Rustic retreat – Windmill Cottages

by Rochelle ClaytonJan 26, 2023Stay

YOUR bucket list for this year will be incomplete without the addition of a relaxing weekend getaway at Windmill Cottages in the cool hills of Malvern, St Elizabeth.

Perfect for couples wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of their lives or groups of friends hoping to spend quality time together, Windmill Cottages offers each guest a calm environment to unwind and enjoy the simpler things in life.

Operated by sisters Grace Vassell and Jean Alexander, the property boasts three spacious and rustic cottages which collectively host eight visitors. There are additional rooms available for larger groups in what Vassell calls the “big house” — another dwelling on the property.

*The Windmill Cottages have a certain rustic charm that’s hard to find elsewhere.*

The cottages sit on large, lush lands with a beautiful green space that is sure to evoke a sense of tranquillity for anyone who enters their gates. Alexander, the property’s resident cook, is known for her deliciously prepared meals made with freshly picked ingredients.

The property’s secluded location also plays an important role in encouraging visitors to forget about their lives in the city as they are embraced by the calming rural setting. Vassell tells the Jamaica Observer’s LetsTravelCaribbean.com that this was the motivation behind opening their arms to welcome guests into Malvern six months ago.

“Malvern is said to have the world’s seventh-best climate and so people are capitalising on that. They come here for the cool and the calm,” she explains.

“When my sisters and I bought this property we looked around and [saw] that there are no wooden cottages like this anywhere near us, so we decided to make use of the mountains… and the beautiful climate to put up some wooden cottages,” she tells LetsTravelCaribbean.com.

Vassell said numerous guests have travelled to the southern parish since the opening of Windmill Cottages and LetsTravelCaribbean.com understands why.

“People have been staying [here] because they want to get away from the hustle and bustle of wherever they are coming from. We have people who come here just to sleep – you don’t see them again until it is time to check out. Some people are coming here for the birds,” she says.

*The open plan concept in one of the cozy cottages.*

All cottages on the property are self-contained with a kitchenette and bathroom. There are also outdoor showers available and a very intriguing camp site for those who want to enjoy cool nights sharing stories by a bonfire. Vassell says the camp site, the property’s newest addition, is already a crowd favourite. There are plans to add a spa.