This is a wonderful time of year to rent a cottage. There’s little more romantic than wrapping up warm for a moonlit walk on a frozen lake, with the smell of wood smoke in the air, and the canopy of stars glittering overhead. Returning to your cosy cottage to curl up in front of the fire and reflect on yet another beautiful day in cottage country rounds off an evening perfectly. And we have plenty of cottages for you to choose from.
To really enjoy the experience you need to be prepared for everything a cottage winter can bring so please take a few moments to read these winterwise notes.
Winter Weather
All cottages offered for rental during the winter months have road access and receive a snow plowing service from either municipal or private sources. However, rental guests are advised that following any major snowfall, snow plow providers are contracted to clear local roads in a predetermined order. Consequently, plowing at your cottage may be delayed for several hours or, in severe storm weather, several days. Conditions in cottage country can be vastly different from those experienced in the city, even just a couple of hours north. For example, snow squalls off Georgian Bay occur regularly in the Southern Georgian Bay/Parry Sound/Huntsville area.
In the unlikely event that a lack of snow clearance prevents you leaving the cottage on your planned departure date, you will not be liable for any additional accommodation charges. Conversely, should a lack of snow clearance prevent you from reaching the cottage, you will receive a refund of the rental fee for the day(s) the cottage was inaccessible. However, neither CottageLINK Rental Management nor the cottage owner will be held responsible for any losses, additional expenses or penalties incurred as a result of being unable to arrive at or leave the cottage on time due to a lack of snow clearance. Please note that CottageLINK Rental Management in conjunction with the property owner will be the final arbiters in deciding the accessibility of an individual property.
Winter Driving in Cottage Country
Guests are also reminded to ensure that they and their vehicles are suitably prepared and equipped for driving in the wintry conditions likely to be encountered during their visit to Cottage Country.
Although most major highways and major county roads are kept relatively snow and ice-free, cottage country rural roads can remain snow or ice covered for sometime after a fall of snow. Therefore, when considering a cottage rental during the winter months when snow and ice are likely to be a factor, good winter tires are essential and 4WD is highly recommended.
Keep the following in your car during your trip to cottage country: a snow shovel; blankets; cell phone; and flashlight. Do not travel without adequate winter clothing in the car – boots, headgear, coat and gloves are essential. A bag of sand or a traction mats could come in handy as well.
Be Prepared
Preparing for the worst is also advisable. A sudden whiteout or vehicle mechanical failure can rapidly deteriorate into a survival situation if you have not prepared adequately. Ensure you have sufficient warm clothing and supplies with you to keep you and your passengers safe until help arrives or you are able to continue your journey. Bear in mind that in cottage country cell phone reception can be patchy at best and non-existent in many locations.
