The Old Farmhouse
The Old Farmhouse from outside: grey siding, pink French doors and the glass-walled pool room

Guest Guide · Round Island, Cape Breton

Welcome to
The Old Farmhouse

Everything you need for a slow, easy stay in Cape Breton. House rules, the pool, photo how-tos, things to do nearby and documents to download — all in one place.

Check-inafter 4:00 PM
Check-outby 11:00 AM
No. 01

Welcome

Thanks for choosing our Old Farmhouse. We hope you have a comfortable, memorable stay and get to enjoy a little of what makes this part of Cape Breton special.

Location
Round Island, Nova Scotia — the full address is in your Airbnb messages.
Check-in
4:00 PM
Check-out
11:00 AM
Entry
Self check-in with your unique keypad code — active for your stay only.
Wi-Fi
Network “TheOldFarmHouse” — the password is in your Airbnb messages.
Nearby beach
Mira Gut Beach, about 3 km away.

You’ll want a car. Pick up groceries and essentials before arriving — shops and fuel are a drive away.

  • Starter coffee and tea are provided, along with shared basics such as salt, pepper, parchment paper and cooking spray.
  • We respect your privacy and don’t greet guests in person. Please message us through Airbnb if you need anything.
  • Pool maintenance may occasionally be needed during longer stays or larger bookings — we’ll let you know in advance.
No. 02

Photos

A look around the farmhouse before you arrive. Tap any photo to see it larger.

  • The farmhouse and glass-walled pool room

  • The indoor pool

  • Living room

  • Kitchen

  • Dining room

  • Sunroom

  • Twin bedroom

  • Bunk room

  • Bathroom

  • Coffee station

  • Pool room

  • The front porch

No. 03

House Rules

A few simple things that keep the farmhouse peaceful for you, for the next guests, and for our neighbours.

  1. 01

    Check-in & check-out

    Check-in is after 4:00 PM. Check-out is by 11:00 AM. Please message us through Airbnb if you need flexibility — we'll do our best.

  2. 02

    Registered guests only

    Please don’t bring unregistered visitors onto the property. Maximum occupancy is 10; additional visitors may incur fees and may put the reservation at risk.

  3. 03

    Stay on the private lane

    Please stay on the main private lane and don’t walk or drive through the neighbours’ properties.

  4. 04

    No smoking or vaping

    Smoking and vaping are not allowed anywhere inside the house. Old wood holds onto smell for a long time.

  5. 05

    No parties or events

    Please keep gatherings to the guests on your reservation.

  6. 06

    Keep the noise down at night

    After 10:00 PM, please keep noise down — especially in the pool area, where sound carries into the bedrooms.

  7. 07

    Drinking water

    The house is on well water. Please use the kitchen water dispenser for all drinking and cooking water.

  8. 08

    Lock up the pool at night

    Engage the kitchen-to-pool door safety lock and lock the pool gates every night. See the pool how-to for photos.

  9. 09

    Keep it tidy

    Please wash or load your dishes, take trash to the bins outside, and leave the house the way you found it.

No. 04

Pool Rules

Please read before swimming. Photos of the door lock, gate locks, lights and spare keys are in the pool how-to below.

Never swim alone. There is no lifeguard on duty. Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult at all times.

  • Swim at your own risk — there is no lifeguard on duty.
  • Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult at all times.
  • No diving, jumping or running on the pool deck; the floor becomes slippery when wet.
  • No glass in the pool area. Use plastic or metal containers only.
  • Do not swim while impaired. No pets in the pool or pool area.
  • Swim diapers are required for children who are not toilet trained.
  • Keep the pool door to the house closed — don’t prop it open.
  • Keep noise down in the pool area after 10:00 PM; sound carries into the bedrooms.
  • Pool towels are in the pool changing room.
  • When you’re finished, pull the pool cover over if possible, lock the exterior doors and make sure the kitchen-door child locks are engaged.
  • Please report damage, spills or equipment problems to us promptly.
See how to lock up the pool →
No. 05

Videos

Short walk-throughs for the things guests ask about most. Press play — most take less than a minute. Tap Enlarge to watch one bigger.

TV: signing in with Guest Mode

0:30

Choosing Guest Mode, entering your check-out date and signing into your own streaming apps.

Direct link: /watch/tv

Using the digital toaster

0:20

Power on, pick the browning level and bread type, then pull down the lever.

Direct link: /watch/toaster
Video coming soon

Welcome & house tour

A quick walk through every room so you know where everything is.

No. 06

How-Tos

Our photo guide to the house — where things are and how they work. Tap a guide to open it.

Arriving & getting in

Finding the house and your keypad code.

  1. 1The full address is in your Airbnb messages, along with the Wi-Fi password.
  2. 2Stay on the main private lane — please don’t drive or walk through the neighbours’ properties.
  3. 3Check-in is after 4:00 PM. Your unique keypad code is sent in your Airbnb messages and is active for your stay only.
  4. 4We don’t greet guests in person, so message us through Airbnb if anything isn’t working.

The kitchen

Drinking water, coffee, and where everything lives.

Drinking & cooking water

The tap water is treated and is normally safe to drink. Because the house uses well water that can’t be tested for every guest, please use the kitchen water dispenser for all drinking and cooking. It provides both cold and hot water.

Coffee

Drip coffee maker: fill the removable water reservoir from the dispenser. Use the scoop provided — it shows the recommended number of scoops for each cup size. No paper filters are needed. Make sure the filter slide is switched on.

Keurig: a Keurig is also provided, stored in the cupboard below the counter to the left of the sink.

Video · 1:02

Pots, pans & oven mitts

Look in the cupboard beside the oven.

Cutlery, utensils & starter supplies

The cupboard to the right of the dishwasher and sink has cutlery, other utensils, starter cooking supplies, a wine bottle opener and a mandoline.

Under the sink

You’ll find the garbage and compost bins, dishwasher and laundry pods, a fire extinguisher and a dish-drying rack.

Left of the sink

The drawer has small kitchen tools and hand/dish towels. The lower cupboard holds a Keurig, coffee grinder, handheld food processor and mixing bowls.

Digital toaster

Press the power button, choose the browning level and type of bread, then pull down the lever on the side.

Video · 0:20

Living & dining room

TV, streaming, games, books and music.

TV remote

The TV remote is inside the hidden box on the coffee table.

TV & streaming

Select Guest Mode on the TV, then enter your check-out date and time. You can then sign in to your own streaming services. Some free viewing options are available through the TV; paid programming is not provided.

Video · 0:30

Games, books & music

Cards, board games and books are in the dining room. The small radio also works as a Bluetooth speaker — you’re welcome to use it during your stay.

Heating

Adjusting the heat pumps.

Adjusting the heat

Use the two wall-mounted heat-pump thermostats: one in the living room beside the washer and dryer, and one at the top of the front stairwell.

The house resets to a default temperature of about 19–20°C. The electric radiators are not connected.

Bathrooms

Toilet paper, towels and the hair dryer.

Bathroom supplies

Extra toilet paper is stored under both bathroom sinks.

The upstairs bathroom has a hair dryer and extra towels.

Pool: solar blanket, locks, lights, keys & towels

Please secure the pool area every night.

Kitchen-to-pool door

The safety lock is at the upper-left of the door from the kitchen to the pool. Please engage it at night.

Video · 0:14

Solar blanket: before a swim

Roll the solar blanket in onto its reel to uncover the pool. It’s a two-person job: one person on each side, winding the wheel arm in while keeping the blanket pulled taut.

Video · 0:22

Solar blanket: when you’re finished

When you’re not using the pool, please put the blanket back over it as it was when you arrived. It keeps the water warm. With one person on each side, flip the end over about a foot, then pull it together to the other end.

Video · 0:20

Pool gates

The lock indicator shows green when the gate is unlocked. To lock it, slide the top switch — the indicator window turns red. To unlock, press the lower button beneath the top switch.

Video · 0:25

Pool lighting

The light strip turns on automatically one hour before sunset and switches off at 2:00 AM. To turn it on or off manually, use the switch on the ceiling beside the deep-end ladder. The other two buttons change the colours and settings.

Spare keys

If the kitchen door gets locked from the inside, a spare key is on the wall beside the pool rules. Another set of keys is in the lockbox on the back pool-room door.

Pool towels

Pool towels are in the changing room at the back of the pool room, through the left-hand door.

Deck & BBQ

Outdoor cooking.

Propane BBQ

The propane BBQ is at the rear of the pool deck. BBQ utensils are in a bag on the shelf behind the pool table.

Checking out

A short list before you head home.

  1. 1Check-out is by 11:00 AM.
  2. 2Load and start the dishwasher.
  3. 3Take trash and recycling to the bins outside.
  4. 4Strip the beds and leave used towels in the bathtub.
  5. 5Turn off lights, close windows, and lock the pool door and gates.
  6. 6Lock the front door on your way out. Safe travels!
No. 07

Explore Nearby

Beaches, coastal scenery and day trips around Round Island, plus where to stock up.

  • Mira Gut Beach Municipal Park

    About 3 km from the house. Lovely for a beach walk, shoreline views, a picnic or a summer swim. The shore is sandy and pebbly, so water shoes help. Seasonal supervision and facilities vary — check locally before swimming.

  • Louisbourg Lighthouse & Coastal Trail

    Ocean views and walking trails around Lighthouse Point. Great for fresh air, photographs and a little maritime history.

  • Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site

    A reconstructed 18th-century French fortified town — one of Cape Breton’s best-known history experiences. Opening dates, programming and admission are seasonal.

  • Kennington Cove

    A natural coastal beach near Louisbourg for a scenic stop or beach walk. It’s unsupervised and ocean conditions can be hazardous; check access and conditions first.

  • Sydney waterfront

    Shops, cafés, restaurants and a stroll along the boardwalk — handy for errands or a relaxed afternoon.

  • Two Rivers Wildlife Park

    A family-friendly wildlife park in the region. Check seasonal hours and activities before visiting.

  • The Cabot Trail

    A full-day adventure of coastal and highland scenery, lookoffs, hiking and small communities. It’s a longer drive from Round Island, so plan your route and stops ahead.

Attractions, restaurants and services may have reduced hours outside summer. Check opening times before setting out.Cape Breton visitor info

Food & practical tips

Groceries & essentials
Marion Bridge is handy for basic groceries and quick top-ups. Sydney or Glace Bay are better for a full grocery shop, pharmacies and other services (roughly 25–30 minutes).
Fuel & convenience
The nearest gas stations and convenience stores are about 15 minutes away. In Albert Bridge: Mullins Rite Stop (with an NSLC liquor store) and Mira Ferry Market, which has a sit-down restaurant. In Donkin: Dearn’s Corner Esso.
Meals out
Sydney and Glace Bay offer the widest choice nearby. Louisbourg pairs well with a lighthouse or Fortress visit, but restaurant hours can be seasonal — check hours and book ahead when possible.
Getting around
A vehicle is strongly recommended in this quiet rural area.
No. 08

Documents

Printable copies to view on your phone or download for later.