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The clocks have gone back and there’s a nip in the air – time to swap your tent for a cabin in the wild. Escaping to a little log home off-grid doesn’t have to be a pipe dream. From woodland hideaways with bubbling hot tubs to rustic boltholes by the sea and treehouses made for wildlife watching, these characterful cabins dotted across the UK are the last word in cosy. Snuggle up beside a crackling wood burner, soak under the stars and wake to views of misty hills or rolling waves. Whether you’re after a romantic bolthole for two, a family-friendly base for muddy walks or a hip hideaway to share with friends, we’ve found everything from remote log cabins in Scotland to beach shacks in Kent and treehouses tucked among Hampshire’s vineyards. The tough part is choosing which cabin to go exploring from next.
Why trust us?
The cabins featured in this list have been carefully selected by one of The Independent's expert travel writers, Sian Lewis. Sian has a deep knowledge of outdoor travel, so you can be assured she will provide the very best knowledge on rural, off-grid and adventures in the wild.
1. Inshriach Loghouse, Cairngorms, Scotland
No plugs, no pipes, no problem. Get off the grid at Inshriach Loghouse, a hand-built hideaway tucked into woodland above the River Spey. This storybook Scottish hideaway has no electricity or running water, but you will find a wood-burning stove, flickering candles, and a charming mezzanine bedroom with a view of the trees. Take a bracing wild swim in the river, then thaw out in the shared sauna. The owners even have their own on-site distillery, so you can warm your cockles with homemade gin.
Address: Inshriach House, Aviemore PH22 1QP
Price: From £141 per night, sleeps two
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2. Wild Escapes, Hampshire, England
Step straight from your treehouse and into rolling lines of grapevines at Black Chalk Vineyard, home to Wild Escapes’ four gorgeous treehouses. Our pick is Poppy, which boasts an alfresco bath, a fire pit and enormous picture windows perfect for lingering in bed with that first morning cuppa. You could happily spend a whole weekend wallowing in the tub by day and keeping an eye out for the resident badgers after dark, but if you can tear yourself away from your treetop perch, lovely walks wind through the surrounding countryside, and the winery offers tours and tastings.
Address: The Treehouses Wild Escapes, Fullerton Rd, Stockbridge SP11 7LA
Price: From £260 per night, sleeps two to four
Read more: This beautiful UK national park is perfect for an autumn hiking trip
3. The Eagle, Cornwall, England
Hearing the call of the ocean? Hole up at The Eagle, an off-grid hideaway perched above Whitsand Bay in Cornwall with a bird’s-eye view of the waves and the weather. Getting here involves tackling 500 steps down a steep coastal track, but this dinky cabin for two is worth the legwork. Inside, there’s a wood-burning stove, a colourful, light-filled interior and wide bi-fold doors that bring the outdoors in. Take your coffee onto the deck when the sun shines; when the autumn showers roll in, retreat to the fireside with a good book. The South West Coast Path and Cornwall’s sandy beaches are close by for strolling and surfing.
Address: 1.4 miles SE of Whitsand Bay
Price: From £94 per night, sleeps two
Read more: This posh Cornish enclave boasts a gorgeous new hotel with rooms from £155 a night
4. Swinton Bivouac Tree Lodges, Yorkshire, England
Swinton Bivouac’s Tree Lodges look plucked straight from a fairytale. Hidden among the sycamores of a sprawling Yorkshire estate, these cool cabins don’t have heating or lighting – but they do come with log-burning stoves, wood-fired hot tubs, hammocks in the trees and that all-important s’mores pack to get you started. Outdoors, you’ll find a communal woodland sauna, the Bivouac Café for refuelling, and the Yorkshire Dales on the doorstep. Each Tree Lodge sleeps six, perfect for families needing a little rewilding.
Address: Masham, Ilton, Ripon HG4 4JZ
Price: From £167 per night, sleeps 6
Read more: Why Yorkshire’s ‘worst city’ is one of the best Northern getaways
5. The Tree House, Wye Valley, Wales
If your idea of a perfect autumn escape involves disappearing into the woods for a few days, seek out this secluded treehouse in the Wye Valley. Inside, you'll find a wood-burning stove and a king-size bed; outside, a raised terrace features a wood-fired hot tub, pizza oven, and fire pit. Spend your days walking beneath the changing leaves of the Wye Valley or heading into nearby Bannau Brycheiniog (the Brecon Beacons) National Park for a stomp, then return to your own little woodland hideaway to fire up the pizza oven.
Address: Wye Valley, South Wales
Price: From £233 per night, sleeps two
6. The Writer’s Studio, Kent, England
Cabin life, but make it coastal chic. Just steps from the sea, the Writer’s Studio is a stylish little bolthole for two, with a private hot tub for soaking under the open sky after a blustery walk or a cycle along the Kent coast. Inside, this architecturally pleasing cabin is finished in pale wood, with a big bed, a squashy sofa, and a wood burner to keep you warm at night. You can bring two dogs along for seaside walkies, too.
Address: St Mary's Bay, Kent
Price: From £230 per night, sleeps two
Read more: This stylish townhouse is Margate’s best-value boutique hotel
7. Stargazer, Worcestershire, England
The clue is in the name: Stargazer is a secluded thatched treehouse for two, tucked beneath a mature ash tree. Four acres of grounds, home to a lake, woodland and a waterfall, are a delight to explore in the day, but the real treat comes after dark: sink into your own private hot tub and watch the stars emerge above the treetops. Inside, Stargazer is an eyrie built for two, encircling the ash’s trunk. It has a deep copper bath, a smart kitchen, and a king-size bed. Tenbury Wells' independent shops and the medieval market town of Ludlow are close by if you fancy venturing out.
Address: Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire
Price: From £350 per night, sleeps two
Read more: The best pubs with rooms in the UK for cosy autumn stays
8. Port Lympne, Kent, England
Is this one of Britain’s wildest places to spend the night? At Port Lympne Safari Park, you can bed down just metres from some of the world’s most magnificent animals, all while supporting conservation work through The Aspinall Foundation. Leopard Creek’s sleek cabins overlook the habitat of the park’s resident Amur leopards, and it’s a serious thrill knowing one of the world’s rarest cats is just beyond your window. Inside is small but swish, with a big double bed and two singles up on a mezzanine. Your stay includes a safari and entry to Port Lympne, perfect for wildlife-loving families.
Address: Aldington Rd, Lympne, Hythe CT21 4LR
Price: From £369 per night, sleeps two to four
Read more: This laidback southern county is the perfect alternative to the Cotswolds
9. Unyoked, Countrywide
Unyoked’s tiny houses are dotted across the UK and are all totally off-grid, so whether you find yourself in a mountain pass or a woodland glade, you’re guaranteed peace and quiet. These sustainable timber cabins are perfect if camping isn’t quite your thing, but you still want to feel immersed in nature. They’re kitted out with comfy beds, mini kitchens and hot showers, with picture windows framing the great outdoors. Booking an Unyoked stay is half the fun – you can search for your dream cabin by phone signal strength, whether dogs are welcome, and how adventurous the hike to your hideaway is.
Address: Countrywide
Price: From £219 per night, sleeps two
Read more: The best UK wellness escapes for a seriously relaxing reset
10. The Lodge at Edenhall, Cumbria, England
Fall asleep to the sound of the burbling River Eamont at this remote cabin, made from the logs of the larch trees that surround it. Tucked between the Lake District and the Peak District, The Lodge is part of the sprawling Edenhall Estate, where you can cycle a network of woodland trails, fish for salmon a few steps from your porch or just stay put and sink into the hot tub, keeping an eye out for kingfishers and red squirrels. Three bedrooms mean this cabin can cater for bigger families or gangs of friends.
Address: Edenhall Estate, The Courtyard, Edenhall, Penrith, Cumbria CA11 8ST
Price: From £324 per night, sleeps six
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11. Eagle Brae, Scottish Highlands, Scotland
Picture the perfect Highland log cabin, a roaring fire and mountains stretching into the distance outside, and it will probably look rather like Eagle Brae. These 10 luxurious lodges with wood stoves, tall ceilings and carved balconies each sleep two to six, form a little clan of cabins in the heart of 8,000 acres of rolling glens and pine forests. This is a cut above cabin life – you may be in the wilderness, but you can ring a concierge for bubbles. Top tip: plump for a cabin with a sauna to warm your cockles after a hike in nearby Glen Affric.
Address: Eagle Brae, Struy, Beauly IV4 7LE
Price: From £430 per night, sleeps two to six.
Read more: Move over Skye, here’s why Mull is my new favourite Scottish island for a hiking holiday