53°03’37”N, 09°09’42”W The Burren Hideaway, Ireland

Founded by slow-living aficionado and Galway restaurateur Aoibheann MacNamara, Summerage is an 18th-century smallholding revived as a contemporary refuge from life’s modern merry-go-round. Its exceptional location in one of Europe’s most extraordinary environments spans 32 acres of hazel forest and wilderness, the only residents being Aoibheann’s miniature ponies  Mr Crunch and Holly, and her honey-making hives of native black bees.

Re-imagined by eco-architect Mike Haslam of Haslam & Co, the former Irish farmhouse honours its roots in nature through Nordic architectural tropes. An angular red roof tops slate-grey lime-rendered walls; picture windows create a dialogue with the outside world; and pops of primary colour animate stripped-back interiors.

The open-plan living space is warmed by a wood-burning stove and lifted by design pieces from Vitra and Hay; a well-equipped kitchen reveals its owner’s passion for cooking, with plenty of kit for creating home-made meals. Two separate double bedrooms and a bathroom accommodate up to four people.

Outside, the farm’s moss-laced dry-stone walls tell of nature’s monumental sculptural power, framing a view that prompts days following your feet to clifftops, caves and cosy villages. Track wildlife from mink to merlin or simply sit still and breathe deep – this layer cake of natural history is best enjoyed slowly.

How far to the nearest…

Neighbour 1km

Beach 11km (Bishop’s Quarter); 20km (Flaggy Shore)

Shop 8km (Ballyvaughan)

Café/Restaurant 8km (Ballyvaughan)

Town 8km (Ballyvaughan)

Train station 35km (Ardrahan)

Airport 55km (Shannon Airport)

Build The building repurposes the original Poulnabrucky farm building and footprint, with the addition of an energy-efficient extension to the rear created by eco-architect Haslam & Co.

Energy Mains electricity. Split-type ductless heating system. Wood-burning stove. Spring-fed well and rainwater collection; water must be used respectfully.

Environment Summerage eco cabin sits in the Burren, a geographically impressive Unesco-protected landscape that incorporates the Páirc Náisiunta Bhoirne (Burren National Park) and the Cliffs of Moher. The glacio-karst limestone pavement supports an incredible array of species, from Alpine, Arctic and Mediterranean flora to small mammals and birds of prey. A kitchen garden in the cottage grounds supplies the restaurant from spring through November; for the remaining months it’s left fallow and fertilised by spent coffee grounds and eggshells as well as locally foraged seaweed. Aoibheann’s hives house a vital and rare endemic species of British black bee – these crucial pollinators foster biodiversity and provide honey for sale.

Community Ard Bía was created to connect locals and landscape through food, art and community projects; the restaurant at Nimmo’s, shop and clothes all promote Irish produce and products sourced from County Clare and beyond, as well as from the cottage’s kitchen garden, Gíardin Bía.

Digital detox This is the ideal off-the-grid getaway, with no WiFi, no TV, and a beautiful back-to-basics ethos. There is mobile phone reception; it’s best upstairs.

Creature comforts Roberts DAB radio. iPod dock. Coffee machine. Washer/dryer. Barbecue.

Experience this untameable wild and windswept landscape in low season: you’ll feel like the last people on Earth, but distant lights from villages and coastline offer beacons of cosy community. Burren orchids and saxifrage prick through the craggy karst in spring as wood anemones colour the hazel thickets; falcons and kestrels whirl above skitterish shrews and wild hares.

Engage

Go wandering as far as your feet will take you: hike the Capannawalla loop for breathtaking panoramas of Ballyvaughan, spanning Moneen Mountain and Aillwee; Galway Bay and the Connemara Hills to the north; and the Atlantic in the west. Board a boat in Doolin for a unique vista of the mighty Cliffs of Moher. Explore ancient monuments from the megalithic portal tomb of Poulnabrone Dolmen to hill forts and ruined castles, or venture underground in the Aillwee Caves to find prehistoric bear bones and hidden waterfalls. Cycling, horse riding, surfing and SUP are all within easy reach in this eco-tourism destination.

Savour

Ireland’s larder is livestock-based and vegetable-packed, with traditional stars being hearty stews and fresh seafood pulled from the Atlantic. Try the best local fare at the sustainability-focused Galway restaurant founded by Summerage’s owner, Ard Bía at Nimmo’s. Crack persimmon-coloured claws or try Flaggy Shore oysters at Linnane’s Lobster Bar on the Quay, where wild-caught shellfish is a speciality. Sip smooth Irish whiskey in a local pub, or take tea at Gregan’s Castle, also known for its Burren-sourced fine-dining menus.

Go slow

Contemplate the formation of the Burren: millions of years ago on this spot your feet would be planted on a tropical coral seabed alive with urchins and anemones. Count tiny blooms piercing the limestone like a constellation of floral stars. Bring that creative project you’ve always wanted to finish. Sound out traditional Irish folk music in the village of Doolin.