A brand-new private suite high above Snug Cove, with beautiful views and easy access to Bowen’s village, beaches and trails. Enjoy mountain views while you soak in the hot tub, coffee in your private courtyard, and the freedom to explore on foot.

Sweetwater Suite sits high above Snug Cove, pairing sweeping island views with walkability to Bowen’s village, ferry, beaches, and trails. Privately tucked into the lower level of Woody’s Coastal Retreat, this brand-new suite is thoughtfully designed to feel both polished and relaxed. Soak in the hot tub with a view, watch the moon rise over the Coastal Mountains at the fire bowl, linger over coffee in your private courtyard, or head out on foot for a meal in the Cove or a day on the trails.

Sweetwater Suite is managed by Discover Bowen, which is run by Saskia Tait and her team. She and her team are nearby and ready to help with any issues that may come up. We would love to interact with and orient you to Woody's Coastal Retreat, Sweetwater Suite and the island if you'd like that, but we are also fully respectful of your privacy if you prefer no contact and want to just arrive and do your own thing.

Upstairs, owner Andrea and her family are also happy to welcome you and assist as needed! We are a hosting team that really cares about our guests having the best possible experience!

Discover Bowen has Experience Partnerships with a range of local adventure outfitters—including Bowen e-Bikes, Bowen Island Sea Kayaking, Mountain Tide Adventures, MIST Thermal Spa, mobile yoga, spa, and massage therapy service providers, and more. Be sure to inquire about direct bookings and discounts for Discover Bowen partner properties, including Sweetwater Suite at Woody's Coastal Retreat.

The Sweetwater Suite at Woody's Coastal Retreat is on Cates Hill, immediately above Snug Cove — one of the best locations on Bowen for visitors who want to experience the island on foot and take in grandiose views of the Coastal Mountains and Howe Sound to the east. Down the hill is the heart of the Snug Cove, with cafés, restaurants, shops, galleries, the marina and ferry terminal. Crippen Regional Park begins nearby, connecting you to forest trails, Killarney Lake and some of Bowen’s loveliest walks. The beautiful new trails of Dorman Point area also nearby.

Bowen itself is only a short ferry ride from West Vancouver, but life here moves at a decidedly different pace. Forest, ocean, little beaches and winding island roads surround a small village where it’s easy to spend a weekend without much of an itinerary at all.

From Sweetwater, you can head out for breakfast, hike through the forest, swim in the sea, linger over dinner and walk home afterward. It’s an unusually easy way to experience Bowen.

Sweetwater Suite is your private space during your stay. Guests will also have access to the hot tub and the deck it is located on at designated times in the afternoons and evenings.

The main residence above is separate from the suite, so please be aware that this is part of a larger home rather than a completely detached cottage. The owner, Andrea, and her family live upstairs. Soundproofing is good between the upstairs and downstairs, but you may hear them upstairs on occasion.

To get to the suite, you must walk along a path that passes by the main house pool and front door patio of the main house, so you may occasionally run in to Andrea and her family on occasion—they are happy to connect with guests, though, so this is no problem!

Please be aware too that you might encounter Maggie, the sheepadoodle, and/or Ralphie, the bernedoodle—two rambunctious but friendly dogs who will be excited to welcome new guests. If you are uncomfortable with dogs, this residence might not be the right fit for you. Though you will rarely see them, we can't promise that you won't run into them during your comings and goings.


Welcome to Sweetwater Suite at Woody's Costal Retreat, a private one-bedroom suite designed for two guests (but with room for up to four) on Bowen Island’s Cates Hill. Set just above Snug Cove, the suite offers a rare Bowen combination—proximity to the the cove and all it has to offer, but tucked far enough up and away that you feel worlds apart. This is one of the rare places to stay on Bowen where you can free comfortable to leave your car at home so that you can commit instead to real down time. Take in only what you can on foot, which is surprisingly quite a lot from Woody's Coastal Retreat. Wander down to the village, or take a path up to Artisan Square, or take any number of trails and quiet roads to swim at nearby beaches or explore Dorman Point and Crippen Regional Park.

When you return, the property feels worlds away from the bustle below. Perch yourself in the hot tub or patio to take in sweeping views of the Coastal Mountains and Howe Sound below. In fact, you may not want to go anywhere once you are here.

Inside, you will find that the suite was created in the spirit of easy, generous hospitality — comfortable rather than fussy, thoughtfully put together, and designed for the kind of stay where you can settle in and slow down. Care was taken in the selection of fine linens, towels, kitchenware (for simple fare—no oven or stove), and furnishings. It was designed in partnership with esteemed interior designers so it feels put together, even inspiring. We know that little touches matter, and like to make our guests feel at home and hosted in style.

Sweetwater Suite is perfect for couples, small families, friends, or solo travellers seeking an easy, central, beautiful base for their Bowen escape.

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DETAILS ABOUT BEDS, KITCHEN, & LIVING SPACE

Sweetwater Suite is a self-contained one-bedroom suite within Woody’s Coastal Retreat. It has its own private parking space and private entryway with a small courtyard, and everything you need for an easy island stay. Inside, you’ll find a comfortable bedroom with a queen bed, nightstands, and dresser. The space is designed for two, but it is possible to sleep up to two additional guests for an extra fee on the high end sofa bed in the living room. The living room also has a large SMART TV, and gas fireplace.

The brand new, full bathroom has a shower (no tub). The new, cute kitchenette is equipped with a coffee maker, kettle, and small fridge/freezer. There is seating around a small dining table for 2 guests, and stacking chairs for additional guests. Thoughtful details, natural textures and collected pieces give the suite a warm, considered feel.

Outside there is a small patio with a bistro table and a new landscaping design designed to create the feeling of a private courtyard. Around the corner, you will have access to the main deck with soaring Coastal Mountain and distant but dramatic ocean views of Howe Sound and Snug Cove below.

One of Sweetwater’s greatest luxuries is simply its location. You can arrive as a foot passenger and have a genuinely lovely Bowen getaway without needing a car. However, you must be comfortable walking up Village Drive about midway—not for the faint of heart, but wonderful for those who don't mind a little bit of effort for rewards below (and back at home!).

From the suite, you can walk to:
> Snug Cove and the ferry
> Cafés, restaurants and shops
> Bowen Island Marina
> Nearby beaches (Pebbly Beach, Sandy Beach, September Morn)
> Crippen Regional Park and its network of forest trails, including access to Mt. Gardner on Hiker's Trail Road
> ...and more!

A few things we think guests will love:
> Morning coffee before the island wakes up.
> Walking into Snug Cove instead of looking for parking.
> A long soak in the hot tub after hiking the trails.
> Dinner out and a peaceful walk home.
> The sound of the ferry echoing from below.
> Having nowhere in particular you need to be.

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THE STORY BEHIND WOODY'S COASTAL RETREAT & SWEETWATER:

Sweetwater takes its inspiration from the kind of hospitality that makes people feel immediately at home—something Andrea and her late husband, Woody, valued deeply. Its name carries a small nod to the American South and its traditions of welcome, while the suite itself is very much rooted here on Bowen: quiet, informal, surrounded by nature and made for slowing down.

Woody’s love of hospitality began early, working at a small inn as a teenager before later spending a summer on Nantucket. Those experiences stayed with him throughout his life, from the meals he cooked to the bread he baked and shared with friends. Woody’s Coastal Retreat carries a little of that spirit forward—not as a theme, but as an invitation to gather, rest and feel at home.

Andrea and Saskia and her Discover Bowen team welcome you here in that spirit, and look forward to making your stay memorable.



A car is optional here. Sweetwater is within walking distance of the ferry and Snug Cove, making it especially well suited to guests arriving as foot passengers. Bowen’s hills are real, though—the walk home from the Cove includes an uphill section, so guests with limited mobility will prefer to come with a vehicle. If you do bring a car, the suite has a designated parking area. From Snug Cove, the island’s community bus service also provides access to several other parts of Bowen, or you can rent eBikes or scooters.