Words: Russell
Does your inbox fill up at the blink of an eye? Do you have meetings about meetings that you can’t keep track of? It might be time to unplug and get away from everything and everyone.
And we don’t mean escaping to the suite of a five-star hotel on the other side of the world. We’re talking about well and truly getting away from civilisation, into the wilderness and back to nature. Get inspired with this look at some of the best cabins, treehouses and huts in the world. You might not find any valet parking or room service but the views will be absolute unparalleled.
Miguel – Sydney and Melbourne, Australia
Sammy Hawker
Hidden away in a secret location at the foot of a 400-year-old rainforest, this off-the-grid cabin is powered by solar panels and not much else.
To find your way here, you’ll have to make a reservation as the destination is only revealed once the booking has been made.
Sammy Hawker
It might look small but it comes complete with a double bed, kitchen and hot shower. With its large windows, you get to enjoy the views of the luscious, green wildness from the comfort of your own bed and log fires are provided for campfires.
Built by twins Cam and Chris Grant, Miguel is named after a Spanish gentleman the brothers met while travelling in Thailand. “He was super chilled, adventurous and a bit wild!” and that’s exactly what you can expect from this cabin.
Jake’s Place – Blackawton, Devon
Canopy & Stars
As you walk into Jake’s Place, you get an instant feeling of entering an old friend’s home,. It’s full of rustic touches, from the handmade crafts to the charming wood burning stove in the corner.
Step outside and you’ll find one of our favourite features in this property – the wood-fired pizza oven in the garden, perfect for those quick, cosy meals in. You’ll even be able to light a campfire on the decking outside as nightfall creeps in.
The location itself is equally idyllic, right behind a vegetable patch, close to the beach and with Agatha Christie’s home a popular nearby attraction.
Huckleberry House – Bellingham, Northumberland
Neil Denham
It might look like it’s been there for centuries but this cabin, that harkens back to the wilderness of North America, has every creature comfort you could imagine, including a fully equipped kitchen.
The steel staircase leads up to the mezzanine bedroom that has a lovely stargazing dormer window overlooking the local landscape.
Neil Denham
There is even an outdoor tub for those who like to soak up the English countryside while taking a soak.
Alpine Shelter – Skuta mountain, Slovenia
Janez Martinčič
You can find this sleek bivouac (storm shelter) on the tallest mountain in Slovenia, with its sharp roof designed to reflect the Alpine peaks surrounding it.
Drawn up by the creative collaboration of OFIS architects and students at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design, you might be surprised to read it can actually sleep eight in bunk beds, and also offers storage space, a small kitchenette and a communal space for socialising.
Janez Martinčič
Insulated with triple-glazing against the harsh conditions, it’s the ideal shelter to those weary climbers who make the treacherous climb.
Free Spirit Spheres – British Columbia, Canada
Kerry Maguire
Suspended in the canopy of an evergreen forest are these gravity defying cabins that almost look otherworldly.
A spiral staircase leads up to the curved door behind which sits your double bedroom that looks out over the forest below.
By day, you’ll have the option to go swimming and kayaking in the summer and skiing in the winter on the local slopes. At night, you can stargaze through the skylight and the only thing you’ll be able to hear is the natural world around you.
Malibu Dream Airstream – California, USA
Airbnb
Channeling the 1950s beach lifestyle, this custom-built Airstream campervan is perfect for those looking to catch some rays, some waves and no emails.
With no phone signal available at the cabin, it is the perfect excuse to turn that out-of-office reply on while you enjoy the Californian sun on the decking and marvel at the full Milky Way at night.
Overlooking the Pacific ocean and thousands of acres of untouched rolling hills and walking trails, there is no better place to reconnect with nature.
There are even more of these incredible cabins to be found in Gestalten’s book Hideouts. This weighty tome that will not look out of place on any coffee table or bookshelf, whether it’s an inner-city pad or country escape.
If you prefer more snowy peaks, check out the Six Senses Residences Courchevel…
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