A 1960s touring caravan has been turned into one of Scotland’s most unusual Airbnb stays. The Bogancloch Treehouse Airbnb, near Rhynie in Aberdeenshire, sits about 4 meters, or 13 feet, above the ground and offers guests an entirely off-grid experience.

The host describes the interior of the Bogancloch Treehouse as “shabby.”

The caravan is not a conventional treehouse. It is a 1960s touring caravan that was lifted into the branches of a tree and now serves as accommodation for visitors.

According to the Airbnb listing, the caravan can sleep up to three people, with one double bed and one single bed, although it is listed for two guests because three people would make the space crowded. The beds are approximately 6 feet 3 inches long, meaning taller guests may need to sleep with their knees bent.

The interior has had a long life and is described by the host as “shabby.” Guests are asked to bring their own sleeping bags or sheets because there is no mains electricity to operate a washing machine. Extra quilts and blankets are provided for colder nights.

The Airbnb has no mains electricity, Internet, or conventional heating.

The treehouse is designed around off-grid living, so guests should not expect the usual comforts of a modern holiday rental.

There is no mains electricity inside the caravan. Instead, guests can use paraffin lamps, while head torches are available for reading. The caravan still has its original gas cooker, including a hotplate and grill, which guests can use to prepare meals.

There is also no background heating. The host says the accommodation is generally comfortable in summer, while winter visitors are expected to spend time outdoors during the day and use the gas cooker to warm up as they prepare their evening meal.

Internet access is also unavailable. The Airbnb listing says EE mobile broadband works for texts and simple emails with small attachments, while pubs and cafes in Huntly and Dufftown offer Wi-Fi.

Guests have to manage without a shower or bathroom inside the caravan.

The lack of modern bathroom facilities is another major part of the experience.

There is no shower or bath in the caravan. Instead, the host recommends washing using two kettlefuls of water and two facecloths, describing it as the “Japanese” method. Guests can also use showers at the swimming pool in Huntly.

The only toilet is a dry composting toilet at ground level, meaning visitors have to leave the elevated caravan whenever they need to use it.

The host is also unusually direct about the property’s remote location. The Airbnb listing states that the nearest hospital is about 15 miles away and warns guests to exercise caution because the property does not have public liability insurance.

One of the biggest advantages of the property’s limited infrastructure is the darkness.

There are no street lights within five miles of the treehouse. The host recommends arriving during daylight so guests can become familiar with the property before nightfall.

Once darkness sets in, however, the lack of artificial light provides an opportunity for stargazing. According to the Airbnb listing, guests can see the stars on clear nights and may occasionally see the Northern Lights.

The remote setting also gives visitors access to surrounding hills and woods, making walking one of the main activities available during a stay.

The Airbnb is designed as an educational stay focused on off-grid life and local history.

The Bogancloch Treehouse is presented as more than unusual accommodation. The host describes it as an “educational holiday” in which guests can choose what to explore.

The experience includes learning about off-grid living, local history and culture, as well as self-guided activities. Visitors can walk through the surrounding hills and woods or visit nearby attractions, including whisky distilleries, castles, battlefields and Pictish relics.

The host also mentions a homemade planetarium as another feature of the experience.

The property also includes an outdoor kitchen in the yard, equipped with a fireplace, pans and seats. Guests can use the outdoor kitchen but may have to help collect firewood.

The host says the fireplace is relatively economical, but guests who use a large amount of firewood are asked to spend about 10 minutes the following day helping bring a new bundle of wood from the forest.

This arrangement fits the broader concept of the property, where visitors are expected to participate in some practical aspects of living without modern utilities.

The caravan was placed in the tree for the 2011 film Two Years at Sea.

The caravan’s unusual position is connected to cinema.

It was placed in the tree for Two Years at Sea, a 2011 film by Scottish filmmaker Ben Rivers featuring actor Jake Williams, who later became the host of the Airbnb. The film follows Williams living an isolated, self-sufficient life in the Scottish countryside.

The caravan’s unusual setting therefore began as part of the film’s visual world before becoming a real accommodation experience for visitors.

The Airbnb is clearly not designed for travelers seeking hotel-style comfort. There is no conventional bathroom, mains electricity, heating or Internet, and guests have to adapt to a compact space and remote surroundings.

What it offers instead is a chance to spend time in a 1960s caravan suspended high in a tree, cook using basic facilities, sleep without conventional heating and experience a night sky largely free from artificial light.

For travelers interested in unusual accommodation and off-grid living, the combination of a film-set caravan, remote Scottish countryside and life above the ground makes Bogancloch Treehouse an Airbnb unlike most others.