Cabins for a great night's sleep

Life at The River Lodge in Yorkshire is centred around the huge king size bed, strewn with pillows, blankets and sheepskin rugs. It’s a shrine to the importance of a good night’s sleep. The stunning views of the trees will keep you cuddled up beneath the covers for even longer and if you throw open the doors, the sounds of the babbling water below might lull you back into a slumber. Once you emerge from your luxurious den, fully rested, there’s the vast expanse of the North York Moors to explore from this secluded spot. Hike the coast-to-coast path, swim in the river, try your hand at fly fishing or explore the nearby village of Grosmont and the beaches of Runswick Bay and Robin Hood’s Bay. The North York Moors railway runs nearby if you fancy a steam train ride with Pullman dining and special events all year round.

The huge circular window at the foot of the king-size bed at The Nest in Devon has been designed for stunningly scenic lie-ins. Draw the curtain after you wake and gaze out over the hills and fields that stretch all the way to Exmoor. Or keep the curtain open all night and drift off to the awe-inspiring sight of a vast blanket of stars. If you need a bit of extra help to unwind, owner Claire runs one-to-one yoga sessions in the open air, or if even that sounds too strenuous, take a long soak in the wood-fired tub until any lingering stress drifts away with the steam. Don’t just take our word for how relaxing it is. One guest had such a good sleep, he was moved to poetry (we aim to inspire). We’ll let Tony sum up the Tardis-like proportions of The Nest with the immortal words; “A king size bed, so comfy and so wide, for taller folks like me, it’s just the right size”. Enough said.

If you’re after 40 winks, then Logoutt Hafod Hir might just have 80. Sitting amongst the trees just outside Bethania, on the site of a working farm’s 1500 acres – this sleepy little Cabin’s just five miles from Ceredigion Bay – and even in front of its own little lake. During the day you can surf and frolic in the sea, and head back to your space to watch the lake ripple and the wind blow through the trees.  

On days of better weather, you can relax about the site, taking walks to explore, or hiring mountain bikes to get further afield for adventures – but if you can’t bear to part with your space (we won’t judge), then you can simply lie back in your bed, and look out on the views from blissful comfort.

Get ready to hibernate in a pre-feathered nest at The Bird Box in Devon. It’s a tactile slumber sanctuary resplendent with fur deer skins, plump cushions and warm wool carpets. The icing on the cake is the view through the trees from the sliding doors at the foot of the bed. Equally good is the lack of wifi so there’s no possibility of checking work emails (or the family WhatsApp chat). When you’re not catching up on sleep, head out along the old tramway through meadows to the river and then up onto the Dartmoor for a soul-nourishing stomp. A hearty feast at the Sawday’s recommended Dartmoor Inn, followed by a long soak in the cedarwood hot tub makes the perfect wind down routine before you skip back up to bed again.

A waterfall flows right underneath Falling Water in Yorkshire so you’ll drift off to gently rippling background music. Then wake to the morning sun streaming through the stained-glass door and wrap-around windows that surround the double bed. Once you’ve yawned, stretched and padded a few paces from your pillows, you can dip your toes straight into water. Take a few deep breaths, gaze out at the trees and you’re experiencing forest bathing at its finest. The colourful cabin is a calm, light-filled oasis – a sanctuary to unwind in after a day exploring Bronte country, Hebden Bridge and the Pennine Way. After a deep, dreamless sleep the owners can bring you a breakfast hamper or you can join other B&B guests at Ponden Mill.