A two minute walk up Littlewood road will lead you to Horth Hill Regional Park, one of the most exquisite rainforests I have had the chance to encounter. This is not a manicured park, but real forest with multiple hikes and a marvellous array of native plants and mushrooms. Some paths end high up, with views of the Salish Sea, the Gulf Islands and the Saanich Penninsula. This is unceeded W̱SÁNEĆ territory, and I sighted a Culturally Modified Tree. (Earl Claxton Jr., Tsawout First Nation elder and knowledge keeper, describes how the existence of these ancient CMTs provided legal evidence that W̱SÁNEĆ peoples lived in this region for many thousands of years prior to European contact. Culturally Modified Trees or CMTs are considered living archives. - UVIC Dept. of Geography)
The cottage itself sits at the edge of the forest and boasts the same flora, large ferns, (fiddleheads at time of writing), mossy wildness, so you can wander or enjoy a drink under the tall cedars. Inside the house is a grand stone fireplace, hand built. With plenty of logs and kindling you can enjoy a great fire, and after you have stared into the fire you can close the fireplace door, which recycles the heat to cut the carbon footprint while keeping the cottage toasty. The main room has high ceilings with large timber joists and a huge picture window that looks out onto the woods. This is where I saw both deer and bunnies graze. The hosts, Gail and Kim, are warm, gracious people who respected my privacy. I had a marvellous retreat here, the sun shining through the tall canopy. I hope to return. Highly recommended.