Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Coomhola valley in West Cork is a beautifully converted old horse van (also a camper in its more recent life life) with a cozy living space, three large beds; a beautiful wood veranda with wooden table and benches overlooking mature woodlands planted by the owner, with the sound of the river below - all overlooked by the green hills on the other side of the valley (complete with thrill seeking, mountain- climbing cows walking the ridge…)  Spoiled for choice of woodland, river, and hill walks right outside our door, we meditated as dusk fell with the peaceful, fluffy white sheep who dot the ancient hills of the infamous Priests Leap. You can also drive over the Leap to the other side of the rainbow where the Kerry gold of the Kingdom awaits you.  We enjoyed a nature walk down through the woods to the pristine waters of the river below; took a romantic dip in the dappled sunlight and later under the moon and the stars. We spotted a king fisher; cranes; fresh-water trout; and a bat perfectly nestled in his resting place of the tree.
There is a fire pit in the woods just above the river,  and there are also large nets fastened securely in the trees and a trampoline for the kids or young at heart... ‘Lying on the net under a canopy of trees, watching the leaves sparkle in the twilight breeze.’   I enjoyed a most pleasurable morning bowel movement on the beautifully constructed compost loo, in the satisfying knowledge that I was giving rather than taking from nature.  You might meet Annie, Pete, or Jess, the open and friendly owners who have given a lifetime of hard work to their communities, and whose vision is to share and bring people together in creativity, common vision, and joy.
We couldn’t help but see the love; attention; intention; and hard work they put into growing their vision and sharing what they have created.
We enjoyed the sculptures dotted around the space, one being ‘The Pod’; a large and cozy hanging structure created by Pete. This structure has traveled around various festivals creating a safe space where one can crawl inside and listen to music or play guitar and the like.
It always feels good to give and share money and resources to those who are growing and building community with the intention of making the world a better place. The attention they give to upcycling and using natural materials; ecology; and giving back made this an excellent choice and an experience that keeps giving.