You’ve probably heard of FOMO – aka Fear of Missing Out – that antsy, social-media-inspired restlessness that makes us feel like we should be everything, everywhere, all at once.
Well, JOMO (also known as a ‘quietcation’) is the lesser-known antidote to FOMO. It’s a concept that embraces the Joy of Missing Out, encouraging disconnection from the online world so we can truly savour life’s simple, sensory, in-the-moment delights.
And so, with a hectic new year just about to begin, each of these unusual retreats compels blissful relaxation surrounded by the peace and beauty of nature, with no pressure to do, see, or be anything at all.
Some retreats are off-grid, while others have little to no Wi-Fi connection, so you can’t feel guilty for not packing your laptop or tablet! In fact, why not fill the extra space in your luggage with that amazing book you haven’t got around to reading yet?
Feel gloriously free to replace packed itineraries and endless obligations with carefree woodland rambles, or swap second-by-second news updates for lazy wildlife-watching. By evening, unwind with a tipple as the stars put on a show, before drifting off into a soft, dreamy night of sleep.
(Sorry… what was FOMO again?).
Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: The Layby Lincs, Lincolnshire
Llanthony, Monmouthshire, Wales
Three cosy, soulful and blissfully off-grid couples’ retreats, each one secluded among a ‘secret’ valley in the Black Mountains for epic Dark Sky stargazing.
A unique and comfortable retreat on nature's doorstep, tucked away in a peaceful Welsh Valley. No mobile reception or Wi-Fi means you can truly switch off and reconnect with the natural world around you – think picturesque hikes and walks right from the door, starry skies, and plenty of fresh air.
Skegness, Lincolnshire, England
A unique collection of creatively-themed vehicles with private wood-fired hot tubs, peacefully nestled on a sustainable, adults-only site in the rolling Lincolnshire Wolds, just 15 minutes from the coast.
Bedrooms: 1 per vehicle
Sleeps: 2
Soak up the natural surroundings from your own wood-fired hot tub (which we light and prepare for you). If you switch off and listen closely, you will hear barn owls, buzzards, kestrels, and a host of other birds and wildlife – time to tune out of hectic modern life, and into the flora and fauna!
Bishopsteignton, Devon, England
A lovingly-crafted, comfort-filled South Devon hideaway for couples and solo escapes, beautifully elevated above the Teign Estuary for superlative hot tub views at sunset.
A peaceful, Scandinavian-style hideaway designed for slow, low-tech living, where quiet moments, nature, and simple comforts take centre stage. With sea views and a private wood-fired hot tub, it’s a sanctuary for switching off and embracing the joy of doing absolutely nothing.
Lewdown, Devon, England
Romantic and restorative eco-retreats, lovingly hand-crafted and nestled on a shimmering Devon farm lake, with an on-site vineyard and hammocks suspended over the water for the ultimate in digital-free luxury
Live in a slower rhythm: the quiet lap of water under the pod, the warmth of the wood burner, and mornings that begin with birdsong rather than notifications. With no Wi-Fi or phone signal, nothing competes for your attention, and it becomes effortless to savour the joy of simply being.
Broxted, Essex, England
Indulge your wanderlust with an off-grid, self-drive adventure aboard your very own Land Rover Defender, complete with rooftop tent set-up, a cosy lounge, and all the equipment you could want!
Bedrooms: 1 or 2 roof tents
Sleeps: 2-7 guests
Our off-grid-ready Defenders let you escape to the wildest corners of the UK, finding those magical spots where phone signals fade away and you can truly disconnect. It’s about swapping notifications for nature, spending your evenings cooking outdoors, and reconnecting with the quiet joy of just being present.
Nr St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England
An ultra-luxurious, design-led and TV-featured treehouse-for-two, deliciously secluded amongst private woodland in the beautiful Wye Valley.
This is seclusion at its finest: a place designed for you to hit pause, reconnect with one- another, and escape the noise of modern life. With no Wi-Fi, no TV screen, and no distractions, only the soothing embrace of Mother Nature remains, so you can bathe under the stars, cook with fire, and watch nature within touching distance.
St Osyth, Essex, England
Eco-friendly glamping on a working potato farm... complete with spectacular sea views.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2 or 2(+2) per Suite
Our suites were purpose-built for JOMO, in that there’s no Wi-Fi and we encourage our guests to relax and switch off. Walk to the beach, or visit the nature reserve on our doorstep, enjoy views over the magical Essex marshes to the sea and big skies… perfect for stargazing in the log-fired hot tubs.
Launceston, Cornwall, England
Luxury glamping pods set under the starry skies of Bodmin Moor, with a wild spa on site and the scenic backdrop of Cornwall's ‘Peaceful Valley' to keep you company.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2/4/8 per unit
A stay where true luxury means pure, uninterrupted calm. Our off-grid, Wi-Fi-free pods, dark-sky setting, and woodland Wild Spa create the perfect sanctuary to slow down, so lock the phone away and reconnect with nature.
Braunton, Devon, England
A sublime and secluded off-grid Devon retreat, dog-friendly and with a dreamy private deck to bring you blissfully back to nature, batteries fully recharged.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2 (+2)
With no Wi-Fi and a gentle step off the grid, you can slow down, switch off, and settle into the simple pleasure of being tucked away in nature. Days unfold at an easy pace, wandering through ancient woodland, practising yoga on the deck in the riverside glade, or simply enjoying the stillness.
Buckland Abbey, Devon, England
Experience a luxury shepherd's hut break in the great outdoors, with opulent al-fresco accommodation in the Tamar Valley's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the National Trust Buckland Abbey Estate.
Bedrooms: 1 per hut
Sleeps: 2 per hut
We offer a true JOMO escape: quiet, secluded cabins with firelight, deep comfort and uninterrupted views across the estate, inviting guests to switch off completely. With minimal digital noise and a focus on slow living, it’s a sanctuary for presence, peace, and doing absolutely nothing.
Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales
A charmingly hand-built cabin that's dog-friendly, off-grid, and set in an idyllic Welsh meadow corner, achingly close to historic Cardigan and with the added option of an immersive therapy retreat to help you face life’s challenges
A guest review: “Being here took me back to my childhood, paddling in the stream, walking barefoot in the dewy grass, building fires. Falling dreamily asleep under the stars, listening to the sound of the owl and the babbling water… this place is therapy!"
Cilgerran, Pembrokeshire, Wales
Simplicity, adventure, and beautiful outdoor living - that's what you'll find at fforest farm.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: Varies
Nestled in the heart of West Wales, our Wi-Fi-free spaces invite you to switch off and simply be. Wander the surrounding nature, relax in our Nature Spa, or curl up in a cosy corner with a book – all without digital interruptions.
Lauder, Scottish Borders, Scotland
An award-winning selection of five-star retreats with hot tubs, enticingly set amongst acres of scenic, wildlife-steeped farmland in the big-sky Scottish Borders.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2-10 per unit
Situated on an organic farm, high in the hills, you are surrounded by beautiful wildlife, big skies, and gorgeous scenery. Meet our friendly donkeys, alpacas, pigs, ponies and goats, relax in your hot tub, rent our outdoor Nordic Sauna, or go on a chilled-out walk.
Llandeilo, Carmarthenshire, Wales
A cwtch-infused cabin with an indulgent bathtub, nestled in its very own four-acre, river-fronted wildflower meadow and beautifully secluded in the “garden of Wales”.
Savour the simple joy of slowing down, trading notifications for birdsong. Discover the quiet comforts of cosy firelight and a place that encourages you to do absolutely nothing – the tranquillity here genuinely restores and lingers long after you leave.
Glastonbury, Somerset, England
Magical eco-friendly E-den cabins in Glastonbury, with breathtaking views of Glastonbury Tor and the Somerset levels.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2 per unit
Here you can interact as much or as little as you like with our friendly spa, café, and accommodation team members. Our glamping pods are set in 16 acres within sight of the famous Glastonbury Tor, which draws thousands of visitors on a spiritual, creative or healing quest to the area each year: with views like ours, who needs a screen?
North Berwick, East Lothian, Scotland
A lovingly crafted, dog-friendly woodland retreat, deliciously secluded in a hidden corner of Scotland with a sandy beach just minutes away.
The Secret Cabin is a wee sanctuary for you to escape busy life, switch off and relax. Spend a few days without Wi-Fi or TV, instead spending your time listening to birdsong in the garden or strolling along the nearby beach and let the sounds of nature soothe your worries.
Lledó, Aragón, Spain
A cutting-edge Spanish mountain holiday home and swimmers' paradise, nestled within a Mediterranean pine forest and surrounded by unspoilt villages.
If you’re happy to while away the hours watching the sun dance across the sky, noting the changing soundscape of birds as the wildflowers nod in unison, you’ve found the perfect spot to down phones. Listen to the river babble, maybe spot a kingfisher, or have a river minnow peck you ever so gently as the sun sparkles across the water.
Battle, East Sussex, England
A trio of lovingly-crafted eco-retreats, beautifully secluded in the High Weald AONB with stargazing windows and unique themed décor for creative inspiration and historical wonder.
Bedrooms: 1 per cabin
Sleeps: 2
Switch off your phone (even better, lock it in the phone jail provided!), and settle into the reading nook in one of our cosy cabins. Enjoy an independent reading retreat… or book our new Virginia Woolf reading retreat, available any time our Bloomsbury-themed Lucy cabin is available – bookish bliss!
Bournemouth, Dorset, England
Bournemouth Beach Lodges provide the perfect setting for a refreshing coastal break, just a pebble skim away from seven miles of stunningly sandy beach.
The only way to sleep closer to the sea would be on a boat! Wake up to beachfront bliss and embrace slow living on Dorset’s golden coast.
St Ives, Cornwall, England
Innovative glamping pods with stargazing roofs, secluded in a leafy hilltop hideaway with stunning views of St Ives Bay.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 4 or 5 per pod
Escape to Wildflower Wood at Beersheba Farm, where you’re off grid and unplugged from Wi-Fi, allowing nature to nourish your soul. Just a short hop from the waves, it’s the perfect blend of coastal calm and vitamin sea.
Piré-Chancé, Brittany, France
An avant-garde, architect-designed hotel inspired by the structure of a tree, with an indoor pool, gourmet restaurant, and luxurious nest-like rooms that soar over the serene north west-French countryside.
Bedrooms: 1 per room
Sleeps: 2
The Domaine du Château des Pères is located in the timeless Breton countryside. Switch off and enjoy our spa (pool, sauna, and steam room) with an incomparable view of our park.
Hartland, Devon, England
Step inside a classic mystery novel, in a characterful double decker bus set on the grounds of a North Devon country house.
Unwind in the hot tub, let time slow down as you sit by tranquil ponds, and watch animals play in their natural habitat. Our glamping experience is all about disconnecting from the digital rush and reconnecting with nature, peace, and yourself.
