Cabins for escaping the city

A hop, skip and a jump from Bath, but a world away from its bustling streets, The Straw Bale Lodge is perched at the top of Little Solsbury Hill with panoramic views over the countryside and Georgian splendour beyond. Soak your cares away in the private sunken hot tub, then sleep like a log in the cocoon-like surroundings of the romantic canopied bed. After a hearty breakfast, head straight out to the flat top circuit walk of Solsbury Hill, then follow the famous six-mile Bath Skyline route through wildflower meadows, woodland and farmland – sometimes, even the most beautiful cities are best enjoyed at a distance. Spend leisurely evenings in the deckchairs in front of the chimenea on your private terrace or unwind in the glow of the woodburner inside the cosy cabin.

Fly up into the welcoming branches of The Pennard Hide treehouse and your only decision will be whether to hunker down for the night in the king-sized bed in the cabin, or drift off in the other-worldly tree tent suspended from ancient oaks. Breathing in lungfuls of fresh air in the deep calm of the trees is immersive forest bathing at its finest – and most luxurious. All the spaces are linked by a huge deck, boasting a wood-fired twin bathtub, fire pit, pizza oven and oodles of room for up to four people to sit and chat late into the night. Tucked in between the Mendip hills and Cranbourne Chase in Somerset it’s conveniently near Wells and Frome. The views over the rolling valley stretch for miles, but you might not venture too far once you discover the onsite spa treatments and indoor heated pool in a beautiful haybarn.

It’s hard to believe you’re only 25 miles from central London, as you paddle the rowing boat along the river, past grazing cows, in the idyllic surroundings of a Surrey nature reserve. The Riverside has a rich history of providing respite to tired city dwellers as one of four cabins originally built in the 1930s for Londers to escape to for summer fishing weekends. Now it’s a cosy, year-round retreat with every home comfort but as you take the ten minute walk from the car to the cabin, you’ll get the liberating feeling of leaving civilization behind. The covered terrace is somewhere to sit in silence and watch the world (and the odd canoeist) drift by. But if you feel like exploring, the delights of RHS Wisley and Ripley village are a stone’s throw away.

Frayed nerves are soothed instantly on arrival at Sandy Toes Beach House, perched on the water’s edge in Kent. With a vast pebble beach and hypnotic waves literally on the doorstep, you’ll quickly slip into a meditative state as you gaze out to sea from the deck or through the huge windows. Best of all, you’re totally off-grid with no mobile reception, so digital distractions and pinging alerts can wait while you clear your head in the fresh sea air. After you’ve blown the cobwebs away, crack open the board games, read by the fire and take in the spectacular sunrises and sunsets. Pack your binoculars for bird watching in the protected wetlands or, if you’re so inclined, leave all the trappings of modern life back at the cabin (including those binoculars) and head to the nudist beach 150m down to the right.

In between Bath and Bradford-on-Avon but blissfully off grid, Abel’s Cabin offers simple, adventurous, eco-friendly glamping. At the heart of Campwell Farm is owner Tim Bowles’ passionate ethos that nature can reawaken our senses, restoring calm and clarity when fast-paced living takes its toll. While you’re there you can try your hand at sheep herding, wild swimming, bushcraft, yoga and more, or just doze in the hammock gazing at the tree canopy above. In the cabin’s stripped back interior, there are only beds, shelves and the bare essentials for cooking, but you’ll find a few USB charging points if you really need to use a device. Try and resist if you can, and relish the uplifting novelty of reconnecting with each other in beautiful woodland surroundings away from the rat race.

A rural idyll an hour from London, Coddiwomple Cabin in East Sussex is set in its own private woodland, in a tranquil spot where you can totally switch off from busy city living. Your urban neighbours will be upgraded to birds, butterflies, pheasants, badgers and gambolling lambs who, as far as we know, never play loud music past 9pm. This chic cabin scores high on design credentials with soft cedar tones, stag antlers found in Downash Wood and upcycled lamps made from cameras. Out on the deck, the chunky wood recliners and luxurious hot tub are particularly inviting for whiling away leisurely hours breathing in the peace of nature. The owners provide a well-stocked welcome pack and locally produced food hampers can be ordered to the cabin.