The best log cabins in the UK
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Though we might love the buzz of city life, there’s something eternally appealing about retreating to a remote timber-clad cabin in the middle of a wood for a UK weekend break. We want stripped-back and simple, but we also want cutting-edge design. Sure, we always love an escape to one of the UK's most amazing hotels, and Airbnbs are popping up in every destination you could imagine, but these cosy cabins offer the best of both worlds: the style and glamour of a hotel stay, with the delicious isolation of a remote Airbnb. From award-winning structures of wood and glass on the grounds of a West Sussex estate to a peaceful secret spot in Cumbria, these are the best log cabins in the UK.
Rebecca DouglasElmley Nature Reserve
Best for: love birds or bird lovers
Just a short drive outside of London, you’ll find the quaintest of cabins slap-bang in the middle of the Elmley Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent. A charming shepherd’s hut clad in jolly lemon-painted wood, this cosy stay is glass-fronted with views overlooking the reserve and babbling brooks below. Wake up, draw back the thick curtains and drink in the view from the most comfortable king-size bed, positioned perfectly to allow the morning rays to flood the cabin and add an extra glow to the already sunshiney interior. Don’t be alarmed if a huge barn owl swoops right past your window – this reserve’s VIP inhabitants will always be of the feathered variety. Although not within walking distance from any nearby drinking and dining holes, you can order the most wholesome and delicious hampers delivered straight to your cabin with warming suppers such as slow-braised beef shin stew, Basque cheesecake and sticky maple pecan pie. If you’re looking for a cosy weekend holed up in perfect comfort and solitude, this is the ideal spot to wind down, toast marshmallows on the firepit or challenge yourself to an outdoor bath/shower first thing in the morning. Ideal for both bird lovers and lovebirds. Lucy Bruton
Sleeps: 2
Price: From around £200 per night
Neil LongdinOlive Tree House, Ripe, East Sussex
Best for: a romantic weekend
Equal parts rustic cabin and grand designs house, this oak-clad hideaway is within easy walking distance of Lewes and the Sussex coast. Inside the open planned home interiors are wonderfully whimsical, from a spiral staircase to a curly chandelier and playful parrots perched above a cast iron bed. All of the cosy comforts are here too – a clawfoot bath, wood burning stove, an electric Aga in the kitted-out kitchen, plus a wall mounted fire in the bedroom. Mornings are best spent admiring the view with a cuppa on the raised terrace. In the evenings head down to the ground and make the most of the wood fired eco hot tub and fire pit.
Sleeps: 2
Price: From about £292 per night (three nights minimum)
Kindred A-Frame, Isle of Wight
Best for: tiny home thrills
Host Helen looks after a clutch of vintage airstreams and tiny homes on the Isle of Wight. This architect-designed A-Frame is one of four tiny homes set in a meadow of wildflowers edging Parkhurst Forest. The mezzanine bedroom in the tip of the triangle is mostly taken up by the handmade double bed (though there’s space for a chair by the window, plus a single futon should you need it), with views of the surrounding fields. Downstairs, a wood-burning fireplace warms up the panelled living area. And while the stay feels off-grid, the buzzy seaside town of Cowes is just a 10-minute drive away. Sarah James
Sleeps: four
Price: From £105 per night (two nights minimum)
HaarkonSettle, Norfolk
Best for: switching off
Tucked away in the heart of Norfolk lies a slice of Scandinavia. Set beside a lake, not only does Settle’s stylish wooden hut look the part with its clean lines, mid-century modern furniture, ceramics filled with freshly plucked flowers and general Scandi-minimalist interior, it also scores serious hygge points with a wood-burning fire, candles and a bounty of soft blankets. The cabin has no TV or Wi-fi, just a thoughtful selection of magazines to be read curled up on the porch chairs or in the freestanding tub. There’s a welcome hamper of essentials including coffee and sourdough bread, and a well-equipped kitchen for cosy nights in cooking. Sonya Barber
Sleeps: two
Price: from £200 a night
Lakes by Yoo
Best for: lakeside activities and fireside evenings
The Cotswolds has long been on the radar of anyone who loves wholesome weekends filled with long, countryside rambles, cosy pub lunches and cute, tumbledown villages – and this vast estate offers all of the above and more. In the storybook village of Lechlade Upon Thames, book into a woodland cabin for the ultimate English countryside weekend. Spend days paddle boarding or kayaking on the lakes, saying hello to the chickens and pigs in the farmyard, treating yourself to a massage at the spa or taking a dip in the 17-metre indoor swimming pool. There are 850 acres of lakes, meadows and woodlands to explore, so borrow a bike to cycle around the grounds, or go zooming through the treetops on a zip wire. Come sundown, enjoy a glass of wine on your cabin’s balcony overlooking the water, or head for a meal at Elsa’s, the estate’s tipi restaurant, for burgers and chips, freshly baked sourdough, pastries and cakes. Olivia Morelli
Sleeps: up to 12
Price: cabins from £750 per night
Chasing Embers, Ringmore, Devon
Best for: coastline exploration
Not far from Shaldon’s coastline, this souped-up log cabin manages to walk that line between cosy yet airy, with large patio doors facing the gardens, higher ceilings than some of its wood-clad siblings and then a wood-burning stove and big, squashy sofas. After a day spent at the beach, just a five-minute drive away, come back home and wash off under the rainfall shower, then fire up the barbecue in the garden. Bedtime is an event in itself too, where guests can watch the stars through the skylight above the bed as they drift off. Talk about dreamy.
Sleeps: 4
Price: From £181 per night
Cosy Woodland Lodge, Maidstone, Kent
Best for: modernist living
Embrace the quirky, cosy interiors of this romantic timber retreat for two. The compact space inside of this hidden cabin spans a split floor, with a modernist feel to the kitchen and living space, and the slanted ceilinged bedroom space above benefits from the natural light from the double-height space and provides an intimate space to curl up in. Outside, the deck and garden beyond feel mystical, almost as though fairies might dance between the wafting sounds of nature. Fire up the BBQ and enjoy a good meal al-fresco before dipping into the wood-fired hot tub for an evening spent under the stars.
Sleeps: 2
Price: From £100 per night
The Nest, Washington, South Downs
Best for: going back to basics
Nestled on the South Downs Way, shrouded in trees and overgrown woodland, The Nest – a hand-built wooden cabin – enjoys expansive views across the family-run working farmland. Though you’d be forgiven for remaining firmly glued to the enchanting wooden refuge, just a short walk away there are pathways to be traversed, pick-your-own fields to bring back fresh fruit and vegetables to cook up in the cabin’s compact kitchen – or over the open fire pit – as well as a farm shop and nearby cafes. It’s back to basics living here in many ways, though the thoughtful modern amenities make it a rather rose-tinted off-grid experience.
Sleeps: 2
Price: From £100 per night
White Deer Lodge, Barkway, Cambridge
Best for: stays with a view
Don’t be fooled by the name, the White Deer Lodge is a cabin through and through. Nuzzled into the bosom of Barkway, a village just 20 miles from the centre of Cambridge, the home is surrounded by open fields and framed by a meticulously well-kept garden. A recent addition on the grounds of the owner’s house, the space offers topsy-turvy living to help guests make the most of the views, with an open plan ensuite. Visitors here are charmed by the pervading sense of peace, only added to by the wandering deer outside the windows, and soft owl sounds that echo around at night.
Sleeps: 2
Price: From £117 per night
Hillside Hideout, Upper Wye Valley, Hay-on-Wye
Best for: eco-conscious staycations
Such is the popularity of off-grid, sustainable living, that staycationers on the hunt for wooden cabins have sent the sheer volume of these off-grid alternatives spiralling, though we think you’d be hard-pressed to find many that can boast a natural pool as part of the deal. But a natural pool is exactly what this hillside hideout near the famous book village of Hay-on-Wye offers its guests, as well as 10 acres of paddocks (home to several friendly Shetland ponies), a stream, woodland and meandering gardens beyond. It’s worth noting though, that while water is aplenty outside, inside it’s a different story as the cabin itself doesn’t have running water, though a small sink and drinking water are available. The ‘Washroom’ – which consists of a kitchen area, and shower room with toilet facilities – is located in a separate building a short walk from the cabin. Though it’s a small price to pay for the sheer quality of the finish inside the space and brings an authentic feel to a getaway here.
Sleeps: 2
Price: From £86 per night.jpeg)
Jake EasthamThe Lake Cabin at Lime Wood
Best for: peace and quiet
Once dubbed “Britain’s sexiest hotel room,” the Lake Cabin at Lime Wood is a bucolic bolthole within a bolthole, nestled amid the grounds of the prestigious hotel itself (who have, over the years, lured in well-heeled urbanites with their celebrity roster of collaborations. Think: Amelia Freer, Sarah Chapman – Meghan Markle’s facialist – and Angela Hartnett). Just a few minutes walk away from the main hotel, this one-off cabin offers remarkable privacy at the end of a winding private pathway and is a long-time favourite of honeymooners. The rustic feel here stretches out to the over-water terrace, complete with its copper bathtub and outdoor fireplace (a must for anywhere wanting to compete with the heady heights of Soho Farmhouse).
Sleeps: 2
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Honeybridge EstateThe Barn at Honeybridge Estate, West Sussex
Best for: off-grid living
Though the owners of Honeybridge Estate (17 acres of rolling greenery in the foreground of the undulating South Downs) call this hidden, wooden structure a barn, we’re taking the liberty of dubbing it a cabin, given that it has all the credentials of one. Cleverly designed with a fluid topsy-turvy layout (bedrooms with direct access to the grounds on the lower floor and living space beneath soaring wooden beams above), each window offers a different perspective over the surrounding greenery, and, at night, uplit trees guide you toward a sunken garden hot tub just beyond the bedrooms. Crucially, here, the solitude of ‘off-grid’ living is somewhat softened by the nearby games room, tennis court, zipline and private lake (complete with island hammock).
Sleeps: 8
Price: £1,500 to £2,650 for 2 night stay
Andrew BillingtonCabin at The Tawny hotel, Staffordshire
Best for: serene scenes
The Tawny Hotel is a property whose name has been dripping off the lips of London’s fashion set since it launched in 2021. And though the main hotel is certainly something to shout about, it’s the glass-fronted cabins – occupying a front-row seat to the lake and landscape beyond – that are set to enchant. Hidden under canopies of trees, these Scandi-chic structures feel intimate and isolated from the main building, with standalone baths and globe-lit outdoor jacuzzi tubs providing an ideal sundowner destination.
Sleeps: 2
Price: from £240
Falling Water, Yorkshire
Best for: connecting to nature
The ideal antidote to city life (and perhaps modern life in general), the aptly-named Falling Water Cabin at Ponden Mill is both an ode to the Frank Lloyd Wright building of the same name and a hymn to our harmonious existence with nature. A stream runs alongside the part-suspended structure, cascading into a waterfall that bubbles downward with the wooden steps, back toward lower ground. A wood burner and compost loo are gentle reminders of simplicity, while stained glass doors remodel the morning sunlight and bathe the bed in light. There are no cooking facilities here – aside from a barbecue – but there is a nearby café that will serve breakfast to cabin occupants before it opens to the public. Ordinarily, we’d feel pretty set on a kitchen, but there’s a strong sense at Falling Water that you could survive on pure peace alone.
Sleeps: 2
Price: from £145
Tanya AryaThe Woodland Kabin, Cedar Valley, Hampshire
Best for: woodland romance
Cedar Kabin may have off-grid appeal – earthy, reclaimed wood and stunning countryside views – but it’s all served up with piping-hot water, electricity, heating and a journey of less than two hours from London. A stylish wood-burning stove and outdoor shower tickle any cabin expectations, while a magnificent outdoor bathtub surpasses them – it’s artfully carved into the deck like a hot and steamy cinema seat for the rolling Hampshire hills beyond or a star-studded night sky above. Inside this cosy retreat for two, pocket-sized ingenuity comes into play – like origami, a table folds out of the bed’s headboard for blondies at teatime (a tasty treat from the Bereleigh Estate in which Cedar Valley sits). In the kitchen and bathroom, contemporary black chrome works smoothly with the timber interiors. Built and designed by Jack Tyrwhitt-Drake (the brains behind Cedar Valley), the cabin may embody modern escapism, but it retains a gimmick-free, rustic sensibility by virtue of its back-to-basics character and secluded woodland location. As the sun dips, the barbecue comes into its own – as do the trees, sheltering the campfire from any breeze for optimum marshmallow roasting. You’ll be excused, though, for simply holing up in this seriously snug spot with a hot chocolate and a good book. Rosalyn Wikeley
Sleeps: two
Price: from £140 per night
Inverlonan, Oban, Scotland
Best for: being far away from everyone
Actually a twin pair of bothies looking out over Loch Nell near the west coast of Scotland, Inverlonan is best approached by boat across the glossy water. Inside, all is light due to floor-to-ceiling windows, there’s a kitchen crafted from native ash, and the bed is set on a mezzanine overlooking the cosy living quarters. Hosts Lupi and Sanja will provide a Farm to Bothy breakfast hamper, stuffed with local artisan products. Spend afternoons wild swimming in the loch before whipping up supper in the outdoor pizza oven. Sarah James
Sleeps: 2
Price: From £200 per night
Unique HomestaysCabin Tapio, Hampshire
Best for: New Forest rambles
Peeking above Hampshire’s River Allen, this cosy cabin for two has a wraparound porch made for gazing out at the surrounding countryside. In summer, the twin set of double doors can be propped open to make this an indoor-outdoor escape, or in winter light the wood burner and take a dunk in the hot tub with treats from a hamper of local produce. The blue panelled bedroom has views over the private garden, and there’s a smart egg bath for long dips. Plus, the cabin is set near trails that wind through some of the UK’s prettiest rural corners: take hikes into the New Forest and Cranborne Chase. Sarah James
Sleeps: 2
Price: From £795 per short break (four-night stay)
Cabü, St Mary's Bay
Best for: a stylish family holiday
Set on the windswept shore between Folkestone and Dungeness, Cabu is a smart next-generation holiday camp. The 13 black wooden prefabricated cabins are thoughtfully clustered on the private beach-side plot, alongside a swimming pool, sauna, hot tub, barbecue area and the Cabu Shop, selling local produce, natural toiletries and inspiring photography books. The cabins themselves vary in size, but all have squishy sofas, plush king-size beds, fully equipped kitchens and floor-to-ceiling windows looking out across the shingly landscape. There are log-burners to get cosy indoors and striped deck chairs to sit out on in the sunshine. Sonya Barber
Sleeps: Smaller cabins sleep 2; bigger ones sleep 4 or 6
Price: From £175 a night (minimum two-night stay)
Invertrossachs, Perthshire
Best for: walkers, cyclists and nature lovers
If these cabins in Trossachs National Park were any closer to Loch Venachar, you’d get your feel wet. The slick wooden split-level structures may be compact but they’re well equipped with wood burners, kitchenettes, outdoor grills and – most importantly – a hot tub. Owners Hugh and Jemima are professional cooks so can deliver meals on request, as well as hold classes in foraging and wild cooking, plus there are fishing rods, bicycles and canoes to rent. But with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over the lake you’d be forgiven for spending the day in bed soaking up the view.
Sleeps: each cabin sleeps 4
Price: from £155 per night
Unique HomestaysAtlanta, Cornwall
Best for: a romantic retreat
This lovingly restored 100-year-old cabin on the edge of a cliff close to the small village of Freathy, just over the Cornish border from Plymouth, flaunts panoramic views across the coastline of Whitsand Bay. There’s enough space for two, a four-poster in front of floor-to-ceiling glass, a double-ended bath and a wraparound terrace on which to sit and stare. Keep an eye out for dolphins – they can sometimes be spotted in the bay.
Sleeps: 2
Price: from £1,095 for three nights
Knotting Hill Barn House, Leicestershire
Best for: woodland wanderers
Surrounded by silver birch, cherry, oak and chestnut – as well as muntjac deer and red kites – you’ll find a fire-heated hot tub and wood-burning pizza oven in this forest glade. Light floods the large living area with its vaulted ceiling and stone fireplace where squishy velvet armchairs gather around the log burner. But there’s more than just the basics here: the deep-soak bathtub is positioned in front of a mirror TV, heated floors invite barefoot living and a pontoon and canoes make for a good splash about on the nearby lake.
Sleeps: 8
Price: from £500 per night
Anne-Sophie RosenvingeThe Black Shed, Isle of Skye
Best for: an off-grid getaway
Stripped-back living never looked so stylish. Based on a working croft – an area of land belonging to a rural farmer – this architectural ode to simplicity is surrounded by free-range chickens and Hebridean sheep, with the glisten of Loch Dunvegan below and the imposing flat-topped Macleod’s Tables rising in the distance. Oversized windows draw the outside landscape in, while the wood-burning stove keeps this contemporary bolthole feeling intimate and cosy.
Sleeps: 2
Price: from £700 per week
Unique HomestaysAmmonite, East Sussex
Best for: beach breakers
A 1930s cabin that exudes understated class. Rustic furniture, whitewashed wood and a lived-in feel characterise this beach house, designed by a husband-and-wife team with a past in magazines and photography and a homewares boutique in nearby Rye. There’s a nature reserve on the doorstep, and the shores of Camber Sands are just a short wander away. Sit back and embrace slow living: brew fresh coffee on the stove, open the French doors in the bedroom to take in the sea air and cook meals that will go on into the late evening sitting around the scrubbed-wood table under the kitchen skylight.
Sleeps: 6
Price: from £1,550 per week
Lake District Love Shack, Cumbria
Best for: Lazing by a lake
Those in search of a more remote experience might want to opt for this sustainable sanctuary hidden in a stretch of woodland overlooking Lake Windermere. This is a place where you can hunker down on the timber terrace by the firepit, spend balmier evenings reading in the hammock and nights making the most of the impressive vinyl collection. Day trips to Ulverston, Cockermouth and Beatrix Potter's house in nearby Ambleside offer an alternative to the waterside seclusion.
Sleeps: 2
Price: from £675 for three nights
The Nap, Devon
Best for: bringing your four-legged friend
Hidden in the lush Exmoor countryside above the Taw Valley in north Devon, this dog-friendly cabin is the ideal place to spread out and relax without a neighbour in sight. Adults, kids and dogs are all equally welcome, so you can get stuck in with muddy walks on the wide expanse of Exmoor National Park, a 30-minute drive away. There’s also biking – hire bikes locally or bring your own and cycle the traffic-free 32-mile Tarka Trail. The cottage’s deck has a firepit to keep you warm, so ask for a hamper of meat to sizzle on the barbecue – the farm rears rare Dexter cattle – before jumping into the wood-fired hot tub.
Sleeps: 4
Price: from £560 for four days
The Boathouse on Lingholm Estate, Cumbria
Best for: those who want it all
On the shore of Derwentwater in one of the most scenic locations in The Lakes, this one-bedroom cabin cuts a dramatic solitary shape. The entirely glass front looks out over the water from the minimalist living space, while the bedroom comes with a sculptural freestanding bath that’s also privy to lake views. Get the best of both worlds: a secluded sanctuary at the house and the community benefits of the wider estate, including its restaurant which serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea using ingredients from the kitchen garden.
Sleeps: 2
Price: from £465 per night