Hindman House: Quiet restful all-season rural retreat

Set back on a quiet road on over half an acre, Hindman House, just 20 minutes north of Owen Sound, invites you to relax and recharge in any season. The house is a cherished historic gem fully-equipped with all the amenities for 21st century comfort and function.

A fully-equipped, chef-approved kitchen, comfortable seating areas for relaxing with a book or Netflix, beautiful rural surroundings inviting you out on the porch or for a walk. Close to the Bruce Trail & Sauble Beach and an hour's drive to Tobermory.

THE SPACE

Rustic on the outside, charming and welcoming on the inside is the best description of this place.

The house can easily accommodate 4 adults, and with the use of the comfortable memory foam sofa bed, up to 6. The efficient and fully equipped kitchen has island seating and an adjoining conversation area. The living/dining room, with windows on three sides, has a comfortable sectional, reading chairs, a TV with streaming services, a Bluray player and assorted games and puzzles. The dining table seats 8.

The stairway opens into the 'loft' master bedroom, which has a California king bed and a curtain that can be pulled for privacy. The second bedroom is equipped with a queen bed and a futon that opens into a double bed. Both bedrooms have hutches and dressers for unpacking and good bedside lamps for night-time reading sessions. Each bedroom also has a well-equipped desk for remote work.

The west-facing rustic front porch has Muskoka chairs and a dining set for breakfast or lunch al fresco. A new south-side entrance and 3-season sunroom is a nice spot to read on a rainy day or catch some early spring sun. A patio door opens onto the back deck with comfortable seating, a propane BBQ, a dining table and chiminea for evenings under the stars.

Bird-feeders at both the front and the back of the house draw chickadees, goldfinches, nuthatches, woodpeckers, bluejays and more. During migration season a wide variety of birds can be seen. Sandhill cranes are frequent visitors in nearby fields and often fly over, sounding their distinctive bugle. (It's a special treat to see hundreds of sandhill cranes gather in the late fall in preparation for migration.)

ABOUT US

Ray and Heather bought this property in 2016 as an unexpected retirement project. The house was built circa 1868 and was owned by the Hindman family for over 65 years. Ray's grandparents, Robert and Pearl Hindman, raised their six children (the middle child, Norma, was Ray's mom) in this house so we just couldn't resist bringing this amazing treasure back into the family. We rent to allow us to continue to improve the property so we very much appreciate your visit.

While we are currently not living locally, we're available throughout your stay by phone or email as your first point of contact. We have a network of family and friends we can call on should something arise that requires hands-on help.

THE AREA

The house is rural and is surrounded by farm fields, with grazing cattle in the spring, summer and fall. The neighbourhood is very quiet and a haven for birds and animals all year round. Georgian Bluffs township is heavily forested, providing habitat and movement corridors for wildlife. Black bears, sandhill cranes and eagles have begun moving back into the area in the last number of years.

Two access points to the Bruce Trail with parking are within a 5 minute drive of the house, The Glen on Grey Road 17 and the Lindenwood access. We've had numerous guests stay who are walking the Sydenham section of the Bruce Trail and have found our place to be well situated. In addition to the Bruce Trail, the area has numerous conservation areas with public access operated by the Grey Sauble Conservation Authority, including Jones Falls, Inglis Falls and Indian Falls. The AllTrails app is an excellent source of information and rates trails by difficulty. If you love the outdoors, we truly have something for everyone.

We are minutes from the long sandy beach and spectacular sunsets at Sauble Beach, Bluewater Park on Colpoy's Bay in Wiarton and the crystal clear waters and stoney shores of Georgian Bay. Water, water everywhere. A local outfitter rents canoes and kayaks.

Local potters and other artisans abound in the area. The Owen Sound Artists' Co-op is a great place to find out who is where. The Saturday morning Farmer's Market in Owen Sound operates year-round and the huge Keady market runs on Tuesdays from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving. Excellent local restaurants, brew pubs and wineries will keep you well-fed. Choose your shopping experience: Big box stores and a reviving downtown? Owen Sound; A quaint main street minutes from Colpoy's Bay? Wiarton; A beach town vibe? Sauble Beach. The house is about a 20 minute drive from each town.

And then there's the Bruce Peninsula, part of the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve . We're about an hour from Tobermory and the Bruce Peninsula National Park, which includes the famous Grotto. We are also 40 minutes from Cape Croker Park, which is owned and operated by the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation, offering "Anishinaabe Cultural Experiences ... [including] guided hikes, art, storytelling, hands-on learning and traditional plants." There truly is so much to discover "on The Bruce" you couldn't fit it all into one visit.