Soak it up: Eight of our favourite outdoor baths

How many mountain views have you enjoyed from a Japanese spa bath? No? Not recently? At Helvellyn Hut, you’ll be enjoying an extra wide, extra deep soak right on the deck, in their sunken tub – and to top it off, it’ll also be in fresh spring water.

First up is a stunning piece of frontier-style magic on Scotland’s west coast, where your outdoor bath comes with sea views that reach all the way to Northern Ireland on a really clear day. The cabin sits on a hill above a tiny harbour village, wrapped in a blanket of woodland that you can hike through or simply settle into for a few lazy days. Oh and don’t worry, the chimney isn’t on backwards, the fireplace is outside so you can pull the rocking chairs round and warm your feet while you wait for your turn in the bath.

As great as it’ll undoubtedly be, a wallow in the outdoor bath at Holly Water Cabin will have some competition for Best Moment of your stay. There’s morning coffee in the recliners on the deck, late nights wrapped in blankets on the beautiful tree chairs by the fire pit in the woods, and afternoons in the nap treehouse all vying for top spot. It’s not a bad problem to have. Around you is a swathe of uninterrupted Devon beauty that you can venture into or do nothing more than gaze at, whether that’s over the lip of the burnished copper tub, or from anywhere else that takes your fancy in this harmonious cabin.

They’re no strangers to luxury at The Bower Treehouse, as you might realise, taking a look through this incredible space. So it’ll come as no surprise that there’s an oval tub waiting for you right out on the deck. Just slide in, listen to the tree canopy rustle, and forget everything else.

There’s only one thing we could think of that’s wrong with your standard bath, and that’s being built for one. Sure, you can squeeze two in, but someone always gets a toe stuck in a tap. This time, go for a two-person bathtub with an air spa system, so everyone’s got room to slide under the warm water!

Another double tubber now, but with a little less effort. The two outdoor baths by the fairytale cottage in a meadow are filled from taps that hang over the side of the low trough-like tubs themselves. They make for the perfect romantic moment, soaking side by side in the sunshine. We’d say it’s extremely relaxing, but then if you’ve been at Southcombe Barn for a while you’ll already be pretty chilled when bath time comes around. There are yoga classes, foraging walks, flower art workshops and more to peace you out, as well as miles of woodland to walk if all you want is quiet quality time. You’ll just have to call the outdoor baths pure indulgence and be done with it.

As you can imagine, this photo nearly broke Instagram. We exaggerate of course, but it’s fair to say a lot of people were pretty keen to get into this outdoor bath down in Somerset. The rest of the space isn’t bad either, with a circular main bedroom up the slope, a steam room and a superb dining spot down by the water’s edge, with an open fireplace for toasting dessert marshmallows. If you’re feeling brave you can dive into the pond, safe in the knowledge that the beautiful outdoor bath is there to reward you once you’ve returned to room temperature.

Remember we mentioned those twin tubs with a view? See what we’re talking about? Don’t sacrifice on space, just get a tub to yourself, at the temperature you like, and admire how the sun sets behind the woven hills. It just doesn’t get better than this.