The best cabins in the UK for a cosy retreat

Location: Thatcham, Berkshire 

The UK’s original off-grid cabin experience, Unplugged offers burnt out urbanites a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of modern life, via a three-night digital detox in one of dozens of cosy wooden cabins in secluded countryside settings on the outskirts of major cities. My stay was in Bunty, near the village of Thatcham in the Berkshire countryside, around a 45-minute train ride and a short taxi from Paddington. 

There’s a padlocked box for you put your phone(s) in for the duration of the stay, plus loads of handy bits and bobs you might need when you’re without a smartphone, including maps and a compass, a Nokia phone for emergencies, and a pack of film for the Polaroid camera provided.

For an off-the-grid stay, it feels more luxurious than you might expect, with a nice hot shower and a very comfy bed with lovely soft linen sheets. I took my bike along for my solo stay so I could spend my time exploring the local woodland, stopping at the nearby country pubs and breweries, but you also have access to board games, a wireless radio with rechargeable batteries and a selection of books on mindfulness to help you really decompress.

My favourite part of each day was sunset, when I’d build a fire in the wood burner and then watch the lambs frollicking in the next-door field from the cabin’s huge windows with a cup of chamomile tea. Bliss! 

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps two.

Price: Unplugged Cabins, from £420 for three nights; book here.

Nearby: The villages of Thatcham and Yattendon nearby. Yattendon is the closest by only a couple of minutes, and offers lots of shops and restaurants to explore. 

Time Out tip: Stop by Renegade Brewery for some live music and a pint or two. You can even buy a few cans for the cabin on your way out. 

Location: Bonington Farm, Nottinghamshire, about 15 minute’s drive from Loughborough Station

Pamella’s Place is somewhere between a cabin and a cottage. Part of a collection of five lovely properties on Bonington Farm, this design-led stay is chic but cosy, and feels pretty remote while being entirely accessible – the farm is just 15 minutes’ drive from Loughborough Station. For a group of girlfriends or a few couples (you can even fit up to eight people here), it doesn’t really get better than this – think bedroom windows that look out over fields of grazing horses, bedrooms with heavy, sliding curtains and a huge great dining table laden with candles. It’s cabin living – just not in a rickety, straw bathroom kind of way.

Rooms: Four bedrooms, sleeps up to eight (additional charge for groups bigger than four)

Price: Starting from £150 per night

Nearby:  Take a 15-minute drive to Bunny Old Wood nature preserve for charming forrest walks among birds, bluebells and other local wildflowers. 

Time Out tip: Make sure to book ahead for the Film House, Bonington Farm’s very own private cinema – it was the highlight of our weekend.  

Location: Giggleswick, Yorkshire

On a steep, but scenic hill in the small village of Giggleswick (already sounds like a fairytale), this little garden cabin sits on the far side of an enourmous country house. There's the cosiest lounge with blankets, a small dining table, and tiny, but efficient and well-stocked kitchen and a shower with a compostable bathroom. Climb up the sturdy wooden ladder and you'll find the bed, soft and snug. In the morning, you'll wake up to birds chirping on the small skylights and sunlit walking trails where sheep graze. But if you head back down the steep road instead, a 20-minute walk will take you to Settle, a tiny town with a tiny town square of local shops and bites. This is an idyllic spot for solo winter holidays when you don't mind connecting with locals while you reconnect with nature. 

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps two. 

Price: From £82 per night. 

Nearby: You're smack dab in between the towns of Settle and Giggleswick. If you stroll towards the Giggleswick side, over to the stunning Grade-II listed Giggleswick School Chapel, there's a vast open space that looks onto the moors, and is where astronomer Sir Frank Dyson witnessed the total solar eclipse of 29 June in 1927. 

Time Out tip: Booths supermarket is in Settle if you need to stock on groceries, but if you can't be asked, The Harts Head is a cosy pub for a pint and plate. 

Location: Teme Valley, Worcestershire

Hire a babysitter, take the kids to nan's or drop them off at their favourite aunt's place. This adults-only cabin in the heart of the Teme Valley is an escape from diaper changes, school alarms and baby-chasing cardio, and a heavenly respite with spa amenities. There's a private hot tub with a view that's ready to light on arrival, a lovely seated patio and an outdoor sauna, and large natural pool to cool off after long hikes. Inside the cabin, there's a bedroom, a kitchenette for light cooking, a small dining area and a full bathroom. 

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps two. 

Expect to pay: From £204 per night. Three-night minimum. 

Nearby: Tenbury Wells is a short drive and ideal for nearby pubs and groceries, but if you've got a spare half-hour, head to the historic market town of Ludlow, great for foodies. 

Time Out tip: Ask your host about the the waterfall walk. You'll thank them (and us) later. 

Location: Forkhill, Northern Ireland

Near the Irish borders and among the green, leafy trees, this phenomenally-designed treehouse exceeds every expectation, from the spotlessnss of the home to the thoughtfulness of the host. You'll find a small living area, a full kitchen to dine al 'tree-sco' (I'm sorry), a full bathroom with an outdoor shower (specifically made for two, btw), and a bedroom with a king bed that faces a floor-to-ceiling window, and has a glass roof, to soak up the scenery at all angles. All of this is accessed by a wooden footbridge that leads to a patio and hot tub, and makes the stay feel even more like a fairytale adventure. 

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps two. 

Price: From £601 per night. 

Nearby: Moyry Castle is a 10-minute drive east, and a lovely green spot for a picnic, but if you're looking for Guinness, Johnny Murphy's Bar in Meigh is 10-minute drive north.

Time Out tip: The floor-to-ceiling window has a pull-down screen to block out the light, and to use as a screen for the TV projector. Nifty! 

Location: South Downs National Park, Sussex (there are Unyoked cabins all over the UK)

Unyoked is an Australian company offering city dwellers the chance to immerse themselves in nature for the weekend, and it has cabins in different spots throughout the UK. We popped down to our cute and shed-like spot after work on a Friday, and immediately felt really isolated. Outside the front door is a fire pit surrounded by tree stumps, plus an actual little table and chairs. Indoors, meanwhile, there’s a wood-burning fireplace, but the Unyoked cabin’s greatest asset is undoubtedly the bed, tucked snugly in the corner and sandwiched between two huge windows which give out onto the surrounding forest.

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps two.

Price: Unyoked Cabins, from £154 weeknights and £179 on weekends

Nearby: Level up your off-grid experience by visiting Chithurst Buddhist Monastery. It's a serene, secluded space to learn about Buddhism, practice mindfulness and meditation or just get some peace and quiet in a lush, green lanscape. 

Time Out tip: Arriving in the dark is vaguely horror movie-esque, but the bright yellow ‘Unyoked’ signs will guide and quickly remind you that you’re not quite as in the middle of nowhere as it seems.

Location: Wookey, Somerset

Camelot is a cabin with a lot going on. It’s both a party house and a spa break. A restorative countryside retreat with a side of Love Island. This supersize cabin sleeps six in three doubles, and boasts its own private sauna, fire pit, indoor sunken spa, gym, yoga space, alfresco hot showers, outdoor six-person bath, movie projector, BBQ and pizza oven. With space so impressive – your own private kingdom if you will – you’re unlikely to need to leave, but there are bikes on hand if you fancy a spin through the countryside to the local vineyard or to explore nearby Wells or Glastonbury. Just be back in time for a sunset soak on the deck with epic views of the Somerset Levels.  

Rooms: Three bedrooms. Sleeps six.

Price: From £499 a night

Nearby: The (pleasingly flat) Somerset Levels can easily be explored by bike. The cabin comes with six you can borrow. 

Time Out tip: Wake up along with the birds if you can. The sun rises directly in front of the cabin’s windows, framing a dreamy view.

Location: Maidenwells, Wales

With its arched ceilings and bubble-shaped doors, The Orchard looks like it has stepped out of a fairy tale, or perhaps from another dimension. Set in glorious countryside views with a large decking area and hot tub, it’s the perfect base for exploring the local area and unwinding at the same time. You’re just three miles from the beaches of Broad Haven and Barafundle Bay, while the quaint town of Pembroke is just around the corner.

Rooms: Two bedrooms. Sleeps five.

Price: From £138 a night

Nearby: Take a quick drive (or an hour stroll) to The Stackpole Inn for lunch or a post-hike pint on the pub's outdoor picnic tables. It's a tasty, sunny affair - if weather permits. 

Time Out tip: If weather does not permit and you find yourself back at The Orchard, there's unlimited streaming entertainment with Netflix available on every TV. 

Location: Sturminster Marshall, Dorset

Hanging from a tree like an oversized apple, this quirky getaway in Dorset looks like a prop from ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Inside the Floating Tree Sphere you’ll find a hob, heating, and a snug bed with views over the fields. Outside, there’s a hammock and barbecue, while hot showers and loos are just across the grass. There’s no wifi here so swap scrolling on your phone for strolling through the woodland, playing board games and spotting woodpeckers in the trees.

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps two.

Price: From £85 a night

Nearby: Bournemouth, the Jurrasic Coast and Monkey World are all a 20-minute drive away. 

Time Out tip: Be very careful if you're planning to walk outside of the campsite - there is no pedestrian path. 

Location: Isle of Wight, Hampshire

Meet Kindred – the dinky A-frame house with eco credentials that’d make Greta proud. Found on the Isle of Wight, this humble getaway is a vision in plywood with a retro edge. Up top there’s a cosy white-linen bed with triangle-shuttered windows and lush countryside views. Downstairs there’s cute vintage furniture and a cosy wood-burner. Kindred is off-grid, which means that when it’s cloudy, electricity is like gold dust. If there’s a power cut just use the lanterns provided – it’s all part of the fun.

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps up to four people

Price: From £140 a night

Nearby: If you've cracked on going off-grid or need supploes, Cowes and Newport are both about a 12-minute drive away.

Time Out tip: Ask your host about discounted ferry travel should you need it.

Location: Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

It might look small from outside – and it is – but you’d be surprised what can fit in this cleverely compact tiny house. With a super king mattress on the mezzanine, a sofa bed that rolls out to sleep another two people, there’s also a fully equipped kitchenette and a floor-to-ceiling window offering panoramic views across the estuary. Cute, contemporary and within walking distance of the Newburgh seal colony, this self-catered Scottish stay has everything you’ll need for a tranquil time.

Rooms: One bedroom. Sleeps four. 

Price: From £120 per night.

Nearby: A five-minute drive northwest takes you into the town of Newburgh, while a five-minute drive southeast will steer you to Newburgh Beach (seals!) and Foveran Links nature preserve. 

Time Out tip: This tiny home is dog-friendly and if you tell your host ahead of time, they might surprise your pooch with tasty treats.