designed for outdoor living and cosying up by the fire, let’s check in for a taste of mountain life.
Mount Freedom Cabins, Ayrshire
I’ve spent a lot of time hunting out Scotland’s best huts and cabins – and I have a new contender for you. The brainchild of Angus and Tracy who have branched out from their more traditional stewardship of the Dunure Estate on the edge of the Carrick Hills to build three cabins inspired by their camping and glamping travels all over the world.
Named after the hill which overlooks the cabins (yes, there is actually a Mount Freedom in Ayrshire) the cabins have been designed to mimick American ‘Adirondack’ pioneer homesteads from the 1830s with traditional hewn grey shingles exteriors and interiors lined with pine.
As a big fan of homesteading and getting off-grid and remote, I knew I would love our cabin, Baron, even before we arrived – and I was right. These cabins are stunning.
Outside, there is a huge wooden deck sitting under a saddlebag-style porch which gives access to an external fireplace for marshmallow toasting in your rocking chairs, then there is that outdoor bath big enough for two complete with bubbles and of course, a couple of laidback Adirondack chairs with blankets for watching the ever changing weather over Ailsa Craig. Oh so perfect.
Inside, the cabin the cabin has a wood-burning stove, a kitchen with a full oven and thankfully, even though this is glamping, there is a modern shower room with a great power shower and tons of hot water for both inside and out. Fluffy towels, cosy dressing gowns and lots of extra goodies are provided. The floor to ceiling loft space provides a sleeping deck, reached by a gorgeous curving ladder. The bed is king-sized and soft with crisp bedding and great pillows – and a view of the seas and hills from the bed.
As the owner, Angus, says – all you need to bring is food and booze. So check in, light the wood burner, pour yourself a glass of fizz and jump into your outside bubble bath to watch the sun go down over Ailsa Craig. Bliss.
Before you stay at Mount Freedom Cabins
- Sleeping arrangements are pioneer style, the loft bed is up in the ceiling and is reached up a wide but steep ladder. This is not a staircase. If you have any mobility issues you might find it a wee bit of a struggle. If you have age-related issues (like us) remember that in the night the bathroom is at the bottom of this ladder.
- Dogs are not allowed in the loft bedroom (and to be honest, they wouldn’t be able to get up the ladder) so if your dog is needy like our spaniels be aware that they cannot sleep near you.
- There is no wi-fi and no 4g in the cabins. You can just about pick up a mobile phone signal on the deck if the wind isn’t blowing too hard. There is also no TV but there is also a portable DVD player, a DAB radio and a bluetooth speaker for offline music.
- To give each of the cabins privacy they are reached on foot via a woodland path to their rear. You will need to bring your gear, dogs and food in a wheelbarrow from the car park. Barron is the cabin with the most privacy, but it is also the furthest cabin away – worth considering if you are the type who travels with the kitchen sink in tow. All of the cabins have privacy.
- The Mount Freedom Cabins are around a 30-45-minute walk across the farm fields to the local village where there is a cafe and pub. The route is well mapped but wet and muddy, so bring boots if you are planning on walking for a pint. The village is only a five minute drive if the weather fails you.
Things to do at Mount Freedom
If you can tear yourself away from your cabin…
Discover the village of Dunure – a 30-45 min walk from the cabins or a 5 minute drive is the coastal village of Dunure. Visit Dunure Castle with its small labyrinth, hike the Ayrshire Coastal Path, have breakfast or lunch in the Harbourside Cafe or dinner and drinks in the Anchorage Inn.
Did you know that Dunure makes an appearance in season 3 of the TV series Outlander? The small harbour at Dunure was used as Claire and Jamie’s departure point on the Artemis for Jamaica and where Jamie swims out to Selkie Island.
Visit Culzean Castle – explore this giant National Trust for Scotland castle and estate perched out on the edge of the Ayrshire Coast, high on a cliff. Designed by famous Scottish architect, Robert Adam, the castle is surrounded by a 260-hectare country park including its own beaches. Culzean Castle is pronounced Cul-een and is used as the castle of Lord Summerisle in the Wickerman?
Learn about Robert Burns at his birthplace museum in Alloway – Just a 15 minute drive from the cabins is the pretty town of Alloway, home to the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and the house in which he grew up. The museum is run by the NTS and is fascinating. There is also a dog-friendly garden, a monument to Burns and the famous Brig o’Doon to discover.
Head to the beach – the Ayrshire coast has lots of lovely beaches. My favourite is at Croy (behind the caravan park) which has views of Culzean Castle.
Try the Ayrshire milk – Ayrshire is famous for its dairy farms. Dotted around the countryside you will find dairy farms offering up their milk for sale – in their own vending machines! You can even buy milkshakes. Try the vending machines at The Coo Shed cafe (which has a fab cafe too) just outside Ayr or at Humeston Byre farm shop (which also sells lots of other other goodies) just to the south of the cabins.
Dumfries House – Another Robert Adam gem, Dumfries House was saved for the nation by King Charles in 2007 for the sum of £45million. Built for William Dalrymple, 5th Earl of Dumfries, the house is rather special and contains much of its original furniture – including pieces specially commissioned from Thomas Chippendale.
The grounds of the house’s 2,000-acre estate are especially beautiful and come complete with a Chinese Bridge and arboretum, walled garden and even a maze for kids to run around in. The restoration of the house and garden has been completed in stunning fashion and gives an insight into a true 18th-century mansion home.
Read more: things to do in Ayrshire
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Love from Scotland x
Kate Hopper
The blogger behind Love from ScotlandLove from Scotland is your guide to how to travel Scotland like a local. My name is Kate and on my site you will find everything you need to plan your perfect trip to Scotland – from destination guides to the best places to stay.