Ever had a thorough conviction that you’ve done something, only to find out when you check that you have – you find you haven’t? Welcome to my world. Admittedly, I bounce around SL a lot, and occasionally I arrive somewhere and think, “Oh, this would be nice to write about!” – only to discover I already have, and what’s more, it is still as it appeared when I originally wrote about it – making a re-blog a bit moot.
However, in the case of the Burrow Coffee Co, I’d convinced myself that I’d written about it. And so dropped in a couple of times before it dawned on my that actually I hadn’t in fact written about it, at all. So it’s only fair I put things to rights now and – well, write about it!
Sitting within a Full private region leveraging the Land Capacity bonus, this is a setting offering a mix of venues for events, places to hang-out with friends or enjoy a retreat with someone close, and places to explore, all beautifully put together by Aria Christen with the support of other members of the Burrow Coffee Co management team. In turns of land coverage, the setting occupies around one-third of the total region area, the rest being given over to open waters to the south and east. These waters actually mark three other parcels in the region, at least two of which appear to have locations in the air (one being a private residence, and other the home of the Spruce brand by Spruce Evergreen), and so play no further role in this article.
The Landing Point sits on a C-shaped dock and the western end of the island. As well as playing host to several moored boats, this also has a series of noticeboards for such things as contacting staff, learning about the setting’s sponsors and obtaining information on the local events – including being able to open the setting’s event calendar. A path sets off inland from between two of these noticeboards, complete with a sign offering an assurance that you’re not lost – you’re simply here; which when you think about it, is generally the best place to be.
Not far beyond this, the path divides, one arm continuing in a northerly direction as it passes under a rocky arch, the other turning eastwards. Take the former, and you’ll pass by way of a little camp site amidst the trees and offering one of the many hang-out spots mentioned above as being throughout the setting. Beyond this the path drops down the the north coast of the island and a deck built out over the shingles of the shoreline. Here, quiet times can be hand on rocking chairs whilst watched from the waters by one of the stars of 1975’s Jaws 😀 .
Eastwards, the trail hugs the feet of squat cliffs, slowly rising against them via short sequences of steps and rises in the land until it reaches a broad plateau on which the coffee house has been built, sharing the space with outdoor terraces and an adjoining pub space, which also serves as one of the venues for music within the buildings.
The coffee house and pub are an expansive, well-designed space, the mix of interior and exterior areas blending perfectly together to present a sense of space without feeling in any way sprawling; of privacy for hanging out with friends without any sense of being isolated or cut off from the rest of the activity within the grounds or the coffee house or pub. To put is simply: this is genuinely a place to be enjoyed, where relaxation and casual conversations should mix easy with humour, light-hearted fun and music.
Cushioned by trees on all sides, the Barrow Coffee house and pub also have a uniquely warm and intimate feel to them, despite their collective size. Those seeking further intimacy of company and / or nature, need only follow the path on the west side of the gravelled seating area forming the front aspect of the coffee house. Quickly using the trees as a curtain between itself and the buildings and this providing the sense of easy intimacy with nature, the path turns north as a rugged little trail, stopping briefly at a wrought iron gate. Beyond this sits a delightful garden offering a mix of eastern and western influences, prior to a gravel path making its way down steps on the garden’s north side and thence back eastwards.
Following the northern cliffs of the island and a short distance back from their edge, the path crosses a wooden bridge hinting that once there might have been waters flowing out from under the rocks on which the coffee house stands, and which flowed under the bridge to then hurl itself over their edge to the sea below. On the far side of the bridge, the path flows around a fountain where time might be spent sitting at a table and passing the time, before hurrying on towards a pergola-topped deck built out over the rocks where a part of the cliffs appears to have collapsed. Nor is this the end of meanderings, for the path continues on to drop those who tread its route gently onto the sands of a ribbon of beach along the island’s east side.
Those climbing the path from the landing point to the coffee house might also notice that as it reaches the latter, so too does it branch, the little lanterns which have marked the route up the path turning their lines to march back down again. No sooner do they start, than the path further splits, quickly descending to the right to reach an impressive boardwalk-come-breakwater snaking around the coast and providing fine views over the open waters to the surrounding hills, and offering places to sit and opportunities to enjoy refreshments.
At its western end, this boardwalk also descends to the beach, where a narrow neck of sand passes between rocks and water to join with the arm of not taken as it completes its journey down to the beach, thus allowing visitors the opportunity to circumnavigate the entire island by following any of the three trails leading to and from the sands.
Throughout all of this is much more to be discovered and seen. Birds ride the thermals as the wind crosses the water and rides up the island’s flanks; cats might be found here and there, silently commanding all they see in that subtle way that cats do; koi swim in rocky ponds; foxes watch passers-by and the colours of autumn bring a richness of warmth in which visitors can wrap themselves. And for those not wishing to walk, there is a network of teleport boards waiting to carry them from point-to-point.
Lovingly crafted and brought together, the Burrow Coffee Co., setting is – in a word – superb.
SLurl Details
- Burrow Coffee Co, (Evermore, rated Moderate)
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 