6 Off-Grid Boltholes To Book Now
Photography: Rebecca Douglas Photography, Elmley Nature Reserve
/

6 Off-Grid Boltholes To Book Now

Hillside shepherds’ huts, secluded cabins, forest domes – in this fast-paced world, it's common to yearn for an off-grid escape. And few things are more romantic than a little hideaway just for two. From a remote hideaway on the Isle of Skye to a boutique tipi in the Peak District, SL contributor Olivia Rawes highlights some of the best places to stay…
Photography: Rebecca Douglas Photography, Elmley Nature Reserve

Kent’s Secret Hideaway: Elmley Nature Reserve

Just an hour from London, the Isle of Sheppey is one of Kent’s best-kept secrets. Home to the family-owned Elmley Nature Reserve, this is the only National Nature Reserve you can stay on in the UK. Stretching for 3,300 acres, the landscape is peppered with salt marshes and reed beds that are home to barn owls, hares and wading birds. Of the accommodation options, the three little huts are the showstoppers. Each is gorgeously kitted-out: rustic, reclaimed interiors are accented with copper, while Bramley toiletries accompany alfresco bathtubs. Best of all, each hut has one fully glass wall, so you can soak up the wilderness from bed. And since there’s no wi-fi, there’s no temptation to scroll.

Visit ElmleyNatureReserve.co.uk

Elmley Nature Reserve
Elmley Nature Reserve, Rebecca Douglas Photography
Elmley Nature Reserve
Elmley Nature Reserve, Rebecca Douglas Photography

Stargazing Forest Domes In Northern Ireland: Finn Lough Resort

Fringed by woodland on the banks of Lough Erne in Enniskillen, Finn Lough’s forest domes boast 180-degree transparent walls so you can fully immerse yourself in the night sky. And while the domes certainly tick the back-to-nature box, they are far from basic. Furnished with four-poster beds, waterfall showers, vintage record players and even telescopes, they’re the perfect way to embrace the great outdoors. Two miles of walking trails snake through the woodland, while cycle tracks take you out to nearby mountain lakes and castle ruins.

Visit FinnLough.com

Finn Lough Resort
Finn Lough Resort
Finn Lough Resort
Finn Lough Resort

Fairytale Cottage In Suffolk: Hex Cottage

Set amongst 4,500 acres of private land and nestled amongst woodland and meadows, this secluded forester’s cottage is the stuff of fairytales. Inside, you’ll find original brick floors, mottled walls and antique furniture. The fact that the cottage is completely off-grid, with no electricity or modern heating, only adds to its romance. Plus, there’s plenty to explore right from your doorstep, from the local pubs and shops of Peasenhall and Yoxford, to the nearby Suffolk Heritage Coast.

Visit CoolStays.com

Hex Cottage
Hex Cottage
Hex Cottage
Hex Cottage
Hex Cottage
Hex Cottage

Remote Isle of Skye Bolthole: The Crofter’s House 

The Isle of Skye - characterized by craggy mountains and windswept beaches - spells the perfect getaway. Set amongst the drama of these surroundings, the Isle of Skye Retreat offers a light-filled, Scandi-styled original crofters cottage, complete with whitewashed walls and designer touches. The setting might feel remote but there’s still plenty to do right on your doorstep. Climb Ben Tianavaig; stroll along the white-sands of Coral Beach; drive ten-minutes to explore Portree, Skye’s colour-splashed capital; or embrace the island’s food-centric vibe – The Three Chimney’s is not to be missed.

Visit TheCroftersHouse.com

The Crofter’s House 
The Crofter’s House 
The Crofter’s House 
The Crofter’s House 

Off-grid Perthshire Cabin: Guardswell Farm 

Perched on a hilltop between the villages of Abernyte and Kinnaird, this 150-acre, family-owned farm comes with sweeping views stretching from the north of Dundee over to Fife, and down into the Carse of Gowrie. Here, everything is solar powered and there’s no wi-fi, making it the perfect place to cut the digital chord. Accommodation options include a few cottages, the farmhouse and several huts, although the Infield Cabin is the undoubted highlight. Set apart in its own field, it boasts a stargazing window and wood-burning stove.

Visit Guardswell.co.uk

Guardswell Farm 
Guardswell Farm 
Guardswell Farm 
Guardswell Farm 

Boutique glamping in the Peak District: Hartington Tipi

Set in the rolling Peak District, this hideaway does glamping right. Scaldersitch Farm’s three tipis, two yurts and well-thought out facilities elevate the camping experience. The Hartington Tipi, is packed with wool throws, faux-fur rugs and fairy lights. Outside, the wood-fired hot tub is the place to pair a glass of wine with a spot of stargazing. If you can drag yourself out of bed, enjoy a treatment in the wellness yurt; explore the pubs and shops of Hartington village, which is just a twenty-minute walk away; or pay a visit to nearby Chatsworth House.

Visit OneOffPlaces.co.uk

Hartington Tipi
Hartington Tipi
Hartington Tipi
Hartington Tipi
Fashion. Beauty. Culture. Life. Home
Delivered to your inbox, daily