Cosy cabins for you to escape to…

From the Highlands of Scotland to the woods of Wales,
check out these autumn escapes close to home.

The weather has officially turned but beach visits can be replaced with inland boltholes and cosy cabin stays in rural nature spots. 

Embrace autumn with a bit of rural peace and solitude, watch the misty mornings from a private deck, take wild walks through crunchy leaves and wind away evenings in a hot tub.

Adhara, Cheshire

Head off-grid and reconnect with nature in this stylish cabin in rural Cheshire. Each Shacks cabin (also in North Wales and Staffordshire) is built from natural, sustainable materials. 

There’s a wood-burning stove to gather around with a cup of something hot, wool blankets to snuggle up with and woodland walks straight from the door.

Price is from £115 a night (varies by season). Book at www.shacks.co.uk

North Lodge and River Cabin, North East Scotland

Escape to the highlands of Scotland during the colder months and stay at the private estate of Glen Dye. The Lodge – built in the 1890s for the caretakers of the main house – sleeps six and sits on the banks of the River Dye. Rustle up meals in the large kitchen with ingredients grown on the estate or relax in the cosy sitting room with a wood burner. Guests also have exclusive access to the River Cabin, from which you can wild swim, cook on the wood-burning stove or cosy up with cake and coffee. Aside from the collection of holiday cottages, there’s also a ‘Discovery and Adventure centre’ and thousands of acres of forests, moorland and mountains to explore.

Prices start from £450 per night at Glen Dye (glendyecabinsandcottages.com).

Black Cabin, Powys, Wales

For fans of high-spec architectural design, the Black Cabin near Presteigne in Powys offers a unique stay. Attached to the side of a barn, the dark, moody interior and double height space create a cosy, intimate feel. Decorated with an eclectic mix, there’s Persian silk tapestries, taxidermy and 1960s furnishings – with a luxury feel. It sleeps up to four people (best for two adults and two children). It’s a 15 minute walk from cosy and charming pub, The Harp Inn.

Prices start from £212 per night. Book at Welcome Beyond (Welcomebeyond.com/property/black-cabin).

Bears House, Cambridgeshire

Disconnect from busy life in this cosy lakeside hideaway in Brinkley, Newmarket, with wood-panelled walls and enough space for two. You can chill in the hot tub, row boats under the stars out to ‘Duck Island’ (complete with many ducks and their ducklings) or simply surround yourself in nature. There’s a ‘yoga deck’ high up on a treehouse platform, a gazebo for a picnic and outdoor games to keep families busy. The nearest pub is a five minute walk.

Prices from £215 per night, book at Glamping Hideaways (glampinghideaways.co.uk)

Tinwood Estate, West Sussex

If a glass of sparkling wine alongside your peace and solitude sounds even better, combine the two and stay on a vineyard. Tinwood Estate has eight luxury lodges overlooking the grape vines, where you might also spot deer or other wildlife on your private deck. Open year-round, the cabins come with a jacuzzi bath and access to an oak barrel sauna – as well as mountain bikes to explore the surrounding Sussex Downs.

Prices from £245 a night. Book at tinwoodestate.com

Red Squirrel Cabin, Scottish Highlands

This gorgeous eco-conscious cabin deep in nature provides guests with complete tranquility and cosy minimalism. Overlooking Loch Broom in Leckmelm, Garve, on Scotland’s northwest coast, and surrounded by native woodland, expect excellent star gazing and peaceful hiking. It’s a seven-minute drive to the nearest civilisation – the quaint fishing village of Ullapool – so guests aren’t completely cut off. The one-bedroom cabin has a deck to take in the views of the loch, along with a few extra comforts like underfloor eating – perfect for chilly nights – and an EV charger for those with electric vehicles.

Prices from £110 to £231 per night depending on the season. Book via Simply Owners (simplyowners.net).

Badgers Bower, Wendover, Buckinghamshire

Built in the style of a traditional tabernacle and nestled in a secluded woodland clearing in Wendover Woods, this hideaway is the perfect size for two. The cabin is open plan with a wood-burning hot tub, hammock and fire pit. Explore the woods’ leisurely trails, the nearby Grand Union Canal or the nearby Chilterns five miles away. An hour away is the history city of Oxford for a great day trip option, or the market town of Wendover is packed with independent shops and restaurants.

Prices start from £649 for a 3-night stay (was £716). Book at holidaylodges.co.uk

Tigin, Rathdrum, Ireland

Set in 73 acres of rolling pasture and woodland, Tigin was built by Common Knowledge, a social enterprise in the west of Ireland. A ladder leads up to a sleeping loft for two from a living space to hunker down on a rainy afternoon. Outside you’ll find a copper bath and a wood-fired sauna – with a panoramic window to watch stars and views from.

Prices from £200 per night. Book at kiphideaways.com

Words by Lauren Taylor, PA