Our favourite woodland cabins

Woodland Cabin is a handcrafted hideaway made from local and upcycled wood by ingenious owners, Lisa and Neil. There’s a cosy double bed on a mezzanine deck under the eaves, a woodburning stove and a private deck and loo. In this simple, off-grid space you’ve got no choice but to switch off completely and let any lingering stress drift away on the breeze. 

Then it's time to explore the sociable Mill Valley site where you can use the shared bathing hut, chat to other guests at the washing-up station and brave a dip in the natural swimming pool. The North Cornish coast is close by for surfing at Polzeath, crabbing at Padstock and exhilarating bike rides down The Camel Trail with sweeping views over the estuary as the river flows out into the Atlantic.

Forest bathing never felt quite so good as at Hinterlandes Cabin, somewhere deep in the Cumbrian wilderness. You’ll feel like the last people on earth as you soak for hours in the hot tub with dappled sunlight filtering through the trees and majestic mountains towering on the horizon. Hinterlandes might be off-grid but it does back-to-basics in chic Scandi style thanks to a pale wood interior, marble-clad wetroom and wood burner. 

The Lake District National Park is on the doorstep with endless hiking paths, mountain streams to dip hot feet in and steep bike trails guaranteed to get the blood pumping. For water sports head to Derwent Water Marina, or for a more sedate mode of transport visit the Ravenglass & Eskdale steam railway. The village shop, three miles away, sells the basics and the owners can provide mouthwatering hampers to order.

Owner Matt’s philosophy is that you can’t beat waking up in the forest to the smell of campfire coffee and sizzling bacon. We’d add that views over a pond teaming with wildlife and the prospect of a steaming bath in handsome outdoor tubs really seals the deal.  Luxurious Lark is set in a woodland glade and is as stylish on the inside as it is peaceful on the outside. If you’re bringing the kids there’s a nifty bunk bed tucked into the hallway and the spacious kitchen-living space has plenty of room for everyone to spread out in. 

The woods are yours to explore, you can visit the sheep and ponies in the next field and Matt provides logs and seasonal local produce to get you started. Go for long hikes in the North York Moors National Park, walk to the pub in Osmotherley or have a day out in beautiful Harrogate with a trip to the original Betty’s Tea Rooms.

A curvy little hobbit den in Powys, The Logpile House overlooks an oxbow lake with a river close by to dip your toes in. The ancient woodland behind the cabin has walking trails to wander along where you can spot the wildlife that thrives within this carefully tended site which also contains wetlands and wildflower meadows. 

Far away from the hustle and bustle, you’ll lose hours reading and chatting on the deck and when stomachs start to rumble it’s a short stroll to the firepit to test your wild cooking skills. If you run out of reading material, go for a potter in cultured Hay-on-Wye, 40 minutes away. There you’ll find a cornucopia of secondhand and antiquarian bookshops as well as weekly markets, festivals and plenty of cafés and restaurants to refuel in.

Framed by oaks on the edge of an ancient woodland, Fifinella Retreat offers the best of both worlds – woodland walks, a hot tub perched among the trees and sweeping views over rolling Herefordshire hills from the deck. The luxurious cabin has huge glass windows and a sleek Scandi aesthetic that has an instantly calming effect and lets the scenery do the talking. 

There’s a combined BBQ/pizza oven to whip up al fresco feasts or you can let someone else do the hard work and head to the village pub, a taxing one-minute’s stroll away. There are plenty of quiet hiking and cycling routes locally and the owners’ personal recommendation is a walk up Garway Hill to watch the sunset with views over seven counties. The independent shops of Ross-on-Wye and the culture of Hereford are a short drive away.

Get lost exploring the miles of hiking and biking trails in the woods behind Lichen Cabin then, when you’ve worked up a thirst, head to Kingstone Brewery. It’s conveniently located two minutes away from where you’re staying and produces IPAs, quaffable bitters and golden ales. On the first Saturday of the month, they host popular open beer and pizza sessions. 

Perched among an apple orchard, cosy Lichen Cabin is designed around life’s simple pleasures with heaving bookshelves, board games, cards and a guitar to strum by the campfire. Outside, you can relax on the south-facing deck or stroll around the Wye Valley Sculpture Garden which is filled with owner Gemma’s artwork. Beautiful Tintern Abbey is at the other end of the village, The Wye Valley walk is two minutes away and Offa’s Dyke National Trail is close by.