Overview
The bathtub sits outside, under the sky, and by every account that is the part guests remember. One reviewer, staying at Perkins Hollow Retreat for a mini honeymoon the weekend after her wedding, described soaking in the exterior tub even when the afternoon climbed into the 80s, unwilling to give up what she called a private oasis. That is the promise this place makes and, it seems, keeps: that the good parts of a getaway happen outdoors, and that the point of leaving home is to slow down enough to notice them.
Perkins Hollow Retreat is a small cluster of private cottages tucked into the hills of Nelson County, the stretch of central Virginia that markets itself, not without cause, as the state's Wine Country. It sits south and west of Charlottesville, close enough for a day trip into town and close enough to the wineries and Blue Ridge trailheads to build a whole weekend around them. You will find it at 1187 Perkins Hollow Ln, Faber, VA 22938, and you can reach the owners at (540) 294-0901.
Where you'll stay
There are three cottages, and you rent one at a time, with exclusive use of whichever you choose. The Stilt House lifts you up off the ground for a canopy view. The Cottage is the compact, self-contained one that the honeymooning reviewer fell for. Cabin at the Rocks leans into the same outdoor-soak ritual, with a luxurious tub set into its own quiet corner of the land. Each works for a couple looking for a cozy escape, and the property as a whole can absorb a larger group spread across the buildings.
What makes them read as retreats rather than rentals is the way the indoor and outdoor amenities double up. Every cottage has a full indoor bathroom and, separately, an outdoor tub and outdoor shower, so you can wash off a hike under open air or draw a bath and watch the light change. Inside there's a full kitchen stocked well enough that guests report never needing to leave for a meal, a SmartTV for the nights you want one, and a shelf of books for the nights you don't. Outside each door: a grill, a firepit with firewood provided, and a screened porch built for the hour when the bugs come out and the breeze picks up. One guest's only regret was that the weather was too warm to fling open the large porch doors and let the air move through the cottage, which tells you the porch is not an afterthought here.
The grounds
Your cottage is yours alone, but the land around it is shared, and it's generous. The property holds two ponds and three hiking trails, so the restoring half of the retreat's own motto, Explore and Restore, is meant literally. You can walk the trails in the morning, come back for the tub in the afternoon, and cook over the firepit at night without ever getting in the car. For guests who do want to venture out, the Nelson County setting puts wineries, longer Blue Ridge hikes, and Charlottesville all within reach.
The cottages are booked through Airbnb, where the reviews live, and the retreat keeps an eye on the region's seasonal rhythm, pointing guests toward the festivals that fill Nelson County's calendar. The consensus from people who've stayed is quietly consistent: comfortable beds and good linens, blackout curtains that let you actually sleep in, a kitchen that has what you need, and the rain showerhead indoors paired with the tub outdoors. More than one guest has left already planning the return trip, aiming for fall or spring when the doors can stand open.
Planning a visit
This is a place to book when you want the getaway itself to be the destination rather than a base for a packed itinerary, though it can be that too. Come in the cooler months if the screened porch and open doors are the draw; come whenever if the outdoor tub is. Details on each cottage, current availability, and the surrounding festivals are on the retreat's own site at perkinshollow.com, with reservations handled through their Airbnb listing. For questions before you book, call (540) 294-0901.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Perkins Hollow Retreat?
Perkins Hollow Retreat is located at 1187 Perkins Hollow Ln, Faber, VA 22938, USA, in Crozet, Virginia.
How do I contact Perkins Hollow Retreat?
You can call (540) 294-0901 or visit https://www.perkinshollow.com/. Hours and current information are most reliable directly from the business.
What kind of business is Perkins Hollow Retreat?
Perkins Hollow Retreat is categorized as lodging in our Crozet directory. See the description and quick facts above for what makes this listing distinctive.
Sources: perkinshollow.com