Cabins for a winter girls weekend away

In a blissfully isolated spot on the edge of the Lake District, you and five girlfriends can escape reality for a few days with nothing to disturb you except the salmon swimming upstream in the river below. The Lodge is a traditional log cabin with a spacious blanket-strewn seating area, a swanky wet room and a big outdoor hot tub that sets the scene for cute group photos in woolly hats and swimwear. 

You can hike or bike together along the trails of the estate, explore Lowther Castle or head to the cafes, cinema and artisan shops of Rheged. If there’s a budding fisherwoman among you, try to catch some of that salmon and smoke it over the BBQ for supper. Hampers with flowers, champagne and local produce can also be arranged at an additional cost. Otherwise, head to one of the many gastro pubs and country inns nearby for a slap-up meal instead.

If you don’t think award-winning architecture and glamping cabins go together, you’ve never set foot in The Chicken Shed. The organiser of this girls weekend away is about to bank some serious brownie points. With a stunning glass and cedar exterior and luxurious features inside – including a heated concrete floor, swish kitchen and huge light-filled living space – this is a place for celebrating female friendship in style. All against the stunning backdrop of the Wye Valley with views of Sugar Loaf in the distance.  

Gather around the firepit at sunset to appreciate the natural beauty with a few glasses of fizz and a lot of relaxed, contented chatter. You can book a local caterer to whip up a feast if you’d rather not cook or buy a hamper from The Marches Deli full of local cheeses, charcuterie, beer, cider, perry, juices and wine. Make memories with a tour at the Silver Circle Gin Distillery then shake off your hangovers the next day with nature walks from the front door.

Channel your inner creativity with a jamming session at Candyland Studios in Devon. Not only does it have guitars, ukuleles and a baby grand piano but it even comes with its own recording studio, available for hire. That holiday song that takes you back to a special girls’ weekend could end up being one you wrote yourselves. The cabin is a gorgeous, fairy-lit retreat in the woods with a covered deck outside for celebratory feasts and al fresco dance routines.  

Once you’re ready to explore the surroundings, you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained. The shops and arts centre of Great Torrington are nearby, you can bike along the Tarka Trail or visit the spectacular North Devon coastline. Head to Westward Ho! and Hartland Quay for wild walks along the sand buffeted by winter winds and sea spray. With frequent pub stops to refuel, naturally.

The Insta photo dump after your girls’ weekend at The Warren will elicit some serious envy. It’s less of a cabin and more of a glass-fronted, turf-roofed palace in the Powys hills, complete with jewel-coloured sofas and one of the most stylish bathrooms we’ve ever seen. If you can brave it in the winter, the cool outdoor shower is an invigorating spot to wash the mud off after wild walks in the Elan Valley or Brecon Beacons.  

Alternatively, seeing as you’ve brought six of your besties to such sumptuous surroundings, you might be tempted to stay put, fire up the hot tub and settle in for the ultimate girls’ night in. Break out the board games, stick on a few classic movies and prepare a slap-up meal in the gorgeous forest green kitchen. You’ll come home with your spirits soaring and a Pinterest board full of new design ideas.

Arriving at Hinterland House with your best girlfriends feels like stepping into a house party. Pop the fizz, dump the bags and race around discovering the hammock, hot tub, the huge private garden, firepit and the spectacular open plan kitchen/dining area. The cabin is on a beautiful 500-acre Cornish working farm, so as you gaze at the epic views, you might spot a few friendly animals wandering past in the distance.  

The coast is nearby for ruddy-cheeked winter walks, or you could just stay home and devise a leisurely schedule of morning yoga, afternoon soaks in the hot tub, and raucous evenings around the kitchen table playing games, knocking back the wine and catching up. With so much space to frolic in, if you need a bit of quiet time there are plenty of spots to hide with a book for half an hour.

Perfect for a discerning group of four, The Cove in Devon has that magic detail that tops many a glamping wish list – spectacular views of the sea from high on a hillside. Inside the cabin you could be in a high-end boutique hotel except that it’s perched in splendid isolation among the trees without another soul in sight. Get ready to hang out in a space that beckons you to relax at every turn – in the hot tub, on the yoga mats or in the meditative calm of your private sauna.  

Thankfully, there’s a handy Vertuo coffee machine to revive you if all this self-care makes you a bit too sleepy. Spend long, tranquil hours recharging your batteries, walk in minutes to the beach and when stomachs start to rumble, head to Kendricks in Stoke Fleming for a bite to eat. For a treat, book a table at The Angel – A Taste of Devon, an award-winning fine dining restaurant in Dartmouth with glorious views over the river.

Live like queens in this luxurious countryside escape, complete with a six-person hot tub, private spa with sauna and sunken baths. Every detail of this sprawling cabin has been designed for ultimate comfort and indulgence. Luxury bed linen, fluffy robes and slippers provided, plus underfloor heating means that even on the coldest of winter days, you’ll be toasty at Camelot. 

Start your weekend with a complimentary welcome basket packed with local cider, cheese, and fresh bread. Get the wood burner going, pop open a bottle and lounge in the outdoor heated seating area under fairy lights. Mornings call for spa treatments in your cabin, followed by a stroll to Fenny Castle Vineyard for a wine tasting. End the day with a homemade pizza from the wood-fired oven, then cosy up in front of the 4k projector for a movie night with your besties.

For the girl gang that loves cosy cabin vibes with a side of adventure, this lakeside retreat is the dream. Settle into the huge open-plan space, light the wood burner and pop on a playlist while you unpack the board games. Afternoons are for wild swimming, fishing, or paddling in the lake. Or just watch from the hot tub and make use of the pizza oven.  

Bonfire nights are a must, complete with marshmallows and maybe a cheeky bottle of mulled wine. For a daytime outing, head to Melton Mowbray for their legendary pork pies, then stop by the Belvoir Brewery for a tasting. Cap off the weekend with a cosy movie night, wrapped up in blankets, with a steaming cup of hot chocolate in hand.

Less than an hour from London, this off-grid beach escape is where you and your girls can truly unwind. Picture waking up to panoramic ocean views, stepping onto the deck with a piping hot coffee in hand and breathing in the salty sea air. Days here are all about long coastal walks, cosy pub lunches by the fire and watching the waves with a glass of wine. Seals are often seen just offshore, so keep your eyes peeled. 

If you’re up for an adventure, go fossil hunting along the ancient coastline or don your winter wetsuit and brave a bracing dip in the sea. Evenings are best spent huddled around the firepit wrapped in blankets, watching the winter sunset cast gold light across the deck with the crashing of the waves as your soundtrack. And don’t forget to make a trip to the picturesque town of Whitstable for their world-famous oysters — because what’s a girls’ weekend without a little indulgence here and there?