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Until recently, no one offered quality accommodation in the centre of the Tuchola Forest (Bory Tucholskie), one of the greatest natural attractions of Poland. The Elfville, a family business, is an 1847 wooden cottage converted into a guesthouse with elegant suites. The undertaking in Bielska Struga has proved a huge success as finding a room here at any time of the year is virtually impossible and you need to make reservations well in advance.

‘I wanted to have my own retreat in the Tuchola Forest, as it is the most beautiful region of our country,’ says Agnieszka Bogdańska, co-owner of the Elfville. ‘It took us two years to find a ruined house in scenic surroundings. I was sure it was a place where many people would love to spend their holidays. The building had to be thoroughly restored, but we found a carpenter who was familiar with the traditional half-timbered constructions.’

You need some imagination to see a ruin as a fine guesthouse offering four luxury suites: White, Oak, Flower and Bird (each with a unique decor). The ardous restoration and construction work was supervised by a conservator. ‘In retrospect, there is no doubt the effort paid off. The old cottage gives us now more that it has received,’ adds the Poznań-born Agnieszka who fell in love with the Tuchola Forest.

The Tuchola area has limited accommodation, mainly at farms; in 2006 they offered just 233 beds and few of these places have much in the way of local culture. In this respect, the Leśne Apartamenty (Forest Suites) in Bielska Struga stand out from the competitors. In less than two years, the guesthouse attracted a thousand visitors. ‘Poland has relatively few modern hotels and holiday centres, which, paradoxically, gives us an advantage. We should focus on niches. Visitors from Poland and abroad are increasingly in search of quiet and contact with nature and local culture. And that’s exactly what we offer,’ says Agnieszka Bogdańska, who often invites local craftsmen and artists to Bielska Struga.

As the guests are provided with detailed information, more people now come to the Tuchola Forest Museum, enjoy the Jelenia Wyspa (Deer Island) nature walk and visit the unique 19th-century hydrological buildings. In the immediate vicinity of the Leśne Apartamenty, a new reserve, also called Bielska Struga, is to be created and you can already explore the reserves of the Stążka Headstream with its Wodogrzmoty Krasnoludków (Dwarf’s Falls), the Brda River Valley or the Grzybna Swamps. This is a perfect place for any nature lover.