Essential Details 2024

2024Merrymeet Cottage Essential Details

  • Number of guests is limited to 6.No additional guests in tents and camping in RV's, vans, etc. are permitted for safety, wear & tear, and septic reasons.

Pet Policy

We welcome friendly dogs, however, please no cats due to family allergies. Dogs must keep ‘four on the floor’ and not be on furniture or beds.

  • Access to the cottage is via gravel Hutcheson Road, off of Muskoka Road 8. The hosts will give you directions. It's a picturesque one-lane road, with a 10mph speed limit. If you meet another car, you may have to back up a bit, so both can safely pass each other.
  • Damage deposit is refundable provided Merrymeet is left in the same condition as when you arrived. Fridge, floors, plates and cutlery, BBQ, bathroom, bedrooms, dock area, boats tidy and clean. Beverage bottles to be taken home and garbage left in sanitary bags inside rear cottage entrance.
  • Merrymeet is a non-smoking cottage. Any smoking must be 5m from any cottage opening, and done with utmost care, the woods are very dry
  • Merrymeet is far from streetlights, making stargazing spectacular! Please  bring flashlights and minimize use of outdoor lights
  • Wifi is available Starlink - we will give you a password 
  • It is the renters’ responsibility to bring towels, sheets, pillows, extra toilet paper and paper towels for the rental period. Merrymeet's bathroom has a couple of rolls of toilet paper, 
  • Fully equipped galley style Kitchen with sink, potable water spigot, refrigerator, coffee maker, toaster, kettle, microwave, skillets, pots, plates and cups.
  • We recycle. Bottles and plastics have their separate bin. Garbage is collected weekly.
  • BBQ and a full cylinder of propane is provided. It may be refilled in Dwight or Huntsville (both about 20 minute drive)
  • Firewood is available for those occasional cool nights.
  • Cottage water is lake-fed.
  • There is a potable water spigot beside the kitchen sink which filters all lake water bacteria, and is tested monthly. When water slows, the filter has become coated with bacteria. Instructions are given to clean the fragile ceramic filter in the cartridge. We encourage you not to bring bottled water, for environmental reasons.
  • Lake water is not potable, however, the water is passed through an inline charcoal filter, located in the basement. It is perfect for boiling when you cook and make tea. You will notice it is free of chemical taste, unlike typical city water.
  • Swimming is from the dock to your own private raft - caution, water is deep, so supervised strong swimmers or life jackets are required. Diving is only from the raft, the water off the dock is only 3 feet depth. You will notice huge rock submerged near the swimming raft; the rock has a float marker near it, please be cautious when diving near it, it is usually 1-2 feet below the surface in the summer months. We call it "the pear". A rope swing is on the other side of the bay. Your hosts can point you in the direction to the rope; about a 20 minute paddle from Merrymeet.
  • Parking - behind the cottage
  • There is a 10' aluminum row-boat moored at the dock-  There is a small selection of life-jackets  - to be sure of proper fit, please bring your own and your children's life-jackets.
  • There is a fibreglass canoe near the water for your use. Paddles are in the cottage.
  • Plenty of lounge chairs
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Basement with washer and dryer, and room for storage of dry goods. There is always the occasional mouse in rural areas, please keep food in sealed containers.
Cancellation Policy
  • Fifty precent of each rental period is required for each week reserved (50% of full rate) and may be fully refunded if reservation is cancelled more than 30 days before arrival date.
  • Final 50% payment (due 30 days before arrival) will only be refunded if cancellation occurs more than two weeks before arrival date. We require a $400 *refundable damage deposit along with the final payment. Typically, this is $1000 then $1400.
  • * damage deposit is refunded if the cottage is left a clean as you entered it, boats put away and undamaged, cottage interior and exterior undamaged, fridge cleaned of food and then cleaned inside, barbecue cleaned. A full propane tank is provided with the BBQ and is not required to be refilled. 
  • Within two weeks of reservation arrival date there are no refunds unless there is a medical emergency.
  • Six entrances. Stone stairs down to the dock, a deck off the main bedroom, where the BBQ is located.
  • Working smoke detectors
  • Working fire extinguisher in kitchen
  • Queen size bed in main bedroom
  • Two single beds in adjacent bedroom
  • Double bed in separate bedroom near living room
  • Dining area that opens into the living room and kitchen
  • Stone working fireplace in the living room
  • Laundry: Washer, dryer, and clothesline
  • 3 piece bathroom with tub/shower
  • Fire-pit near water's edge. Check with hosts regarding burning permissions. There are frequent summer bans on outdoor burning when the woods are dry. There is a small pile of fireplace and fire-pit wood at the back of Merrymeet.

Watercraft:

You are encouraged to bring your own floating devices, including kayaks, paddle-boards, canoes  Supplied as part of your rent, and available on Merrymeet dock and beach:

  • Aluminum boat  that sits 5 passengers with one passenger rowing. It comes with a set of oars. (NOTE *** you are welcome to bring your own (max 9.9hp) motor and fuel,  please remember Ontario requires a boating licence for each operator.) Rebecca and Bella lakes are frequently checked by authorities.
  • There is a small selection of life jackets in the hallway or basement of Merrymeet. Please bring lifejackets  for yourself and your children, to be sure of a proper fit
  • Fibreglass canoe that can take three passengers. One person in the middle and two others at bow and stern
  • assorted plastic "noodles" for water play near the dock.

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Hutcheson Bay is a small body of water with many neighbours who value quiet.  Although there are a couple of seldom used Seadoos on the bay, we respectfully request that Merrymeet be a cottage that uses human powered craft.  Paddlebords are welcome, there is a canoe and aluminum rowboat to use and we would be pleased to provide some sailing lessons to anyone interested.. 



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