Eco-Travel ECEAT Finland

Kultaranta cabin on the shore of scenic Lake Pielinen is ideal for visitors who enjoy living close to nature and would like to experience a traditional cottage holiday. At Kultaranta you can slow down, relax in a private setting and leave your busy everyday life behind. Kultaranta is also a great choice for those who would like to go back in time and enjoy life as it was lived in bygone days.

The cabin is only available in summer. It comprises a living area and a separate sauna and changing room. The cabin has beds for three guests: a sofa bed for one and two mattresses in the loft. The main cabin has a kitchenette and a farmhouse-style table. The large soapstone fireplace can be lit on cool evenings, and the sauna also has a wood-burning stove. Additional accommodation is available in an outbuilding (a double bed).

Kultaranta also has a 10-person cooking hut with a wood-burning soapstone barbecue, gas griddle pan and an electric cooker. The view from the windows across the lake only 20 metres away is beautiful.

As the cabin does not have running water, drinking water sourced in a natural spring is carried over in containers. Water for other household uses can be taken from the lake, and there is an outdoor toilet.

Surroundings and activities

 At Kultaranta you can listen to the silence and the sounds of nature. The only dwellings nearby are two holiday houses (200 metres away). The cottage has a private bathing area.

The use of two bikes and a rowing boat is included in the rent.

You can also fish (however, please note that you must purchase the required fishing licences).

The cabin is surrounded by woods and meadows. A local rose variety delights visitors with its blossoms in summer.

The cabin is an ideal location for star-watching in late summer. The owners will be happy to point you in the right way; in addition to sustainable tourism projects, they have also been involved in a tourism project relating to stars, phenomena of the sky and darkness.

Activities in the local area:

Juuka:

• in Juuka (18 km) there are several nature attractions and cycling trails. You can rent a cargo bike at Juuka Library (early booking is recommended).
• cultural destinations in Juuka: The old centre of Juuka village, Mill Museum and Local Heritage Museum, Finnish Stone Centre, Juuka wooden church.
• more information about nature attractions in Juuka
• information about local attractions, see the website of Juuka Municipality and Juuka–Seura association.
• local history trail in Juuka

Koli and other excursion destinations:

• Distance to Koli National Park and its magnificent hiking trails is less than 30 km.
• Koli Visitor Centre Ukko provides information about hiking trails as well as the culture and history of the area.
• Koli tourism website and Metsähallitus website.
• National parks of Hiidenportti, Tiilikka, Patvinsuo and Petkeljärvi as well as Telkkämäki nature reserve/heritage farm in Kaavi.
• Distance to Nurmes town 70 km. For nature attractions and hiking trails, visit the website of Nurmes.
• for more tips and links, see the website of Kolin Kajo, which is also managed by your hosts.

Directions

• Bus: Nunnanlahti 8 km. Bus service roughly twice a day.
• Train: Joensuu 80 km
• Motorists/cyclists: enter ‘Autionahontie 20, Nunnanlahti’ in your navigator.

Opening times and prices

• Open: 1 June – 30 September. Advance booking necessary.
• Prices: EUR 800.00/week (incl. VAT at 14%). Includes use of the entire site with its buildings and equipment (also bed linen and firewood). Price does not include cleaning.

Our actions for the environment:

• when maintaining the cottage, we preserve landscape values and biodiversity.
• we have put up bird boxes around the cottage.
• the forest is in natural state (apart from brush clearing)
• the meadow around the cottage is mowed annually to stop the growth of tree saplings.

Cultural actions:

• the buildings were constructed on site, and their round logs came from trees felled and debarked in a local forest.
• traditional building techniques and materials were used (for example, the firewood shed has a wooden shingle roof).

Future

• we will step up our cooperation with local tourism companies with the aim of encouraging the use of local services.
• we will intensify our collaboration with Seulaset, the local branch of Ursa Astronomical Association.
• we will keep up our involvement in project cooperation on sustainable and responsible tourism.