Off-Grid and Offline: Embracing a Slower Pace at Pine Brae Eco Resort

In a world that is constantly moving, the thought of heading out on a sustainable, off-grid escape felt like a breath of fresh air. More and more lately social media has been telling us that we always need to be “on” and honestly, I couldn’t wait to finally be able to disconnect and soak in the peace and quiet of being one with nature. 

At Pine Brae I had to adjust my mindset from rushing from one thing to the next to relaxing and slowing down my pace and immersing myself in each activity and moment. During my stay I realized how fast I had been flying through life and that not everything I did had to be a race; some things can be taken slowly. 

A slower pace allows you to enjoy and savour each moment of your life. 

Embracing Sustainable Living

Pine Brae Eco Resort is an off-grid, off-line and sustainable retreat located on more than 100-acres in beautiful Lanark County, only a little over an hour from Ottawa. When booking my escape here I chose between one of two Zen-like cabins for my two-day escape, where I was determined to embrace a slower lifestyle and discover the benefits of unplugging once in a while.

On arrival at Pine Brae I spent some time talking with owner Blair Copland, listening to the story of why he decided to build an off-grid resort. It turns out that at one time Blair was like me, desperate for a quiet place to enjoy nature and disconnect from the stresses of daily life. 

The result: Pine Brae Eco Resort.

Back to Nature

This retreat is a true opportunity to disconnect – you don’t drive to your accommodation, instead Blair loads your baggage into the back of his four-wheeler and takes it down to the cabin, while you enjoy a leisurely short walk down the forest path after him.

The calming view of the Pine Brae pond, and the quiet trills of songbirds, the wind rustling through the leaves and the sound of my footsteps felt like nature was wrapping me up in a big hug, welcoming me back home.

I was surprised by how quickly my body relaxed, as my heartbeat slowed and I stood immobile, the sounds of nature flowing around me. 

Finally. Peace and quiet. 

After taking in my surroundings, I realized I had been standing in front of a cozy cabin this whole time. The minimalist cabin had a massive screened-in porch over looking the pond and bright airy space, inviting me to stop and stay for a while. 

Disconnect and Explore

After settling into our cabin and taking a moment to soak in the ambience, I realized that at Pine Brae, disconnecting wasn't just an option, it was a requirement. 

With no Internet, and barely any cell service, I had no alternative but to turn off my phone, head outdoors and explore.

For me, this was a moment of pure panic, as walking away from my phone, the allure of social media and the desire to be in constant contact with friends, family and loved ones, seemed next to impossible.

But I reminded myself this is what I came for - this moment of panic to make me realize how overly connected I was to my phone and to remind me exactly why I wanted to disconnect.

Luckily there was no shortage of things to do at Pine Brae, so there were plenty of opportunities to take me away from my phone, but this came with a catch. 

With over 5km of hiking trails, I wandered the 100-acre property and came to a lookout point where I walked down a sloping hill to the pond’s edge where minnows played in the shallow, warm water, and witha view of the cabins overlooking the pond.

Another trail took me to the pristine waterfront of Long Lake, where although it was early in the season, the sun was hot enough to make me brave a quick dip into the cold, dark, water right from the front dock. The briskness of the water invited me to dry off by lounging on the deck, starting on my summer tan.

I thought at first I might get bored of paddling around on the same lake all weekend. I was wrong.

No matter how many times I headed out on the water with one of the resort’s kayaks there was something new to discover: from the houses on the other side of the lake, dragonflies flitting through the air, or the many small fish and snails in the water.

When I was not out exploring the grounds, I was inside either curled up with a book (or two or three), savouring deep stimulating conversations with my friend, or just relaxing and watching the wildlife doing their thing outside our front porch.

Besides an incident with a particularly hungry porcupine chewing on the front step to our cabin on our second night (who would have thought!), this experience was relaxation at its finest from start to finish.

Bittersweet Good-byes

Leaving was bittersweet. I had little to no desire to re-enter the real world, where my phone would start blowing up once again and the allure of social media, Netflix and the quick pace would soon start beckoning.

But I knew that I would take some things away with me from this reset. I decided I would forgo my usual evening routine of scrolling through social media and pick up a book instead. I would take things slower, when I could, to fully be present for each moment, from enjoying a walk to savouring a cup of tea or delighting in a stimulating, tech-free meal with friends, family and loved ones.

This trip was a good reminder for me that I don’t need to leave my life to disconnect, I can start finding ways to incorporate little things that allow me to disconnect in my daily life.