I really, really wanted to like Burnt Bridge Lodge. I was looking for a scenic, quiet, clean, comfortable place to stay. The online description & photos of Burnt Bridge Lodge were lovely, & owner Kirstin Mann seemed personable, so I pre-paid for five nights. We left after just one night. While the surrounding forest is beautiful, Kirstin's property is ...junky. Not an inspiring view. The little apartment is cute, like in the photos. What the photos don't show is the clutter of garage-sale knickknacks & furniture; the need for a thorough deep-cleaning (pet hair, dust, grease); & the pervasive smell of soup or curry or something, along with a whiff of cat. After we left, I had to wash all of our clothes to get the smell out. The central heating wasn't working when we arrived, so Kirstin gave us a space heater to use. However, to run the space heater (or wash dishes, take a shower, or do laundry) one must go outside to turn on an incredibly loud generator. Kirstin asks that guests run the generator only two hours per day. So we ran the space heater for a (loud) while, ate dinner wearing our coats, & went to bed early. The bed in the upstairs loft was comfortable, but the pillows were awful. There were plenty of overhead lights in the apartment, but no decent reading lights. There was a buzzing electrical outlet in the kitchen that I couldn't ignore or figure out how to fix, so I put in earplugs to sleep. Kirstin has a friendly dog, but it barks. She said that while she has a bark-collar for the dog, she didn't have batteries for the collar, so she put the dog inside her downstairs apartment while she was away working a night shift. Unfortunately, in the morning, any time we raised our voices above a whisper, the dog started barking. The final straw was opening the gas-powered, old refrigerator in the morning & finding that our week's worth of groceries - lots of meat, dairy & eggs -- were lukewarm. We packed up & left. In communicating with Kirstin by phone & e-mail, she feels that some of these problems could have been solved by calling her at work. (In itself a little challenging as there's no land line & cell phone coverage is spotty.) My feeling is that the onus shouldn't be on guests, particularly when paying more than $100 per night, to troubleshoot one problem after another. I feel that basic things -- like central heating & a fridge cold enough to keep food safe -- should be worked out well before guests arrive. I really don't want to problem-solve, or deep-clean, or just make do when I'm on vacation, & particularly when paying a steep price to be there. Instead, I would highly recommend staying at the Oceanfront Suites on Cowichan Bay, which, like Lake Shawnigan, is a bit of a drive outside Duncan, but well worth the trip. The friendly & helpful front desk staff gave us a super-quiet studio with stunning floor-to-ceiling views of Cowichan Bay, a little beach & marina, & the mountains & sky beyond. Our studio had an efficient little kitchen & easy access to laundry facilities. The whole space was impeccably clean, comfortable, low-key & serene. It cost about $20 per night more than Burnt Bridge Lodge. read more

Had a fantastic time here with a group of 8 on a stag boys weekend. The setup and setting were exactly what we were looking for and as a host Kiki is terminally chill, she is the there if you need her but otherwise it is as if she is not there. Our interactions with her were relaxed and helpful. In terms of style, the cabin is exactly as described, "shabby-chic", if you're expecting glamour you're not going to enjoy this place (what the reviewer below is expecting). Rather it's a piece of forest paradise with a yard you can goof off in or play in with your kids. Many of the guys said this would be paradise for kids and young families. For a group of young adults looking for some fun, it is an isolated spot where you can let loose and you don't have to worry about ticking off neighbours. The yard is perfect, enclosed by trees all around but large enough to play field style games like jackpot or beersbie. There's a great sitting spot with patio furniture for while you're bbq-ing as well. Also although the yard is in that shabby chic style, the inside is nicely renovated and well thought-out for a group of our size. Kiki has many thoughtful items around the kitchen that she provides (off hand I'm remembering a giant pitcher, mini cereals, dixie cups etc) --she has thought of so much. The place is clean, organized, has tons of extra towels and bedding, and a fully ready to go kitchen. Further, all appliances worked perfectly and a bonus for those fretting about being out of cell service is there is a landline phone for any calls you might need to make. The surrounding area is amazing, the river spot was originally just a bonus to the place but we went down there and had one of the best moments with my buddies I have ever experienced. The river is picturesque, clear and deep. We loved it. Getting down to the river is easy as Kiki has a trail setup (it's steep but safe) that allows for easy access and well worthwhile (only 3 mins from the house). All in all I have to say if you have a friend or friends who want something away from the Vegas/Whistler kind of bachelor party or even just a cabin trip with the boys or gals do not hesitate to try this. When I have another opportunity to do something of this nature I will go back in a heartbeat. read more