So it seems 2020 is quickly becoming the year of the staycation! It was my 32nd birthday recently and I fancied a little adventure somewhere new and not too far away for some celebrations. I’ve always heard incredible things about Achill Island in County Mayo; and after seeing a friend’s photographs of a recent Keem Bay wild camping trip, it seemed like the perfect spot on the island!

It was around a four and a half hour drive to Keem Bay from where we live; passing through County Down, Armagh, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Sligo and finally County Mayo. The drive is an experience in itself. I loved crossing the bridge to Achill Island and the cliffs just suddenly shoot up out of nowhere; beautifully sculpted by the relentless wind and waves of the Wild Atlantic Way. If you look closely at the second photograph above you’ll see the (slightly nail biting) final cliff edge part of our drive down to the bay!

We wasted no time, cracking open a few beers and getting set up straight away. It wasn’t long before the sea air had us hungry for an early dinner. It turns out this was a sensible decision, as the storm clouds moved in quite quickly afterwards.

Before we knew it, we were battening down the hatches for the night. We’d kept a close eye on the forecast and knew we would be ok, but the clouds were still quite intimidating. We were fully prepared to dash back to the car during the night if we had to, but we made it through to the morning. The wind was something else during the night; it was quite difficult to differentiate between it, the rain and the sound of the sea. It was an epic sound.

We brought a Decathlon three person, pop up tent with us and it did so well during the wild night. It shook in the wind at points, but didn’t move an inch on the cliff or let a drop of rain in either. We were so cosy during the night too!

We made the most of the calmer conditions in the morning and explored the beach. I squeezed in another quick sketch too, this time focusing on the beautiful colours on the island.

We had planned on heading home straight afterwards, but the sun made an unexpected appearance. We of course had to stay a little longer and have a dip in the sea. We ended up not getting home until quite a bit later than planned, but it was absolutely worth it for this little patch of paradise.

The Bird Box is a magical AirBnb in Donegal and it’s the third incredible home designed and created by Pete and Anna. Their other homes include The Hide and The Cow Shed.

I’ve always loved treehouses and had dreams of staying in one. Who hasn’t?! During a visit to The Hide we spotted Pete building what looked like the early stages of a treehouse. I couldn’t believe it! We spent the next year or so checking in regularly with their AirBnb profile to see if the treehouse was available for booking. When we least expected it and at a moment when we were really in need of a treat, it suddenly became available. We booked a break immediately. Keeping an eye on things paid off as all of Pete and Anna’s homes are usually booked out really far in advance.

When we arrived, it did not disappoint! There was no mistaking the entrance and as we started walking we soon spotted the treehouse nestled between the trees. It was stunning. The little walk to it was an experience in itself too. We had to cross a suspended rope bridge in order to get to it; the stuff of dreams!

This is the view that met us on the other side of the treehouse…

After marvelling at the view we lit a fire, poured a couple of beers, put our comfies on and had a proper look around the treehouse itself.

As expected, it was so beautiful and cosy inside. The hosts have fantastic taste in furnishings/decor and everything is crafted so cleverly. You can find all that you need in the treehouse too; a fridge, hob, microwave/oven, sink, toilet, shower, bed, storage, lounge area, table, chairs and a mini wood burner. It’s unbelievable what they’ve built into the space.

Then there’s the trademark way in which Pete and Anna frame the views with their brilliant placement of windows. The front of the treehouse is completely made up of windows. You’re just surrounded by trees and mountains. Even the tree branches are shaped in such a way that they frame the mountain peaks!

Another lovely thing about all of their homes is that there is little to no phone signal, so you really can detach from the world there. We spent every evening eating, drinking, chatting and just staring at the sun setting over the mesmerising landscape. Much better than staring at screens!

It was surreal to wake up high amongst the trees every morning; an absolute feast for the eyes.

I treated myself to a nice new Moleskine pocket sketchbook just before the trip. I knew it would be a break worth documenting in sketches.

It’s impossible not to relax and recharge in Pete and Anna’s homes. The hammock was particularly good for this and very comfortable for a nap!

I’d like to have produced a few more sketches during our visit, but we’ll be back again very soon. It was great to just be still and soak up the newness of this special place on our first visit.

Book your own visit here.