Rental Details
Overview
Fancy Free is an authentic Victorian five bedroom island cottage for rent in the Ottawa area. This cottage is on an idyllic private island, a half-acre in size, located in Big Rideau Lake, a UNESCO heritage area in Eastern Ontario.
Rental includes exclusive use of cottage and island plus private mainland parking and boat launch. Guests can bring their own motorboat or rent one from a nearby marina. Maximum group size is eight. Dogs are welcome at no extra charge.
Also included at no extra cost: high speed WIFI, plus a small sailboat, several kayaks, canoes and a SUP. Rentals are for a minimum of a week from June to October. For a full description of amenities please see the About page.
A warm welcome
What sets Fancy Free apart is the care we take to ensure that our guests have the optimum experience possible. That begins with a good introduction to the cottage and island. Every new guest at Fancy Free is welcomed personally and taken over to the island for a tour. Once you are comfortable with how it all works, you have the island to yourself.
This warm welcome sets the scene for a memorable vacation that many families have told us was their best family holiday ever.
2026 Weekly Rates in CAD:
- June 6 – June 13: $2,496.00
- June 13 – June 20: $2,724.00
- June 20- June 27: $3,178.00
- June 27 – September 5: $3,746.00
- September 5 – October 10: $2,156.00
Fancy Free closes for the winter the week after Thanksgiving.
How do I book?
You can start the booking process by contacting us using this form.
Availability:
Check availability here:
Fancy Free is available for rental from June to mid October. The minimum rental is one week. Long weekends are available only if the week following the weekend is also booked.
Booking & Deposit:
A non-refundable deposit of 20% is required to reserve, along with a damage deposit of $400.00, which is returned after the owners have had time to inspect the cottage. Upon confirmation, you will receive a package with location details and other useful information. All new guests get a tour upon arrival.
Cancellation policy:
The deposit of 20% is non-refundable. The balance payment of 80% is refundable upon written notice of cancellation up to six weeks before the start of the rental. If the cancellation is made less than six weeks before the rental start date, the owners will return the balance payment only if the cottage is re-booked.
Photo by Pamela Gough
Location
Fancy Free is one hour by car north of Kingston and is easily reached from the United States via the Thousand Islands International Bridge. It is one and a half hours by car south of Ottawa. LINK TO MAP
Find out about Day Trips in the area here.
Group Size Limit
Fancy Free Island has a maximum group size of 8 persons at any one time.
Children
The safety of all our guests is a priority. Because Fancy Free is on an island, we welcome children as long as they are competent swimmers.
Pets
Well behaved dogs are welcome at Fancy Free at no extra charge. We understand that your pets are an important part of a family holiday experience. Fancy Free Island is a safe car-free place for you to enjoy quality time with them.
Smoking
There is no smoking or vaping allowed on Fancy Free Island or in Fancy Free cottage.
Guests
Guests are not to exceed the cottage limit of eight people at a time
Parking
We provide complimentary private parking on our mainland docking area. There is also a private boat launch.
Questions?
Please feel free to contact the owners, Tom and Pamela Gough at pgough@sympatico.ca or 416-236-2037.