Brockloch Bothy

Off Grid Eco Pods 

Our first words when we arrived were 'wow!' and that was the feeling throughout. The bothy itself is well equipped, well designed and beautifully and comfortably decorated. The finishes and furnishings are beautiful...The view from the huge wall of windows is spectacular at any time of day and in any weather. The bothy is very well insulated as even when it was pretty cold and windy outside the inside retained the heat superbly...

Rosanna, visitor's review at canopyandstars.co.uk, 25/8/15

The  Bothy's Story

The Bothy was commissioned by Brockloch Farm as off grid, eco, holiday accommodation and was designed to meet the planning criteria for a caravan - the sheep farm diversified in 2012 and was granted planning permission to site caravans for rental on its land.  Meeting the criteria meant the building had to be prefabricated, transported to site and finally bolted together in two pieces. It sits on adjustable  galvanised  pillar bases bolted to minimal, concrete pad foundations which means it can be removed from the site if necessary, meeting another planning condition. The Bothy sits at the top of a field with beautiful views over the surrounding countryside  and is let to visitors as one of Brockloch Eco Retreats' properties - it has now been joined by the distinctive Echo Living Treehouse. 

The story of Brockloch Farm and the Bothy build was filmed for the very first episode of Channel 4’s ‘George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces’ in 2012 and since then, Brockloch's owners, George and julie Nicolson, have commissioned the off grid treehouse, their second property designed and built by ECHO LIVING. The treehouse was also featured in a later programme. Due to their unique qualities, both properties have featured in a variety of articles  - take a look at our News & Reviews .

About the Bothy

Brockloch Bothy comprises four eco pods, each with its distinctive pyramid roof and roof light, and is completely off-grid. 12v lighting and power is provided by solar p.v. panels cleverly incorporated into the roof design,  and bottled gas is used for cooking and heating water. The building can be occupied year round and is heated by combination of solar gain, through its large south facing double glazed windows, and an efficient, wood burning stove for use in cooler months. The heat is retained due to the high level of insulation - thick layers of humidity regulating, sheep wool in all walls, floor and roof allow the property to be used in colder months .

The four pods are linked together, but the building is modelled internally to create both open planned spaces and separate rooms. The internal walls are lined with spruce ply panels and the floor is of engineered oak. Panels of soft colour on the spruce walls articulate the space throughout.

An entrance hall opens onto the light filled, open plan living space; straight ahead, at the  far  end, two sets of double-glazed sliding doors frame the landscape. The kitchen sits to the side of the L-shaped space and shares the view; it  has a hand built, free standing, oak cabinet which houses the gas oven, 12v fridge and storage space; its oiled oak worktop has a set-in stainless sink and four-ring gas hob; open shelving provides extra storage, and painted wall panels compliment the duck egg blue cabinet front and coordinate the elements to create a homely backdrop for the dining table and chairs. The wood burner sits on a slate hearth at the opposite end of the living area. Light floods into the  entire space through the large south facing windows and easy access to the decking allows for indoor-outdoor living. 

A separate double bedroom is simply decorated. A painted panel and shelf with bedside reading lights creates a  focus for the room; shelving and a small alcove with wooden pegs provide storage and clothes hanging space, and a window looks out to the woods and the morning sun.  Opposite the bedroom is a compact, but brightly lit, shower room with  wall mirror, long opaque window and coloured rubber flooring. Every space is thoughtfully used and a spacious cupboard  holds a water heater and provides more room for storage. Wooden wall pegs also feature in the hallway and kitchen.  

The positon of the Bothy's windows has been  carefully considered, with large, south-facing, sliding doors to maximise the daylight and solar gain, and to frame the wonderful views; the skylights, which  illuminate the pyramid ceilings by day, include one above the bedroom which frames the Galloway Dark Sky and creates the opportunity for stargazing by night. Alternating square panels of horizontal and vertical larch cladding accentuate the building's modular characteristics and provide a decorative  exterior  finish.