LACKAN COTTAGE FARM

Home of Birch Cottage Off Grid Self Catering

Tranquil self catering in the Mournes

You can wake to a view of the beautiful birch woods outside your window, and enjoy the peace and quiet. Here you are surrounded by birdsong, clean air, and wonderful views. Walk in the woods, meet the horses and relax. Set beside the Mournes, Birch Cottage offers luxury self catering with wonderful views of the mountains and woodland.

Some of the most stunning countryside in Northern Ireland is on your doorstep, as is the seaside town of Newcastle. The Mourne Mountains, Tollymore and Castlewellan forest parks, Newcastle beach and stunning Silent Valley are just a short drive away.

Come and stay in Northern Ireland’s only off-grid self catering cottage. Visitors can sample life on our pioneering Green Tourism gold rated smallholding.

The good life experience

We are pioneers of the growing ecotourism and green tourism movement here in the Mournes, Northern Ireland. Consequently, sharing our lifestyle, fresh produce, and experiences with visitors is all part of the unique visitor experience.

Birch Cottage is off grid accommodation without compromise – hand crafted, comfortable, and it has wonderful views. It really is the greenest self catering holiday cottage in Northern Ireland, being Tourism NI 4 star rated, Green Tourism Gold rated and the first Green Key accredited accommodation in Northern Ireland or Ireland.

Birch Cottage self catering

You can unwind and escape to another world here at Birch Cottage. Tucked away near the Mournes, it’s unique, cosy atmosphere is a result of the hand crafted interior. Here, everything has a story and above all is chosen to be natural, which gives the cottage it’s homely feel. If you want a base to explore the Mournes, our self catering cottage has a hand crafted interior and is perfect for a relaxing retreat.

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Claire and Steve, Thank you so much for opening your cottage to us! We spent the mornings with coffee on the patio, explored the birch trees and said hello to the horses. This is Eric’s first trip to Northern Ireland and between the view of the Mourne Mountains from the kitchen, evening firepit, and all around charming area you call home, it is safe to say we will need to come back in the future. Clem was also a delight!
August 2023

Thank you so much for having us! We had and amazing time, did the walk to the lake and one from Ott carpark about 15 mins away in the Mournes and recommend both. The woods opposite are gorgeous, as are the cats and Clem, we can’t wait to come back and explore more again soon!
September 2023

What a lovely getaway this is. Love the bed, the fire and the peace of it all. Although the weather was not on our side, spending hours in the cottage was a rare treat for us city dwellers. Many thanks!
October 2023

Thank you for a lovely stay in your beautiful cottage. It was a lovely base for some biking and nature walks. The place is so well and thoughtfully equipped – Mark enjoyed strumming the guitar and stove was such a pleasure for the evening time. Thank you for the Tollymore recommendation – beautiful spot. Hope we might return again at some point in the future.
November 2023

What a lovely stay such and amazing time. So cosy and welcoming we will be back. So many details which goes to show they make a difference.
December 2023

Our second time to stay here and thoroughly enjoyed yet again (despite the snow and ice!). Enjoyed cold walks in the outdoors followed by warm evenings by the fire.
January 2024

We have had a wonderful visit! Very cosy and warm and a lovely welcome. Love the cottage and the outdoor spaces. Look forward very much to returning!
January 2024

Our second stay here and we loved it just as much! Even better weather and the view of the Mournes with the sunset hitting them – gorgeous.
We’ll be back again! Thanks.
March 2024

Very spacious, good guitar. I liked being able to see Mel and Paddy when outside. 5 stars.
April 2024

Book direct here on the website to get the best rates

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Our story

We are fortunate to have this opportunity and as a result be able to live the way we do. It is becoming increasingly apparent that as a society, we can’t go on the way we have been.Consequently something has to give. As we talk to people, their frustration at inequality and instability is obvious. Furthermore, environmental and economic worries serve to highlight the need for alternative solutions.

Lackan Cottage Farm is our response to that. Consequently, as well as upskilling ourselves to be better able to cope, we are empowering others to do the same. Likewise, we provide self catering accommodation so that they can come and experience it for themselves here in the Mournes. Therefore everything we offer here comes from our own experience and is created to be really special. We hope you will love it as much as we do.
Steve & Claire Golemboski-Byrne

Forthcoming events

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News and events from Lackan

Meet the boss

Sep 23, 2014 | 0 Comments

Today it was time to get cracking and make cob - lots of it. Lyra might only be two, but between us we used nearly a ton of sand in the mix, and yet we aren't half way yet. Lyra is particularly keen on working with her trowel, and is genuinely quite good at laying and...

Lighting the rocket mass heater

Sep 22, 2014 | 0 Comments

Today we pushed on, built a brick support around the base of the firebrick burner, - above, and then backfilled all the gaps with perlite and a clay mix to thoroughly insulate the fire itself, which we want to burn as hot as possible. The clay mix is a...

Rocket mass heater progress

Sep 20, 2014 | 0 Comments

Having tried (and failed) to get clay soil cleaned up enough to make smooth clay mortar, I just went out and bought some clean clay, which was thirty quid well spent, and allowed the burner for the rocket mass heater to get built. Several of you will be...

Come and learn

Ever wanted to make your own wine? Grow your own food? How about making your own basket, or a wooden stool? These are the kinds of practical opportunities that we offer on our regular self sufficiency courses, taught by people we respect and who are expert at what they do. In addition we run broader courses in subjects such as Off Grid and ‘DIY’ living, Permaculture and Natural Building where you can discover more about ways to be more self sufficient.