Tranquil Tigín: An Off-Grid Tiny House Hidden in the Wicklow Mountains

You can’t actually drive to Tranquil Tigín. You park up, grab your bags and make your way 300 metres across a meadow until this tiny wooden cabin eventually appears in the Wicklow countryside.

And what awaits at the other end is fairly special. There’s a huge picture window looking across the surrounding fields, a king-size bed tucked into a mezzanine and, outside, a copper bath, fire pit and outdoor oven.

Oh, and there’s a wood-fired sauna a short stroll away. All of this sits amongst 70 acres of pasture, bog and native woodland in the Wicklow Mountains.

A tiny house in 70 acres of Wicklow countryside

Tranquil Tigín was handcrafted in the west of Ireland in 2023 using natural materials before finding its home in a large south-facing field in Wicklow.

And when I say it’s out in the countryside, I mean it. The cabin is surrounded by 70 acres of pasture, bog and native woodland, with deer, pheasants and rabbits amongst the regular passers-by. Sheep sometimes make an appearance, too.

There’s no pulling the car up beside the front door, either. The final 300 metres are on foot across a meadow, with the hosts recommending wellies or hiking boots when the ground is wet. So, maybe leave the 30kg suitcase at home for this one.

Have a nosey inside

The Tigín sleeps two, and the clever use of space inside is part of its appeal. A king-size bed sits up on a mezzanine reached by ladder stairs, while downstairs there’s a daybed positioned directly beneath an enormous window overlooking the countryside.

There’s also a foldaway dining table and a compact but fully equipped kitchen, with Irish-made ceramics and textiles used throughout where possible.

Despite being off-grid, you still have heating, hot water and electricity, with solar panels supplying power to the cabin.

Although there is one little reminder that you’re not staying in the Shelbourne… The toilet is a Scandinavian-style dry toilet rather than a traditional flushing one.

That window…

I’d say a fair few hours disappear on the daybed here. The enormous window looks straight across the surrounding Wicklow countryside and essentially turns whatever happens outside into your entertainment for the evening.

Deer, rabbits and pheasants roam the property, with the occasional sheep wandering into the mix. There’s Wi-Fi if you desperately need it, but sitting here scrolling through Instagram would feel like a fairly spectacular waste of the view.

And then you step outside…

This is where the Tigín really starts showing off. Sitting on the deck is a copper outdoor bath, so you can fill it with hot water and have a soak surrounded by the Wicklow countryside.

There’s also a fire pit with a cooking grill, benches, a picnic table and a Weltevree outdoor oven if you fancy cooking dinner outside.

A short walk from the cabin you’ll find a rustic wood-fired sauna that’s available to guests. So your evening can essentially consist of sauna, copper bath, food by the fire and then bed. I’ve had considerably worse Tuesdays.

The cabin’s electricity comes from solar panels, while drinking water is drawn from a well on the property and filtered.

Heating and hot water come from a gas boiler, so “off-grid” thankfully doesn’t translate to sitting in the dark wearing three coats. You also have the Tigín and its immediate surroundings to yourself, along with the freedom to explore parts of the wider grounds.

When you eventually decide to leave…

Glendalough is around a 15-minute drive away, while Beyond the Trees at Avondale is around 10 minutes away.

You can also reach Avoca in roughly 15 minutes and Brittas Bay in around 25.

Although after hiking across a meadow to your tiny house, firing up the sauna and climbing into a copper bath overlooking the Wicklow countryside, I’d imagine convincing yourself to go anywhere could prove difficult.

Discover more unique places to stay in Ireland

The stays above are just a handful of the wonderfully weird places you can spend a night around Ireland.

You’ll find plenty more in my guide to the most unique stays in Ireland, along with everything from treehouses and cabins to bell tents in my guide to the best places to go glamping in Ireland.

1. Grove Treehouse with hot tub

This adults-only West Cork treehouse sleeps 2 and comes with a roll-top bath opposite the bed and a private two-person hot tub amongst the trees.

You reach it via tree-trunk steps before stepping inside to an open-plan bedroom, kitchen and living area, with French doors opening onto a large private deck.

2. The Ballybunion Beach House

Breakers Beach House sits right beside Ladies Beach in Ballybunion, with the Atlantic filling the view from the house.

It sleeps 6 across 3 bedrooms and has Ballybunion’s beaches and Cliff Walk on its doorstep, along with a hot outdoor shower for warming up after a swim or surf.

3. The Hidden Haven

The Hidden Haven is a luxury lodge for 2 in the hills of West Cork with its own lake, a wood-fired hot tub and a deck stretching over the water.

There’s a super king bed and bath with a view inside, while stone steps outside lead straight into the lake when you fancy undoing all the good work of the hot tub.

4. Balance Treehouse

The Balance Treehouse in County Armagh is reached via a private rope bridge and sits high amongst the trees overlooking the Ring of Gullion.

It sleeps 2 and comes with a glass roof above the bed, private hot tub, outdoor shower and a large outdoor net where you can kick back and admire the surrounding hills.

5. The Dunmanus Bay Barn

This restored stone farmhouse and barn sits on West Cork’s Sheep’s Head Peninsula, looking across Dunmanus Bay towards the Mizen Peninsula.

Along with its old stone walls, timber beams and slate floors, you’ve got more than an acre of grounds, a spring-fed pond and a solar-heated outdoor pool.

6. Dolphin Beach Lodge

Dolphin Beach Lodge sits just metres from the Atlantic on Connemara’s Sky Road, with Clifden Bay outside the windows and a secluded beach directly in front.

The lodge sleeps 6 across 3 bedrooms and, despite the wonderfully remote-feeling setting, you’re only around a 10-minute drive from Clifden.

7. The Hide at Neadú

With its grass-covered roof and views towards Glenveagh, The Hide at Neadú is one of Donegal’s more unusual little cabins.

Inside you’ll find reclaimed and upcycled pieces, an alcove double bed and wood-burning stove, while double doors open onto a private deck overlooking the surrounding mountains and valley.