Eco log cabins perfect for holidays

When Shropshire estate owner Michael Gillett and his wife Sylvia decided to follow the success of their award-winning holiday let by building nine log cabins on their land, only the best would do.

Michael wanted real log cabins, not something that pretended to be one, and the man to build them wasn't that far away. nextpage

Martin Cordingley (above right, with Michael and Sylvia) of Custom Built Cabins, based at Baschurch, Shrewsbury, was recommended to the Gilletts by a friend, as he was working on a hand-built cabin for them.

Michael was so impressed with Martin's talents that the trio decided to become partners in creating a small, and it has to be said, very impressive, development of real log cabins on Brynallt Country Park near Ellesmere. nextpage

The log cabins are at the top end of the market, five star buildings which can be used as holiday homes or let out as an investment.

They are built with 10 inch profiled Western Red Cedar logs from England. In Scandinavia, where inspiration from their design came from, cabins are built with logs to the maximum width of eight inches.

Machinery from Scandinavia to cut the wood was specially commissioned for the project, and is thought to be the only type of its kind in the UK. nextpage

Not only are they extremely solid and well built - they are expected to stay standing for some 200 years - they are packed with eco features.

These include under-floor heating, solid oak flooring, solar panels, heat recovery systems and rain water harvesting for the toilets and washing machine. The logs are also insulated with sheep's wool.

Martin said: "Also, the timbers will naturally be replaced in 40 years, so these cabins are about as green as you can get."

Above: The stylish, modern kitchens come with a dishwasher, oven, hob, fridge/freezer and washing machine.

The interior of the cabins is modern, stylish and very comfortable. They come with a decked balcony at the front and parking for two vehicles.

Design details include stylish spotlighting in the decking floor and extra windows built into the apex of the ceilings. And, instead of using conventional roof tiles, the cabins come with a cedar shingle roof.

There will be three single-storey, two-bedroom, cabins at £185,000 and six two-storey, two/three bedroomed cabins, with the top floor being open and so, in theory, you could include two further bedrooms, said Martyn, at £245,000.

The show cabin features a wood burner, which is optional, because the under-floor heating and high standard of insulation makes them warm already.

Martyn said: "We get the logs in with all the bark on. A Scandinavian piece of machinery then turns them into 10 inch cylinders. Another machine does all the notching."

Sylvia said that they had 'learnt a lot' working on the project, and they are obviously clearly delighted with the result.

She said: "If people have a place in France or Spain for six months they may like to have a home to come to here." nextpage

The homes cannot be used for residential purposes, but as holiday homes or holiday lets.

The site isn't really designed for families, as there isn't much for children. Yet it is perfect for people wanting a high-quality, select, luxury, private - real - log cabin amid beautiful countryside.

Brynallt Country Park Estate has a grand early Victorian residence, which was built in 1843 by George Salter, a retired tea plantation owner. It also has a folly, The Tower, and Grooms Cottage, which the Gillett's let out on a residential basis.

The idea to build the cabins came from local authority planning officers, following an award given by Shropshire Tourism for the Gillett's first holiday let, The Byre, a former cow shed, under the best non-serviced self-catering accommodation category.

They suggested the Gilletts may like to expand their holiday let business. Sylvia said: "We had to prove a need for holiday accommodation in North Shropshire and Shropshire Tourism was behind us all the way." nextpage

There are good-sized open-plan gardens with Scandinavian-style planting which are well spaced apart. And the views from the site are magnificent.

Brynallt is 500 feet above sea level and famed for its fine views of the plain of Shrophsire, extending to the Montgomeryshire, Denbighshire, Cheshire and Flint Hills - the Wrekin - the Briedden, Berwyn ranges and Bickerton Hills. What more could you ask for?

Further details from marketing manager Frank Lauriello on 07870 158191/01691 662280 or www.brynalltcountrypark.co.uk