Granny Suite – how does it feel to wake up here?
Granny Suite – Ocean view and direct access from your bedroom
The Granny Suite Cabin sits in the very front row – even closer to the ocean than our top‑floor Bald Eagle’s Nest apartment. From here, nothing stands between you and the water. When you wake up in the custom‑built queen‑size bed and lift your head from the pillow, you look straight out across the sea. Step outside through the bedroom door onto your private little terrace with two chairs and a table, then follow the small ramp down towards the pebbled beach: waves and sky are just a few moments away.
This is the most original and natural cabin on our land. On the outside, weathered cedar shingles catch the light and the wind. Inside, warm wood, a crackling wood stove and a simple, thoughtful layout create a kind of comfort that feels honest and unforced – like visiting someone who has been here a long time and knows how to live well in this place.
A cabin with a story and a dedication
The Granny Suite did not begin as a guest cabin. It started its life as a modest storage shed, standing quietly at the edge of the property, watching the ocean. Over the years it became a favorite spot for my mother‑in‑law. She still loves this little building – its view, its peace, and the way the light falls here at sunrise and moonrise.
When we decided to turn it into a proper granny suite, we did it with her in mind, because she can no longer travel as she used to. We kept the simple soul of the shed and added everything needed for a comfortable stay: insulation, a bathroom, a small kitchen corner, a living space and a separate bedroom with a hand‑built, absolutely solid queen‑size bed. The cabin still carries her spirit – a sense of being gently held, of being exactly where you belong.
Staying here is not just renting a room. It is stepping into a place that has been loved, cared for and slowly transformed, with a clear intention: to give someone you care about the best spot by the ocean.
Your private front‑row seat to the sea
The Granny Suite Cabin is the closest you can sleep to the water at North Shore Retreat:
- Unobstructed ocean views from the bedroom and living room – no buildings in front of you.
- A small ramp down towards the beach, starting right outside the cabin.
- A private bedroom terrace with two chairs and a table – your own little lookout over sea and sky.
Enjoy the sunrise every day
- Only the sound of wind, waves and the occasional eagle above you.
- Morning light pouring in, and at night, the moon rising over the water.
It feels both protected and wide open at the same time – a rare combination that many guests say they have never experienced before.
Thoughtful off‑grid comfort – including the composting toilet
Because the Granny Suite sits so close to the shoreline, it is too near the ocean to be connected to a traditional septic field. Instead of giving up on this unique location, we chose a different solution – one that fits our values and keeps this special cabin possible for our guests.
- We installed a high‑quality composting toilet system, designed for comfort and reliability.
- It allows us to offer a full, private bathroom in a place where a normal septic system would simply not be allowed.
- There is no sewage line, no digging into the fragile coastal ground, and no unnecessary waste of water.
- For you as a guest, it simply means:
- a clean, dry, odor‑free toilet,
- in a bathroom that feels completely normal – just more intelligent.
In other words: the composting toilet is not a compromise.
It is what makes it possible for this cabin to exist right at the ocean, instead of far back from the shore. It is part of what makes the Granny Suite such a rare place to stay.
Simple, natural, quietly luxurious
Inside, the cabin keeps its roots as a simple shed, but every detail is chosen with care:
- Cedar wood and natural materials create a soft, warm atmosphere.
- A wood stove embraces you on cooler evenings and makes the whole space glow.
- A separate bedroom with a hand‑built queen‑size bed invites slow mornings and early nights with a book.
- A small kitchen corner and a cozy sitting area give you everything you need, and nothing you don’t.
- Your two terraces – the sun deck by the pond and the intimate bedroom terrace facing the ocean – become your outdoor living rooms.
It is not a hotel room. It is not polished luxury. It is a different kind of richness: space, silence, view, light, and the feeling that the cabin is quietly taking care of you.
While the Granny Suite is not fully wheelchair‑accessible, it is easy to reach: there is just one step at the entrance, and the entire interior is on one level.
For guests who want more than just a place to sleep
Because of its unique position and history, the Granny Suite Cabin is ideal for:
- Couples who want a private, oceanfront retreat with time for each other.
- Solo travelers, writers, musicians and artists looking for a place where ideas can breathe.
- Anyone who loves the idea of an off‑grid, cedar‑shingled cabin with a real wood stove, a hand‑built bed and the ocean as constant companion.
It’s not just about a bed for the night; every unit at North Shore Retreat has its own character.
If you are looking for a place that feels like it has been waiting for you, the Granny Suite is worth the little extra.
Why guests choose the Granny Suite Cabin – even at a higher rate
- It is our closest‑to‑the‑water cabin, with nothing blocking your view.
- It carries a personal story and a dedication, which you can feel in the way it holds you.
- It is the most natural, authentic hut on the property, outside in cedar, inside in warm wood.
- The modern composting toilet makes it possible to stay this close to the ocean, comfortably and responsibly.
- You get the sense of a private seaside cottage on the Cabot Trail, not just another rental.
Many guests tell us that this cabin changes the way they experience the ocean. That is why we keep it exactly as it is – and why it is priced to honour the place, the story behind it and the rare quiet it offers.
Aurora Borealis at the Granny Suite Cabin
Prime Northern Lights viewing: The cabin’s remote, oceanfront location offers an exceptional opportunity to view the Northern Lights. With no surrounding artificial light sources and a clear, expansive sky, your chances are significantly higher than in more populated areas.Zero light pollution: Far from urban centres, the Granny Suite enjoys a naturally dark sky – perfect for stargazing and quiet nights under the stars.Solar‑powered simplicity: Our off‑grid, solar system keeps unnecessary outdoor lighting to a minimum, so the night sky can stay as it is.
Amenities of the Granny Suite Cabin
- Private, fully detached cabin in the front row by the ocean
- Approx. 30 m² living space on one level
- Easy access: one step at the entrance and a level floor plan inside (not fully wheelchair‑accessible).
- Separate bedroom with hand‑built queen‑size bed, ocean‑facing window and direct access to a small private terrace with two chairs and a table
- Cozy living/dining area with wood stove and table for two
- Kitchen corner with one induction plate, mini fridge/freezer and basic cookware
- Full bathroom with warm shower and high‑quality composting toilet
- Sun deck by the pond plus bedroom terrace facing the ocean
- Off‑grid, solar‑powered electricity – enough for a comfortable, mindful stay
- Direct access towards the beach via ramp and to walking trails through the woods
Winter Special – at the Granny Suite Cabin
Winter is snow shoe hikes and skiing adventure. We are 20 minutes close to Cape Smokey and from your ski hill. The perfect starting point to write your magic winter fairy tale.
Northern Lights - Aurora Borealis at the North Shore Retreat - Oceanview 2nd floor
Aurora Borealis at the Granny Suite Cabin
- Prime Northern Lights viewing: The cabin’s remote, oceanfront location offers an exceptional opportunity to see the Northern Lights. With no surrounding artificial light and an open sky above the water, your chances are much higher than in more populated areas.
- Zero light pollution: Far away from urban centers, the Granny Suite enjoys a naturally dark sky – perfect for stargazing and quiet nights under the stars.
- Off‑grid by design: Solar‑powered and gently lit, the cabin keeps artificial light to a minimum around you, so the night sky can stay as it is.
Amenities of the Granny Suite
- The full bath has a warm shower and is heated with the propane wall mounted heater and the living room with a wood stove.
- Prepare small meals in your kitchen corner with basic kitchen tools (one induction plate) and a mini fridge/freezer.
- The separate bedroom includes two single beds beside each other and a window to overlook the ocean, moon and stars from the bed. It is heated as well.
- Enjoy your coffee on the 6 m² sun deck or just sit and relax while listening to the silence.
