Working from home has meant we’re more switched on to technology than ever, so we’ve rounded up the most sought-after off-grid places to stay in the UK. No Wi-Fi, limited or no phone signal and, for the really hardy, a handful of these properties don’t have electricity either. Glorious retreats set in miles of nature, giving you a chance to unplug, rest and reset – a true tonic for the soul.

  • CATKIN HUTS, DORSETBest for: A close-knit gatheringBrand new for this summer is this delightful (and actually not-so-dinky) pair of shepherd huts set on a private lake in Dorset. Usually these types of digs are very small, but owners Cat and Ant have created a space that is more akin to a boutique hotel room. Perhaps it’s that every inch of the design is so considered (mini brass cocktail trolleys, Rapture and Wright fabrics, a Pooky star lamp), or maybe it’s the fact that there are king-sized beds, but there is room to breathe here. Order dishes from a local chef (the creamy burrata with pomegranate is sensational) or ask for seasonal veg boxes and local meat to barbecue. Remember to pack swimming costumes.
    • Sleeps: Four if you take over both huts (can be rented individually), babes in arms welcome.
      Price: From £155 per night, per hut
      BOOK YOUR STAY
  • THE HUDNALLS HIDEOUT, WYE VALLEY, GLOUCESTERSHIREBest for: A child-free cosseting breakWhen all you’re given at the gate is a torch, a key and a map to find this phenomenal space shrouded deep in an ancient woodland, the excitement levels are high. Through pretty pink-blossomed crab apple trees an oak-clad, A-frame treehouse appears (the 23ft-long timbers had to be walked in so as not to disturb the surroundings); it’s cleverly snug and enchanting without being too chocolate-box cute. Attention to detail here is astonishing, with so much connected to the nature around it: the railings are coppiced hazel from the forest, the skirting boards are rough bark and hanging high up in the apex triangle window is a spherical bird feeder where blue tits flutter. There’s no TV or Wi-Fi, and it’s adults only.
    • LAGGAN, ARDNISH PENINSULA, SCOTTISH HIGHLANDSBest for: Those with boating experience (landlubbers need not apply)It’s truly back to basics at this whitewashed old cottage located on the wild Ardnish Peninsula with sharp sea views out across to the Isle of Muck. It’s got zero electricity, and the nearest neighbours are a three-hour walk away. It can’t be reached by road either so it’s a 10-minute boat trip from Roshven (the caretaker will ferry you). Use of the motorboat is included in the price so putt-putt around Scotland‘s coastline where seals frequently pop up their heads and white-tailed sea eagles hover above. Light the two wood-burning stoves to keep warm, watch the paraffin lamps throw soft pools of light onto the fireplace and pop another ice cube into a G&T (courtesy of the Calor gas fridge).
      Sleeps: four/five
      Price: From £950 per week
      BOOK YOUR STAY
  • HULDER CABIN, DEVONBest for: A romantic time-outCome here in July or August and dragonflies will hum over the nearby stream in greeting as the fierce sunlight falls dappled through great oak trees – an ideal canopy of shade for a picnic. Hulder in Old Devonian means ‘to hide or conceal’ and this cedar, larch and Douglas fir structure (from local sawmills) is a secret snuggled into a field on a working farm. Huge glass walls side open completely to reveal the clean Scandi-style interiors where everything is beautiful, from the weathered gold taps to the Soak and Sleep linens on the bed and the handmade cushions. A William Holland copper (outdoor) bath tops it all off nicely.Sleeps: two
    • FORT CLONQUE, ALDERNEY, CHANNEL ISLANDSBest for: A loud-as-you-like partyTaking over a 19th-century fort for the weekend with a dozen friends is the sort of (quirky) party dreams are made of. A granite marvel set on its own island off the coast off Alderney, this piece of history, carefully restored by the Landmark Trust, is accessed via a narrow rocky causeway (just not at high tide) and a drawbridge. Inside there’s a maze of concrete bunkers, smaller rooms with squishy old armchairs and mahogany dressers stuffed with books, a huge kitchen with enormous eat-in wooden table and enough beds for 13 (though many of the beds are single – a nod to the soldiers who once lived and served here).
      Sleeps: 13
      Price: From £812 for four nights
      BOOK YOUR STAY
    • LITTLE BEAR, BILLINGSHURST, WEST SUSSEXBest for: A high-end, low-fi escapeThis architect-designed little cabin sits among swathes of wildflowers in a meadow with a firepit circle at the front (gnarly polished wooden benches topped with sheepskin throws surround it), an eco wood-fired hot tub to the side and gigantic bed wrapped in white linen inside (plus central heating and separate shower room). It’s not possible to drive up to the door – car parking is a few minutes away – but half the fun is loading up the wheelbarrow with bags, bumping it through a carpet of bluebells to the site and not seeing anything from the modern world for a couple of days.
      Sleeps: two
      Price: From £1,250 per week
      BOOK YOUR STAYUNIQUE HOMESTAYS
    • LARCH CABIN, LAKE DISTRICTBest for: Adventurous, low-impact travellers and familiesWe can’t tell you exactly where this cabin is – somewhere in the wilds of the Lake District, yes, but its precise location actually changes every 28 days in order to leave a feather-light footprint on the land. Owners John and Hannah were inspired by the Tiny House movement in the USA and the uplift in off-grid living and so created a handful of secret, cut-off hideouts, this being their latest creation. Covered in charcoal-stained larch cladding and with a sleek picture window, it is initially visually striking, but it only takes a few moments for the eyes to settle and the whole scene melts organically into the trees. The perfect size for a small family.
      Sleeps: two (plus two children)
      Price: From £150 per night
      BOOK YOUR STAY
    • THE BEACH HUT, DEVONBest for: Beach loversWear proper walking boots and take a rucksack – The Beach Hut can only be reached down a steep path, so wheelie suitcases are out. In fact, its humble slate exterior is so well camouflaged into the cliff that it isn’t visible from the coastal path above. Which is handy, as this part-rocky, part-sandy cove is all yours, so anything goes. Hop into one of the two side-by-side hammocks in time for a sundowner and appreciate the endless sea view before cooking supper on the gas hob and heading up the ladder for bed under a sloping roof with a charming porthole.
      Sleeps: two
      Price: From £804 for two nights
      BOOK YOUR STAY
    • CABIN ON THE LAKE, POWYS, WALESBest for: An understated, rustic trip for twoThere’s something almost Canadian about this cabin, with its bright-red canoe that bobs gently near the decking (for exploring the lake) and the hot tub with views of the mountains. The unfussy outdoor kitchen (covered by the roof in case it rains), with its shiny copper saucepans hanging above the double-burner hob, also gives it an unassuming, outdoorsy vibe. There are a few luxuries thrown in, such as the bed cocooned in Egyptian cotton and hot water bottles if needed, but the joy of being here lies in its simplicity. For supplies visit the village of Cemmaes, about a 45-minute walk away – Ty Cemaes, a shop, café, community hub and events space all rolled into one, is very popular with locals.
      Sleeps: two
      Price: From £372 for three nights
      BOOK YOUR STAY
    • SWEENEY’S BOTHY, ISLE OF EIGG, HEBRIDESBest for: Those who are serious about sustainabilityThe community on Eigg were so passionate about renewable energy and being off the mains that they clubbed together and actually bought the island, then proceeded to create the world’s first stand-alone energy grid powered by the waves, wind and sun. So it stands to reason that they wanted to share their efforts with others. For six months of the year, Sweeney’s Bothy is taken over by various artists in residence, for the rest, it’s available to hire. Basic but very comfortable, it has a little stove, recycled furniture, an outdoor shower and a library snug filled with maps and books left by artists, and is a wonderful taster of the world the residents have created here.
      Sleeps: two
      Price: From £190 for two nights
      BOOK YOUR STAYKeep scrolling for more images…Like this? Now read:The best holiday homes to rent in the UKThe best bs in the UK and Ireland
  • Catkins, Dorset
    • Little Bear, Billingshurst, West SussexUNIQUE HOMESTAYS
    • The Hudnalls Hideout, Wye Valley, Gloucestershire@ITSJONNYKEE-LEY
  • Larch Cabin, Lake District

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