About Birchdale
The Birchdale environment encourages creativity
such as photography, writing, painting and music. There are also
opportunities for Yoga, woodworking and kayaking on the lakes. Other
activities include swimming, volleyball, board games in the lodge,
books in the library or simply get your hands in the dirt in the
garden! The lodge and library/chapel buildings provide ideal meeting/workshop
space for visiting groups.
Rustic, no frills, a place to enjoy the simple life, Birchdale is
a peaceful getaway, a retreat to solitude in a beautiful, almost
mystical setting. Come and enjoy walks through the woods, listen
to the call of the loons, watch the stars in the dark night sky
and even the Northern Lights if you are lucky!
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Birchdale offers a unique experience
in a remote setting in south west Nova Scotia. Built a century ago
with oxen and wood carts hauling felled trees across a frozen lake,
the Birchdale hunting lodge was created. For seventy five years
guides led hunters and fishermen through woods, across lakes and
down streams. People came from as far afield as Europe and many
of the pictures and guest books still exist around the tables of
the lodge today.
In the 1970's the property was purchased by a group of monks and
became the Nova Nada Monastery. The monastery operated for twenty
five years, continuing to attract guests from home and abroad.
Situated on 56 wooded acres, the property surrounds
one of four connected lakes. It includes the original log lodge,
cabins, a woodworking shop, kitchen, office and two connected octagonal
buildings that house the library and chapel built by the monks.
There is also a one acre fenced garden that encloses lawns, flower
and vegetable beds and even a little cabin.
There are six cabins situated around the edge of
the lake with full baths and wood burning stoves. Three of them
also have fireplaces. Each has gas lamps and a two-burner gas hot
plate, the main cooking facilities being located in the kitchens
at the lodge and kitchen/office.
Located seven miles down a dirt road, there is no electrical service.
The lodge, library/chapel and kitchen/office have limited electrical
power provided by an on-site generator. There is a phone in the
office. Ten miles away there is a post office/gas station/store
which sells very basic foodstuffs and great ice cream!
Places nearby...Yarmouth, 35 miles from Birchdale, is the nearest
large town with restaurants, supermarkets, shops, library, etc.
This is also the port for the ferries from Bar Harbour and Portland,
Maine.
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