The stars are the only entertainment you need when staying in one of luxury hideaway Finn Lough’s giant bubble-like Forest Domes. Set within woods on the banks of Lough Erne, guests can arrive by boat or walk or drive through the forest. Inside there is a four-poster bed, waterfall shower, vintage record player, underfloor heating, fluffy robes, slippers and a telescope. There’s no Wi-Fi or TV, but who needs that when you can let off steam in the Finnish sauna (with stunning lough views) or experience weightlessness in the Float Room?
Casting a lonely form on Conwy’s rolling green hills, Foel Gopyn is perfectly positioned for an escape from the distractions of everyday life. A mile away from the nearest village, Ysbyty Ifan, the two-bed National Trust Holidays cottage has no TV or Wi-Fi and limited electricity, which is supplied by a generator. With any luck, some proper Welsh weather will descend so you can get the fire crackling and hunker down guilt-free with a platter of local cheeses and Welsh goodies (Betws y Coed, a short drive away, has a fab deli). On fine days, the trails of Snowdonia National Park beckon.
Romney ewes will become the most familiar faces during a stay at one of these two secluded shepherds huts on a farm in southeast Kent. Made by a local craftsman, the rural retreats also feature Romney snuggles, made from the farm’s own sheep fleeces, for guests to get cosy in. Keep things local, by ordering one of the breakfast hampers, groaning with Kentish goodies – which you can cook up on the hob. There’s an outdoor fire pit and wood-burner inside, plus a built-in toilet and shower room. Hire a bike to explore the incredible wilderness of Romney Marsh, including Dungeness, the UK’s only desert.
Read our review of Romney Marsh's delightful shepherds huts here
Feel at one with nature while staying snug in Wilderkin – a stylish cabin for two (plus dog) in the Scottish Borders. Gaze out the huge picture window, snuggled in sheepskin rugs, for views across fruit trees to the gorse and heather-strewn slopes beyond. A wind turbine provides power and lighting and the en suite has a compost loo with walk-in rainfall shower (there’s no shortage of piping hot water) and biodegradable smellies. Although there is a little kitchen, embrace the outdoors lifestyle by cooking up a rustic feast on the fire pit and skillet.
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Set within 130-acre Ty Gwyn Farm near Llandrindod Wells, Straw Cottage has an undeniable whiff of the Three Little Pigs about it, but thankfully there’ll be no hungry wolves prowling about. Constructed using centuries-old building methods, the walls of the cottage are made of straw bales, coated with lime mortar inside and out, while the roof is insulated with sheep’s wool. Candles, lanterns and a solar lamp provide light while gas is used for cooking, but there is a hot shower, flushing toilet, wood-burner and super-comfy beds.
A fairy-tale-esque cabin in the woods, the Riverside Cabin near Falmouth is bound to enchant all the family. With a double bed and bunk beds, it makes a wonderful family getaway. Available to hire on Airbnb, its ripe-for-exploring woodland garden has a swing in the trees, fire pit for marshmallow toasting and river with steps down for easy paddling. There are plenty of kids' books and games to hand too, perfect for snuggling up by the roaring wood-burner before bed.
Check out more Airbnb retreats that look like they're straight from a fairy tale
For a curated off-grid experience, plug into Unplugged. Its three-day digital detox escape takes place in this blissfully isolated off-grid cabin surrounded by ancient farmland within Essex. Surrender your phone (after taking a few pics to post to social media later, naturally) and settle into the small but comfy cabin. When you’ve tired of gazing out of the enormous window, rummage through the digital-free welcome box – there’s a Polaroid camera, map for exploring the countryside and postcards to send to loved ones. If all else fails, the welcoming Axe and Compass pub is just down the way.
Cosy up in this tiny house on the Causeway Coast where beaches, castles, quaint villages and sites steeped in ancient legends beckon. Stylish and homely, the Causeway Coast Cabin sleeps four (with a king-size bed and bunks) and overlooks Portballintrae Bay. Sit on the deck or fire up the wood-fired hot tub for a soak while the kids play games in the meadow (the garden is fenced). You’ll have views of Donegal, Bushmills and Port Stewart from your perch. The magical sights of the Giant's Causeway and atmospheric Dunluce Castle are also super close.
With uninterrupted views of the sea, sky and empty Ardnish Peninsula, and accessible only by boat, this isolated cottage will appeal to poetic souls. There is no electricity or Wi-Fi, and very little phone signal, so go well supplied. You’ll be glad you made the effort when you open the door to this adorable five-bed property. Paraffin lamps provide light, there is a Calor gas fridge and cooker, along with two wood-burning stoves that provide hot water and keep the place toasty and warm. A well-stocked board game cupboard and endless walks are all the entertainment you’ll need at Laggan.
It’s hard to imagine a more melodic setting than this former fisherman's hideout-turned-luxury cabin huddled in the crook of two rivers in southeast Cornwall’s Glynn Valley. With French doors opening onto a deck, a freestanding bath, underfloor heating and a roaring wood-burner, it’s an utter sanctuary after a day exploring the wilds of nearby Bodmin Moor. By day watch out for kingfishers darting into the River Warleggan and by dusk spy Daubenton’s bats fluttering past.
Check in and check out of day-to-day stress at one of two wonderful little eco-lodges on the northeast tip of Aberdeen’s coastline near Fraserburgh. With bi-fold doors opening onto uplifting views of farmland and the sea beyond, Wildflower Eco Lodges provide a good dose of both country and sea air. Family-run (and built), the wooden abodes were made using recycled and natural materials and have solar panels, ‘green’ roofs and wood-burning stoves for keeping things toasty. Just what you need after a hike to nearby Loch of Strathbeg, Britain's largest dune loch.
The wind-whipped Nash Point Lighthouse was built in 1832 on a notorious stretch of coast renowned for its wrecks, wreckers and stories of skulduggery. Get a sense of life as a lonely lighthouse keeper by booking one of the cottages nearby. Barn conversion Fossil Cottage is a cracker with three bedrooms and, best of all, a gate that opens onto the 14-mile (22.5km) stretch of the glorious Glamorgan Heritage coastline. Go hunting for fossils and rock pooling on Nash Point’s bedrock beach or stroll along the golden sands of Ogmore beach, before following the river to its Norman castle.
Lap up lakeside life at La Retraite, a one-bed off-grid pod set in a private valley in Oxfordshire. Simple and snug, this is a place for long country rambles followed by lazy evenings spent lounging by the log burner. Infrared heating runs from solar power and there’s a shower, compost loo and kitchenette. For local ales and a pub meal, head to The Dun Cow pub (10 minutes’ walk away in Hornton) or The Bell at Shenington (40 minutes’ walk).
Hole up in a seriously cute gypsy wagon set in a secluded spot on a working dairy farm in south Devon. The perfect size for two, plus a four-legged friend, Middle Sweetcombe is a purpose-built wagon with a raised double bed at one end and a wood-burner and seating at the other. Cook up an alfresco feast in the compact kitchen just outside the wagon, which you can eat by the fire pit. There’s no TV or Wi-Fi so there’s nothing for it but to talk or gaze up at the stars.
This pair of hand-crafted huts in a hay meadow are far from your average shepherd huts. Luxuriate in an upcycled hot tub as you gaze across the meadow towards the brooding Black Mountain, or go for a dip (or canoe) in the River Wye. A wood-burning stove keeps things warm on chilly days and there’s a communal fire pit outside. The huts can be booked separately but book both if you’re after complete privacy.
Where better to get off grid than Unst, the most northerly island in the UK? Stay in this traditional Shetland croft house on the west coast for mesmerising views over the bay. On fair days, sit at the table outside and lap up the sense of blissful isolation. When the weather sets in, stay snug in the lounge with its wood-burner, board games and a wee dram. Shetland’s simmer dim (long summer sunsets) and Northern Lights (“mirrie [shimmering] dancers”) are bewitching. The latter is best glimpsed between October and March.
Bohemian spirit is at the heart of these two handcrafted luxury yurts set in a wild meadow on an organically managed reserve in Somerset. Eclectic and eccentric, inside there are four-poster beds (plus a single bed if needed), reclaimed antique furniture and handmade wood-burners. There are compost toilets, hot showers and a fully-equipped kitchen on site. Days can be spent meandering around the Mendip Hills and visiting the region's many pre-historic and medieval sites, which are steeped in myths including, of course, Glastonbury Tor.
Kip like a Celtic king in a luxurious roundhouse in a private nature reserve in north Norfolk. This seven-person cabin is new to Round the Woods (a family-run glamping retreat with two yurts) and was built by hand by the owners. Natural straw bale walls and sheep's wool insulation ensure things stay cosy in winter and cool in summer. A large skylight provides a window to gaze at Norfolk's starry skies. There’s a log burner, swing seat and small kitchenette too. Seek out the communal pizza oven, teepee, campfire and sauna on site, plus there's pond dipping and woodland trails to follow as well.
A shepherd’s hut actually located on a sheep farm? How novel. Vista Hut, available for hire on Airbnb, is a real gem of a rural retreat. Surrounded by meadows with views across the Cuilcagh and Benaughlin mountains, it's far from your standard shepherd’s dwelling though. The handcrafted hut has been beautifully kitted out with the requisite wood-burner, dinky kitchen and super-comfy bed. Outside there’s a sheltered hot tub and hammock for kicking back in.
Brucefield Estate’s three new eco-bothies are the epitome of off-grid luxury. Set to open this spring on the 420-hectare estate, their Scandi–Scottish interiors (sheepskins, futons, wood-burning stove, large sliding doors and wet room) ooze style, while their local timber exteriors blend in with the woodland. The gallery bedrooms, reached by ladder, are the ideal perch for night-time stargazing. Tuck into the complimentary breakfast hamper (heaving with local delicacies) and make use of the bikes and wellie boots for exploring the estate – there’s a lantern for evening walks too, when there’s a good chance you might see bats and owls (also keep an eye out for elusive pine martens).
Bed down among the branches of a tree in beds made of twisted branches above the babbling River Wye. By The Wye’s luxury treetop tents sit perched on stilted platforms in the tree canopy. These safari-style eco-tents are just the tonic if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the hecticness of everyday life. Chill the bubbly in your cool box and spark up the fire pit on your deck then sit down to absorb the sounds of the woods that surround you. This patch of mixed ancient native woodland is home to owls, bats, badgers, newts, dormice and even the odd otter.
Castle and coastal views and complete seclusion are on offer with Wild with Consent, a travel company that matches campervanners to tucked-away sites in Northumberland. With a premise that there will never be two campers on the same site on the same night, you’re guaranteed privacy while enjoying the wonders of wild camping with full landowner consent. There’s one with views over Dunstanburgh Castle, another is yards from Lindisfarne National Nature Reserve and another lies hidden away on a farm with a track leading to Cheswick Sands.
Deep in the winding lanes of west Devon near Dartmoor, lies an idyllic woodland getaway with two delightful rustic-luxe eco-cabins – one sleeps four and the other six. Made by the husband-and-wife owners from local sustainable wood, Devon Dens cabins are powered by solar panels, toilets are dry with natural water filtration systems and all waste is composted. There’s no Wi-Fi or phone signal, but there are hammocks, books, games, a fire pit, wood-fired sauna, a pond for dipping and stream for paddling. Go with mates and you’ll have an even dreamier time.
Cwtch (cuddle) up in this Welsh beauty. Hinterland Cabin is a lovely little log cabin for two hidden away in a little copse in the Conwy valley. It’s made from local slate and railway sleepers, salvaged from the Conwy valley line, and has seriously stylish interiors. The ‘yoga’ deck and garden offer a wonderful outlook over the peaks of Snowdonia National Park, but the large covered hot tub and sauna are bound to be highlights of your stay – especially after all that hill walking.
Snug, Scandi and brimming with Yorkshire warmth, Lark is a real gem of an off-grid escape. Set on the edge of North York Moors, the stylish cabin has a queen and bunk beds. You’ll find plenty of chopped firewood, local honey, granola and homemade sloe gin left by the owner. Send the kids to collect eggs from the rescue hens or the ducks for breakfast. But the pièce de résistance has to be the two gleaming brass tubs set on an outdoor bathing deck. It’s hard to tear yourself away, but make sure you do: hire e-bikes to traverse woodland tracks from the door or go through the gate where the walking trails of the moors unfurl.
Fancy yourself as a Romantic poet, wandering the fells, lakes, tarns and woodlands of the Lake District before returning to recline by a crackling log fire? Rose Castle Cottage near Coniston is just the place. Sitting alone in the rugged landscape just above Tarn Hows, with no neighbours in sight, the two-bedroom stone cottage is a picture of 19th-century charm inside and completely free of modern technology.
For all its extraordinary beauty Cornwall’s allure can be diminished by the crowds. For a secluded coastal hideaway, even in peak season, look to Wilderness Kitchen, a pretty little hut by a stream that sleeps four. Owner Justine runs a brownie business (made using local heather honey) so expect a delicious welcome gift. It’s an easy walk to the beaches of St Agnes, including rugged Trevaunance cove, and you’ll be on the South West Coastal Path for dramatic clifftop stomps in minutes. What’s more, no less than five pubs are a short woodland walk away.
Vast skies, marshy and endlessly flat, the fens of Cambridgeshire have an eerie beauty about them. Stay smug and warm in a stunningly converted 1945 boat with a porthole that looks out onto the open fenland countryside, just near Ely. The boat forms the bedroom (with either a king-size double or two singles) which leads into an adjoining boat shack where there’s an industrial-style kitchen and bathroom. This quirky off-grid lodging, powered by solar panels, also has a roll-top bath outside for an alfresco wallow. You’re ensured privacy as the boathouse is set in its own three-acre forest.
Perched on the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path (go through the garden gate and you’re on it), traditional white-washed stone cottage Penrhyn is a charming abode for a coastal escape. With no electricity, there’s nothing to distract from listening to the sounds of the seabirds and waves crashing close by – you can watch them as you do the washing up. Located near Strumble Head, right on the northwest tip of Pembrokeshire, the cottage is cosy with plenty of local character (Welsh settles and locally made woollen curtains and bedspreads). Oil lamps, candles and a roaring wood fire add to its endearingly old-fashioned feel.
Fancy a few days of being a hermit? Head to the remote wilds of the Lake District to this extraordinary mountain-top escape. Getting there is all part of the experience: you’ll have to hike up a mountain. It’s oh-so-worth-it though when you open the doors to the cosy off-grid cabin. Where is it? Well, that depends. Every 56 days, it moves location within the national park to ensure it leaves no lasting footprint – the owners were inspired by the Tiny House movement in the US. But wherever it is you can be sure of exhilarating views of the brooding landscape and an utterly secluded position. With a lovely bed by a huge window, hot shower, wood-burner, kitchenette, Ooni pizza oven and endless hikes on your doorstep, you might not want to head down the mountain for a while.