Ruby View Cottage on Otty Lake, Perth, Ontario

Drinking Water: The cottage's running water is sourced from the lake, so we provide two 18L bottles for drinkable water from the water cooler in the kitchen. The water cooler is a bottom-load so doesn't require as heavy lifting, but the bottles would still need to be moved into place.

Living/Dining Areas: These spaces are open-concept and connect with the kitchen. The dining room features a wooden table with leaf and chairs for 6. There is a L-shaped couch, easy chair, coffee table and Smart TV in the living area. We have basic Bell ExpressVu satellite TV service and Bell Internet, so you can stream a TV show or join a work Zoom call without issues. Multiple streams at the same time might slow downloads.

The cottage has a ductless AC/heat pump in the main living/dining/kitchen area as well as a portable electric heater in each of the bedrooms if needed.

Waterside: The outside deck is accessed through double front doors (with a separate screen door) and features a patio/dining table, 6 chairs, Muskoka chairs, and a propane BBQ with an extra propane tank in the boathouse if needed. The BBQ is a basic model, and we use a BBQ starter/lighter to light it.

The property is fairly well treed with mature cedar, spruce and pine trees, providing a good balance of sun and shade throughout the day. It's a pretty gentle walk down the front lawn from the deck to the water.

The Lake: Otty Lake is the closest lake to Perth and as such has attracted a lot more year-round residences over the years. It's a relatively quiet lake that is about 1km wide and 6 km long. The lake is spring-fed for the most part and is primarily enclosed, so boat traffic is less than on other lakes. In-season fishing is great, and you'll see bass beds off the dock in late spring. There are lot of little islands to explore by canoe, and you have a front row seat to enjoy the western sunsets over Ruby Island (also known as Farmers Island) right across the bay.

Swimming: The lake frontage is approximately 100'. By the boathouse, from shore, there is a shallow, gradual-depth area with a sandy bottom that is about 15' wide and extends 12' out where toddlers enjoy playing/swimming. In the centre of the waterfront, there is a 20' dock with a ladder to a deeper swimming area. Further out from shore, there can be some weeds especially into the later summer, but they drop away as you swim out into the deeper water. The lake also offers some great swimming at other spots.

Your rental includes the use of a canoe, 2 child's kayaks and paddles. We request you bring proper-fitting lifejackets to ensure you have the right size for you and your guests. Some backup life jackets for 2 adults are available and some select children's sizes. Don't forget to bring your beach towel!

Note: All of Otty Lake has zebra mussels, which simply require cheap water shoes.

Boat Launch: If you are bringing or renting a boat, there is a free, newly updated public boat launch 3 minutes away on Miller Bay Road with a gentle incline, graveled launch and dock. Our cottage dock is long and deep enough to accommodate most boats.