100-Mile Holiday

A dash down into Kent that blows away all thought of the city instantly, with open views of the High Weald AONB replacing the concrete jungle. Run the tub sunk into the deck hot for a steamy soak at sunset, or leave it cold and use it a plunge pool for the sauna before you settle in by the fire.

Swap the steel and glass of the city for earth and wood in the country at Gold Top, a haven of natural neutral tones in Sussex. There's a hot tub outside to clamber into and the mezannine bedroom to climb up to, but you're overwhelming feeling will be one of winding down.

So close to London that it's almost on the tube map, The Riverside sits on the banks on the River Wey just 25 miles from the heart of the city. Once a fisherman's hut for people taking a break from town, the quaint cabin is now the quickest and most complete change of scenery you'll ever experience.

Half an hour from the snarl of traffic outside Bristol's Hippodrome you find thick trunks growing up through the deck of the fabulous Uplands Treehouse. From the mezannine bed, you'll see the Mendips in one direction, a field of horses and alpacas in the other, and a woodland full of trails all around.

Adder Treehouse is a simply stunning piece of design, with sharp angles and a sharp eye for colour creating a superbly stylish space. Walk up the long ramp to find your bath under the overhanging roof, or head down it to swim in the lake or take guided foraging walks with a local expert.

When a place gives you access this good to a national park, it doesn't need to be this spectacular as well, but Lark is special. Twin copper baths housed in a covered deck are the standout feature, but it's a tough call with the chiminea area and the exquisite design competing.

Everything at Cran Darach is smoothly curved, from the walls of the unique space itself, to the twist in the spiral staircase and the rims of the circular bath on the deck or the hot tub down below. The Moors, the Dales and the Forest of Bowland are all nearby, but you'll never really want to leave.

Once you've found it, hiding in a deep wooded valley an hour from Birmingham, you can't stop looking at The Owl House. The island deck that seems to float in the trees, the bath outside where you can do exactly that too, the covered balcony snug with a sofa and wood burner. Why go any further?

Lottie's cabin invites you to mimic its unique shape and stretch out - in front of the wood burner in the rocking chair, up in bed on the top floor, or in the bath, always with far-reaching views to the sea. You can hike to Druridge Bay for a brisk wild swim, or just idle in the warmth and comfort.

Dash over the firth, disappear into the hills of the Brucefield Estate and you'll be raising a glass to the beautiful simplicity of your new home in less than an hour. Although short, the trip has taken you into the wild and back in time, with ancient woodland and historic trails to explore.

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Not everyone drives, and those that do – and care about the environment, often wonder how they can reduce their carbon footprint by taking public transport. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of our spaces that are easily reached by train – with at most a 30-minute taxi ride on the other side.

Despite the fact we've all been one at some point or another, tourists have, let's say, a mixed reputation. But whether it’s at home or abroad, there are steps you can take to ensure that when you do go away, you’re not driving the locals up the wall. Almost more importantly, there is also a lot you can do to minimise your impact on the environment – so we did a little research and found out what you can do to be a better tourist this summer.

Driving can be fun, there’s no getting around it, it’s great to hit the open road – but with more and more greener options available, it’s increasingly hard to justify. Especially when you come across figures like: ‘rail travel emits 10 times less carbon than car travel’ – and don’t get us started on those figures vs planes. So, the real question is, why should you – and more importantly, how?