The best cabins in the UK for a cosy retreat

Where? Berkshire

The UK’s original off-grid cabin experience, Unplugged offers burnt out urbanites a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of modern life, via a three-night digital detox in one of dozens of cosy wooden cabins in secluded countryside settings on the outskirts of major cities. My stay was in Bunty, near the village of Thatcham in the Berkshire countryside, around a 45-minute train ride and a short taxi from Paddington. 

There’s a padlocked box for you put your phone(s) in for the duration of the stay, plus loads of handy bits and bobs you might need when you’re without a smartphone, including maps and a compass, a Nokia phone for emergencies, and a pack of film for the Polaroid camera provided.

For an off-the-grid stay, it feels more luxurious than you might expect, with a nice hot shower and a very comfy bed with lovely soft linen sheets. I took my bike along for my solo stay so I could spend my time exploring the local woodland, stopping at the nearby country pubs and breweries, but you also have access to board games, a wireless radio with rechargeable batteries and a selection of books on mindfulness to help you really decompress.

My favourite part of each day was sunset, when I’d build a fire in the wood burner and then watch the lambs frollicking in the next-door field from the cabin’s huge windows with a cup of chamomile tea. Bliss! 

Location: Thatcham, Berkshire 

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps two people. 

Price: Unplugged Cabins, from £420 for three nights; book here.

Where? Loughborough

Pamella’s Place is somewhere between a cabin and a cottage. Part of a collection of five lovely properties on Bonington Farm, this design-led stay is chic but cosy, and feels pretty remote while being entirely accessible – the farm is just 15 minutes’ drive from Loughborough Station. For a group of girlfriends or a few couples (you can even fit up to eight people here), it doesn’t really get better than this – think bedroom windows that look out over fields of grazing horses, bedrooms with heavy, sliding curtains and a huge great dining table laden with candles. It’s cabin living – just not in a rickety, straw bathroom kind of way.

Time Out tip: Make sure to book ahead for the Film House, Bonington Farm’s very own private cinema – it was the highlight of our weekend.  

Location: Bonington Farm, Nottinghamshire, about 15 minute’s drive from Loughborough Station

Rooms: Four bedrooms, sleeps up to eight (additional charge for groups bigger than four)

Price: Starting from £150 per night

Where? Sussex (there are Unyoked cabins all over the UK)

Unyoked is an Australian company offering city dwellers the chance to immerse themselves in nature for the weekend, and it has cabins in different spots throughout the UK. We popped down to our cute and shed-like spot after work on a Friday, and immediately felt really isolated. Outside the front door is a fire pit surrounded by tree stumps, plus an actual little table and chairs. Indoors, meanwhile, there’s a wood-burning fireplace, but the Unyoked cabin’s greatest asset is undoubtedly the bed, tucked snugly in the corner and sandwiched between two huge windows which give out onto the surrounding forest.

Location: South Downs National Park, Sussex

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps two people

Price: Unyoked Cabins, from £154 weeknights and £179 on weekends

Where? Somerset

Camelot is a cabin with a lot going on. It’s both a party house and a spa break. A restorative countryside retreat with a side of Love Island. This supersize cabin sleeps six in three doubles, and boasts its own private sauna, fire pit, indoor sunken spa, gym, yoga space, alfresco hot showers, outdoor six-person bath, movie projector, BBQ and pizza oven. With space so impressive – your own private kingdom if you will – you’re unlikely to need to leave, but there are bikes on hand if you fancy a spin through the countryside to the local vineyard or to explore nearby Wells or Glastonbury. Just be back in time for a sunset soak on the deck with epic views of the Somerset Levels.  

Location: Wookey, Somerset

Rooms: Three bedrooms. Sleeps six people

Price: From £499 a night

Where? Wales

With its arched ceilings and bubble-shaped doors, The Orchard looks like it has stepped out of a fairy tale, or perhaps from another dimension. Set in glorious countryside views with a large decking area and hot tub, it’s the perfect base for exploring the local area and unwinding at the same time. You’re just three miles from the beaches of Broad Haven and Barafundle Bay, while the quaint town of Pembroke is just around the corner.

Location: Maidenwells, Wales

Rooms: Two bedrooms. Sleeps five people

Price: From £138 a night

Where? Cumbria

What better way to rekindle friendships than getting together a group of pals and heading to a beautiful log cabin (pardon the pun). On the Scottish-English border, this cabin was built using locally sourced trees, has a six-person hot tub as well as plenty of open-plan entertaining space. For daytime activities, the Lake District is only a 40-minute drive away while the nearby Kielder Water and Forest Park is home to England’s largest forest and man-made lake, offering activities like sailing and bike trails. 

Location: Penton, Cumbria

Rooms: Five bedrooms. Sleeps ten

Price: From around £592 a night

Where? Dorset

Hanging from a tree like an oversized apple, this quirky getaway in Dorset looks like a prop from ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Inside the Floating Tree Sphere you’ll find a hob, heating, and a snug bed with views over the fields. Outside, there’s a hammock and barbecue, while hot showers and loos are just across the grass. There’s no wifi here so swap scrolling on your phone for strolling through the woodland, playing board games and spotting woodpeckers in the trees.

Location: Sturminster Marshall, Dorset

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps two people

Price: From £85 a night

Where? Isle of Wight

Meet Kindred – the dinky A-frame house with eco credentials that’d make Greta proud. Found on the Isle of Wight, this humble getaway is a vision in plywood with a retro edge. Up top there’s a cosy white-linen bed with triangle-shuttered windows and lush countryside views. Downstairs there’s cute vintage furniture and a cosy wood-burner. Kindred is off-grid, which means that when it’s cloudy, electricity is like gold dust. If there’s a power cut just use the lanterns provided – it’s all part of the fun.

Loction: Isle of Wight, Hampshire

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps up to four people

Price: From £140 a night

Where? Scotland

It might look small from outside – and it is – but you’d be surprised what can fit in this cleverely compact tiny house. With a super king mattress on the mezzanine, a sofa bed that rolls out to sleep another two people, there’s also a fully equipped kitchenette and a floor-to-ceiling window offering panoramic views across the estuary. Cute, contemporary and within walking distance of the Newburgh seal colony, this self-catered Scottish stay has everything you’ll need for a tranquil time.

Location: Newburgh, Aberdeenshire

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps four people

Price: From £120 per night

Where? Scotland

Dig out your binoculars and get ready for some wildlife views like you’ve never seen before. The appropriately named Birdwatchers’ Cabin, nestled on the wild shores of Loch Fleet, is the perfect spot to experience spectacular views and find new feathered friends. One wall is made up of glass patio doors so you can wildlife spot from the luxury comfort of your cabin, or you can head outside to get up close and personal. From ospreys and deer to even otters, you’ll be well and truly spoiled for choice. 

Location: Golspie, Scotland

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps two people

Price: From £220 per night