Mars Hill, North Carolina
Like an actual heron’s nest, our new modern mountain cottage overlooks the Ivy River and is just a short drive to Asheville’s vibrant cultural and food scene and Western North Carolina’s amazing recreational opportunities.
Only 20 minutes from downtown Asheville, the peaceful retreat setting provides the best of both worlds. Just completed June 2017, this stylish cottage was designed to create a blend of a mountain cabin’s harmonious connection with the natural world and all of the newest, luxury amenities of home. Wide sweeping views from your deck or home interior provide opportunities for spotting our resident heron and other wonderful bird life, to listening to the sounds of the laughing river. Each room, including a bath with a large picture window connects you to the revitalizing experience of nature.
Situated on 20 beautiful acres of land with private river access for fishing or relaxing. You can walk on trails through ever-changing woods or stroll along the Ivy River. We have three special outdoor areas for enjoyment. The first is our south facing deck. Accessed from either the main living area or master bedroom, it is perfect for watching a sunset while listening to the sounds of the Ivy River below. The deck also has a gas grill that is very convenient to the kitchen.
Just a few steps from the front door of the cottage in a wooded area shaded by a great oak, you can read, have an engaging conversation or take a relaxing nap in the hammock. We have also set aside a private spot on the river, a short walk from the cottage where you have your own beach area to sit, wade or fish.
The cottage is ideal for small families, 2 couples or a small group. Dogs considered.
Peaceful, quiet and private. We had a great time.
Fantastic property! Gorgeous, serene views. Secluded enough to relax, close enough to enjoy all Asheville and surrounding has to offer! Hosts are generous with their knowledge of local fun from hiking to breweries, shopping to dining. House is clean, so charming, comfy and accommodating; 100% recommend. I wish we could have stayed longer and would most definitely stay again!
I traveled with my husband, 2 teenage daughters and golden retriever. We loved the location of the cabin. It was very secluded. We felt like we had our own private mountaintop! The cabin itself was lovely and met all our expectations based on the property description. There were all the necessary provisions and then some! We Plenty of towels, blankets, sheets, toilet paper, paper towels, detergent, cleaning supplies, and even coffee and spices. We enjoyed the cabin's back balcony and the sounds of the river the most. The cabin does not have direct access to the river in the back yard. In order to get to the river, you must hike down about a quarter of a mile to get to the Herons Nest guest river access. The hike down is just fine, but the hike back up is a little strenuous. Especially if you have young children or complaining teenagers (I had the latter!). Despite the hike down to the river, we did spend time there each day for our dog to swim and fetch rocks. It is also a great, secluded spot to spend the day, especially if you don't mind the hike.
We couldn’t have asked for a better setting for a long overdue getaway while the kids were away at camp. Our hosts were very welcoming, but not imposing at all. The cabin has a minimalist Scandinavian feel about it. Prepare for an amazing forest immersion, and to be lulled into a relaxing state by the sound of the river down below. Of all our rental experiences, this is our favorite, and we definitely hope to return. We were sad to leave. Some things others might want to know: 1) there’s no dishwasher, but there is a nice drying rack at the kitchen sink 2) there are no window blinds or curtains at the primary bedroom windows, so unless you’re an early riser, bring your sleep mask 3) perhaps not the best place for younger children… a) there are sliding barn doors that can pinch little fingers b) the deck railing is comprised of horizontal stainless cables that little heads can squeeze through We definitely give it two thumbs way up!!!
Wow, what a wonderful stay at Heron’s Nest! We traveled from Cleveland Ohio with our pup as well. We absolutely loved how quiet & secluded the house was…but still felt like we were fairly close to everything we wanted to do. Downtown Asheville was only about 20 minutes away. Even closer than Asheville was Mars Hill and Weaverville.. we frequented both areas for grocery shopping and restaurants. The house itself was immaculate. You cannot beat the view from the porch. We spent time down by the river fishing and hanging out… also lots of time spent just sitting on the porch, relaxing and watching the occasional heron fly by.. The house was well stocked with books, games, paper products, kitchen supplies, and even many pantry items available to use.. It was such a relaxing vacation. We really felt like Richard well prepared us for the trip by sending us a list of dog friendly places to eat, hiking trails, and links to articles about Asheville. We would definitely return in the future!
We enjoyed ourselves and had an excellent time at the herons nest and would gladly return to this beautiful area!
We chose this cabin to stay in with our two pups for our wedding in the Weaverville area. It was very secluded, relaxing, and quiet while also being only 15/20 minutes from anything we needed such as gas stations, grocery stores, the hair/makeup salon, and our wedding venue. The view of the river and mountains was perfect without requiring too much work from our old little car to get up the driveway. Richard was very kind and kept us up to date on things such as road maintenance. We would definitely stay here again.
We love our stays at Heron’s Nest. Peaceful and quiet but close enough to Asheville. Richard and Joanna are gracious hosts who have made a special retreat.
The cabin was beautiful and perfect for my little family of 3. The large window in the master bedroom was perfect for stargazing while drifting to sleep. The remote location was quiet and exactly what we were looking for, but still close enough to drive into Asheville for dinner and shopping. My daughter loved the river; it was a bit more of a hike to get there than I imagined, but still fun. Overall, we had a great weekend! The directions they sent ahead of time were a huge help, didn't get lost once :)
The cabin and the entire area was just beautiful. There are no window coverings which at first concerned us but proved to really add to the beauty. Every window is like a piece of art. And it’s very secluded, so we were not worried about privacy. Waking naturally to the sunrise was nice, too. And our teenagers still slept until almost noon!
Great getaway to unwind and relax!. Definitely off the beaten path. Recommended for anyone who needs to unplug.
Everything was perfect for our week stay at the heron’s nest. The owners were extremely helpful and easy to communicate with. The cabin had everything we needed-very thoughtfully appointed. As other reviewers have said, it’s even better than the description. We found the experience very pet friendly, even providing dog sheets for the couch and bed and dog towels for the messy paws. Our weim enjoyed his stay and all of our outings, which were owner recommended. My kids (10 and 12) played on the river almost every day. Parents, expect to drive down to the river, as the walk is a bit too far if your goal is to swim and play in the river. But if you just want to hang out, you can walk down because the owners have very helpfully provided chairs near the river site. We cannot wait to come back!
We had a wonderful stay at Heron’s Nest a great blend of rusticity and modernity. Close to Asheville but a world away. Our daughter loved swimming in the creek, and early morning walks. It is a peaceful location great for anyone looking for peace and quiet surrounded by nature, yet with easy access to all the area affords. We would definitely stay here again!
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