Essential Details 2025

  • 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 subsequent renter allergies.  ‘four on the floor’ and not be on furniture or beds.

  • Access to the cottage is via well maintained 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/vaping 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 - the password will be on the kitchen table 
  • 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 starter set of toilet paper rolls.
  • 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 and filtered through a charcoal filter, which is not potable.
  • Potable water is available out of a sink-mounted spigot. Its a slow stream which comes through a ceramic/charcoal filter, located under the sink.  We clean the cartridge between renters, but if water stream slows significantly, you will find cleaning instructions in the cottage binder. 
  • 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
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. 
  • * 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. 

  • Aluminum boat  that sits 5 passengers with one passenger rowing. It comes with a set of oars. (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" are in the cottage for water play near the dock.

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Hutcheson Bay is a small body of water with many neighbours who value quiet.  As with most lakes, personal powered watercraft are in the bay. Your neighbours are respectful of your privacy and safety in the water, but please keep a lookout for powered craft and wave to signal your presence when they are nearby.



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