Enjoy our lovely handcrafted cottage in its wooded, peaceful setting with its new keyhole-style herb garden. Just a mile off the Keswick exit of I-64 near Charlottesville, UVA, Monticello, many wineries and historic sites, this conveniently located property includes walking trails, hilarious chickens, beautiful gardens and a new playset for children. High speed internet is an added bonus. The space The cottage at Golden Hill is open for guests to enjoy a getaway or a change of scenery. It's a freestanding structure that you have all to yourself with lovely surroundings -- blooming flowers here and there, fresh herbs growing out the front door, horses grazing a short walk away -- that will refresh your soul and renew your energy for whatever challenges your day to day world presents you with. The cottage features a beautiful design with coffered ceilings, cherry floors, huge expanse of custom-made windows looking out over the Southwest Mountains, and handmade stairs leading to a loft which will make you feel like you are in a tree house. With the wood stove going it feels cozy on chilly nights; the lovely deck with lounge chairs facing the amazing chicken coop complex, bricked fire pit area and beautiful gardens creates a wonderful, relaxing place. (Firewood is available!) Take a walk on the private, gravel road or through the woods on Fairy Path down to the beaver pond at your leisure. Visit the garden, play with the chickens, enjoy a beautiful sunset and marvel at how many stars you can see because there are no interfering lights. If you bring children, they might enjoy swinging on the new play set, playing in the play house, climbing the cargo net or climbing wall, sliding down the fire pole or the 10' slide or crossing the monkey bars. (Monkey bars have been stress-tested for adult pull-ups too, if that's part of your workout!) Outdoor games such as croquet and bocce balls are also available. Please note that the water is fresh from a deep underground aquafer and has been tested and approved -- it does not taste like chlorine. Also we have recently gotten high speed internet; random, independent speed tests indicate 40+ mbps. There is no oven (just a microwave that is also convection) and no freezer. Guest access A very easy 15-minute drive from downtown Charlottesville, this 10-acre wooded property has a handsome cottage built by my son, a master craftsman, as well as a main house, a large garden with seasonal produce available, a hammock in the summertime, a chicken palace and walking trails nearby. The cottage has a charming loft with queen bed and easy chair for reading and a main floor with a sitting area around a wood stove and a small kitchen with two-burner cooktop, microwave/convection oven, small refrigerator, coffee maker, french press and basic kitchen supplies; there is also a full size gas grill outside on the deck, and a bricked fire pit area for gathering around and roasting marshmallows. Both floors overlook the mountains. For those who appreciate smart design and excellent craftsmanship, examples abound. We have wifi but no tv. The wifi is adequate for netflix but not as super fast as you find in a city (higher speed coming soon, we have been promised!). Other things to note In the loft there is a queen size bed, and on the main level a day bed that can sleep two (pull-out trundle feature, i.e. two twin-size mattresses), The day bed doubles as a very comfy couch with lots of pillows. The cottage sleeps four -- if you want a cot for a fifth person, I can provide that, or you can bring your own air mattress. I do ask an additional $30 per night for a fifth person. Please note that the stairs to the loft are not typical, but steeper, more like those on a ship; see photo. Dogs cannot climb these stairs. Also note that my own house stands about 100 feet from the cottage; you may be in a "little house in the big woods," but yours is not the only house. Your dog is welcome, but I do ask that you let me know if you are bringing one. If he or she is a shedding kind of dog, please leave behind a bit extra when you leave, adding to the cleaning fee, as it is of course more work to prepare the cottage for the next guest. (The airbnb system does not have a way for me to add that fee; I depend on you to kindly remember it.) Please let me know if you have any questions.