Looking for a break where you're surrounded by tall forests and epic countryside? To be able to wild swim, or lie in bed and watch the sunrise. Our friends over at Kip Hideaways have pulled together 5 of their favourite UK wilderness retreats where you can truly escape and be free. Just remember to plan well ahead for your stay, at least a few weeks in advance, as the hideaway market has gone crazy post lockdown.
1. Lakeside Cabin, Cornwall
This magical little retreat is surrounded by 5 acres of wild gardens, forest and lakes. You can breakfast on the deck all year round -- a real suntrap, even in winter -- then BBQ at night, or cook up hampers of excellent local produce. Birders will love seeing herons stalk through the shallows and kingfishers dart through the trees; stargazers will be blown away by the sparkling constellations. And if you're feeling really romantic, take the little rowing boat for a spin around the lake, perhaps with a bottle of fizz to really mark the occasion. Days will pass in a dreamlike fashion. Property details.
2. The Wilderness Cabins, Oban
Brand new, these 2 architect-designed cabins are completely off-grid, so much so your adventure begins as you’re boated (or driven) up the loch to the remote setting. They sit on the side of Loch Nell, near Oban, amidst acres of stunning farmland, beech and oak trees. You won't see another soul once you're here. Inside, the style is luxe minimalist: huge windows, a kitchen crafted from native ash, and a romantic mezzanine bedroom. You'll need to light a fire to brew your morning coffee, and to warm the water for your shower after day's SUP or kayaking in the loch! Staying here is an adventure that will rejuvenate your soul. Property details.
3. Wildflower Wagon, Hereford
This quirky and romantic hideaway is secluded in a meadow in the middle of Wales. Staying here is almost a time-travel experience, taking you back to the 1920s and a circus showman's life. With its green and gold exterior, period lighting and elegant woodwork inscriptions, it's full of character. Yet contemporary comforts abound too: a hot shower and Piglet bedlinen. Breakfast on the deck, listening to birdsong, then spend the day walking in the Black Mountains, before returning to camp to make a fire and toast marshmallows. Great value, too. Property details.
4.Quirky Sussex Carriage
The sense of seclusion here is astonishing. Entirely off grid, this revamped 1880s train carriage sits on the edge of Ashdown Forest without a neighbour in sight. Bring someone special and prepare to escape -- it's a place to turn off your phone and really delight in the pleasures of simple living, and each other. Start your days by diving off the jetty into the lake, then drink coffee and read, go for long walks amongst the autumn trees, and soak in the alfresco bathtub. A recent guest describes it as 'the most wonderful break she's ever had in the UK'. Property details.
5.The Woodland Cottages, Cairngorms
These beautiful 3-bed cottages sit on a forested estate in Cairngorms National Park, near Aviemore in Scotland. Kids can run free from dawn to dusk, ziplining across the lawns and spotting red squirrels and pine martens darting through the trees (BBC's Springwatch was recently filmed here). Head through the gate and you’re right in Cairngorms National Park, where you can wild swim in lochs and bike through spectacular mountainscapes. After dark, gather around the woodland fire pit to toast marshmallows and listen for owls. This is nirvana for outdoorsy families. Property details.
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