The ruralhut is a real Hansel & Gretel cottage. Outside a few stone steps lead down to the cellar with freezer. Another few steps lead up to the old fashioned wooden split front door, with matching key (hopefully it fits your purse).  With around 55 m² total living space it suits two adults with perhaps one or two small children. In the small corridor the open wooden stairs –mind the first high step-  lead to the open bedroom. There’s also the door to the bathroom with tub, toilet and washbasin, and the door to the living. The cosy living has a hearth, dining table, French windows opening to the patio with garden furniture and barbecue. Adjoining is the open kitchen with gas stove, microwave, oven, fridge, coffeemaker, water cooker, toaster and everything you need to cook a proper meal. The upstairs bedroom takes up the total floor, there’s a big double bed, a sofa bed and a TV. A child’s bed can be put up. All windows are double glazed, there’s central heating in all rooms, downstairs the floors are tiled, upstairs there are wooden floors. The magic is Anton Pieck, with its half-timber, Bruchstein walls and small windows. This really is a place of restfulness for nature lovers. And although there are removable staircase fences and children’s cots available we do not recommend bringing very small children.

Kollig is situated in the German Eifel, a 20 odd miles west of Koblenz and 250 miles east of Ostend. Should you ask the native Kolliger in what part of the country they live, they will tell you they live in Maifeld and don’t dare calling them Eifeler! The Eifel is a magnificent scenic area that forms with the Ardennes part of the Middle European Mountain Range. The area comprises a large part of the Bundesländer Rhineland Palatinate and North Rhine Westphalia. Part of the Eifel is called  Vulcan Eifel, a tale telling name. Thousands of years ago this was a very active volcanic area, with explosive eruptions that still show their traces . Many of the lakes in the area, called Maare, are former volcano craters now filled with rainwater. They are very much favoured by tourists. Hiking and cycling tracks along the visible signs of volcanism are well marked. Several specialised museums tell about the volcanic history (and future?)of the area. The Vulcan Eifel lies within a stone’s throw from the Kolliger Mühle. The nearest maare is at Maria Laach, where a constant stream of small volcanic carbon dioxide bubbles emanates to the surface of the water.