Whether it’s a sign of the hectic times we live in or the suffocating rise of technology, off-the-grid staycations have become increasingly popular. Offering guaranteed escapism, time to reconnect with nature and a chance to lock away all tech, these are the hideaways in the UK that require an out-of-office auto-response. In a post-COVID world, the UK has mastered the art of a ‘staycation’, with a surge of huts, tents, treehouses, cabins and boathouses that employ nature as their main attraction!
Coining the term ‘glamping’, Feather Down Farms first emerged in 2003, long before camping was considered cool. Confluencing the glory of traditional camping with cushy amenities (in other words you’ll actually sleep!) this is how to do camping in style. Feather Down has 30 locations scattered throughout the UK, each located on a proper working farm, with neighbours in the form of lambs, pigs, horses, cows and goats. The canvas hideaways are filled with rustic home comforts, picture wooden decked interiors with a nostalgic wood-burning stove, oil lamps to light the space, an oak dining table with mismatched chairs, a fully equipped open-plan kitchen with running water and a vintage-style loo, deemed a luxury in the camping world. Hosting six people spaciously; 4 adults and 2 children or 5 adults and 1 child, the sleeping arrangements are elevated from standard camping, figuratively and metaphorically! The hideaways have two bedrooms, one with a double bed and the second with bunk beds, premium mattresses and linen provided. The Harry Potter-esque cupboard bed is a hit with little ones and teens but equally riles the adults up for a bit of fun. Purposely leaving hook up behind, the hideaways have no electricity, inviting you to let your phone battery die and rediscover a life before gadgets. Explore on the farm tour, learn how to light a wood stove and get a BBQ going from scratch, get together with the other campers for homemade pizza night and bound into the meadows that surround the farms. Cherry-pick your idyllic farm close to the coast, perched in an area of outstanding natural beauty or perhaps you would like somewhere that offers wild swimming and walking routes. From Cornwall to Cumbria, seek out a Feather Down Farm location for your next off-the-grid adventure.
Deliberately plonked in remote areas outside of London and Manchester, ‘Unplugged’ was conjured up with tech-drained, city workers in mind. Our screen time stats are frightening, as a society we’re glued to our phones…ever thought about what could happen if you locked it away for a few days? A tonic to city life, Unplugged hosts guests in bespoke digital detox cabins, urging you to put your phone in the lockbox provided (a Nokia will be left if you need to be contactable). Neatly presented with a Scandi design, the bite-sized cabins are ideal for two people. Submerged in nature, the cabins give the feeling you are completely unreachable when in actual fact, you’re not too far off the beaten track so they’re no hassle to access for a short staycation. Embrace the offline life, finish that book you started 6 months ago, wander aimlessly, play a board game or simply do absolutely nothing!
From safari-style tents to treehouses, gypsy caravans, geodomes, shepherd’s huts and yurts Canopy & Stars has the most eclectic mix of places to stay across the UK and further afield into Europe too. These swoon-worthy stays are completely unique with one common theme, they embrace the great outdoors! We could scour the website for hours deliberating which one to choose, whether you’re looking for somewhere pet-friendly, somewhere near the sea, somewhere with a hot tub, somewhere little ones will love or somewhere completely outlandish, Canopy & Stars has the quirkiest spots you won’t find elsewhere. Flaunting the very best of Britain’s natural beauty, each and every one of their locations will emerge you into nature and play host to an unforgettable stay.
Playing host to the most idyllic small places, Kip Hideaways is a curated edit of stays with soul! Running on a membership basis, each location has been approved by the team so you know they’re up to scratch. Exclusive to Kip members, the under-the-radar spots include cosy apartments, quaint cottages, hidden treehouses, stunning yurts, eco-cabins and romantic huts that span all over the British Isles. Their Instagram is enough to get you signed up, alluring you with dreamy snaps of the easy-luxe hideaways. Tranquillity, rewilding and escapism are guaranteed from every one of these soul-soothing stays, whether you opt to venture into the depths of the Cornish coast to a secluded houseboat or ascend to the peaks of the Scottish highlands to a treetop cabin.
Interspersed in their heavenly selection of luxury properties, Boutique Retreats has a number of secluded nooks in the form of cabins, huts and chocolate-box homes, perfect for a getaway off the beaten track. Founded in rural settings all across the UK, these handpicked hidden havens sway towards the premium end, fit with homely comforts for a plushy, yet nature-enriching stay! Overlooking gorgeous rolling countryside, tucked away in private woodlands or perched on the end of the lake, the dwellings cover various vistas to fulfil your wandering desires! Featuring outdoor firepits, hot tubs, sea views, wood burners and more, the website is accessibly presented to navigate and clubbed into collections to seek out your dream destination. The cabin-in-the-woods that is Bodhi Barn has charmed us, divine for a mini-wilderness retreat in Devon! Paired back with luxe touches, Bodhi Barn’s star feature is the gorgeous wooden hot tub, draped in a canopy of trees. The idyllic spot will give you a whole new appreciation for the UK’s abundant beauty, with nature acting as your playground to explore.
Soak up Suffolk’s immensely beautiful countryside at Farmstead Lodges. The quietude adobes bring you back to nature, situated in the rural village of Easton with sweeping scenery to wander. Farmstead houses 8 rustic-chic lodges that are set up for self-catering with both a showstopping freestanding copper bath and an outdoor tub to unwind in. Explore the area on foot, using the walking map as your guide, stumbling across historical landmarks, food-filled markets and cosy pubs en route. When dusk sets in the Farmstead Lodges really shine…bathe in a hot bath under the stars, get the wood log fire burning, curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea and settle into a slower pace of life away from the everyday. The one-bedroom lodges are romantic getaway worthy, and the two-bedroom lodges are best fit for families and friends. Each morning as the day breaks, step out onto the veranda, listen to the sounds of nature and take in the Farmstead magic in all its glory.
words by Isabelle Shury
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