Features

Our Favourite Holiday Retreats with Al Fresco Bathtubs

4 February 2025

“Splish, splash, I was taking a bath…” in the Great Outdoors!

Let’s be clear: when we say “al fresco bathtubs”, we aren’t referring to wood-fired hot tubs. We don’t even mean luxury hot tubs with ambient lighting, mood music, and massage jets, lovely as they may be.

We’re simply talking about good old-fashioned freestanding bathtubs, gleaming taps and all, peacefully secluded in the magical Great Outdoors.

We aren’t saying that traditional indoor baths and showers don’t have their place, of course. But what could possibly be more indulgent than running a warm bath, filling it with sumptuous clouds of scented bubbles, then relaxing to a sensuous, ever-changing backdrop of nature?

Just add a glass of wine and a good book, and you’re in actual holiday heaven… where the lines between indoor and outdoor living become deliciously blurred. Surrounded by lush, rolling green views and an uplifting chorus of birdsong, your cares will float away as if by actual magic.

(Plus, let’s face it, when you’re recounting tales of your break later on, taking a stargazing bath outdoors has serious potential to make your friends and family green with envy!)

All of this is why we’re confident that this incredible selection of retreats – all of which feature dreamy outdoor bathtubs – will w(h)et the appetite of even the most stubborn shower-lover.

Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: The Nest | Powys, Wales

The Glebe Retreat

Edlingham, Northumberland, England
A super-luxe, adults-only eco-cabin with an al fresco stone bathtub for stargazing, peacefully secluded in a vast, wildlife-steeped field in Northumberland’s Edlingham Valley.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£185 /nt

Erwain Escapes

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”.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£170 / night

novanta

Bibbiena, Tuscany, Italy
It's probably easier to think of your stay at novanta as a relaxed gathering amongst friends, rather than a traditional Tuscan holiday - yet even this description doesn't go quite far enough! 
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: Varies
From
£105 / night

DDG Retreat

Casares, Andalucia, Spain
The ultimate in unique Andalusian luxury; a peacefully private glamping haven featuring the world's most opulent tents.
Bedrooms: 1 per unit
Sleeps: 2 per unit
From
£300 / night

Hinton Hideaways Roundhouses

Crewkerne, Somerset, England
Adults-only roundhouse glamping on a lush organic farm, for unrivalled luxury amongst nature.
Bedrooms: 1 per roundhouse
Sleeps: 2 per roundhouse
From
£197 / night

Wolf Wood Treehouses

Bratton Clovelly, Devon, England
Come and live the high life, in a luxury hand-built treehouse, beautifully nestled amongst soothing Devon woodland.
Bedrooms: 1 per treehouse
Sleeps: 2 per treehouse
From
£250 / night

Qii House

Lorne, Victoria, Australia
A bold and quirky architectural gem, superbly nestled within the lush rainforest ferns of Australia's Great Otway National Park.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
From
£369 /night

Cerchio Del Desiderio

Pianella, Abruzzo, Italy
Italy's very first geodomes, luxuriously positioned amongst the olive trees and rolling green hills of Abruzzo.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 2-4 per unit
From
£125 /nt

Albion Nights

Bungay, Norfolk, England
Escape with your loved one to a hand-crafted, off-grid retreat with a sumptuous outdoor bath, peacefully secluded in a Norfolk wildflower meadow.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£175 / night

The Treehouses at Lanrick

Doune, Perthshire, Scotland
Five sumptuous, eco-friendly tree-treats with idyllic riverside views and a woodland sauna, magically nestled on the borders of the Trossachs National Park.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 2 (+2) per treehouse
From
£240 / night

Arcadia Glamping

Drymen, Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Two sumptuous, sustainably crafted cabins, packed with romantic luxuries and nestled amongst magical woodland near Loch Lomond.
Bedrooms: 1 per cabin
Sleeps: 2 per cabin
From
£168 / night

Trelan Farm Wonder Wagon

Cilcain, Flintshire, Wales
A creatively upcycled boutique retreat with a scenery-showcasing outdoor bath, surrounded by idyllic North Wales countryside that's perfect for bracing walks.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£140 / night

Pheasant's Roost

Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, England
An absurdly romantic treetop hideaway with huge windows, luxurious facilities, and an al fresco bathtub, dreamily secluded on the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£230 / night

The Reeds at South Lodge

Lower Beeding, West Sussex, England
Sumptuous, sustainable retreats purposefully designed to reconnect you with nature, dog-friendly and privately secluded on the edge of a shimmering lake in vast, tranquil Sussex countryside.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2-5
From
£1,080 /night

Bancran School

Draperstown, County Derry, Northern Ireland
Unique Tiny House, loft and pod retreats with hot tubs and a communal bbq area, set on a friendly family-run site in the Sperrin Mountains, perfectly positioned for exploring the very best of Northern Ireland.
Bedrooms: 1 per unit
Sleeps: 2 or 2 (+2) per unit
From
£90 / night

The Nest

Dolassey, Powys, Wales
A sumptuous, secluded retreat with a green roof, a wildflower garden, and double al fresco bathtubs, completely surrounded by idyllic views on a working family farm in Powys.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£185 / night

Eco Retreats

Machynlleth, Powys, Wales
Unwind in the welcoming arms of Welsh nature from the comfort of an off-grid yurt with a piping-hot outdoor bath, secluded on a vast working farm that feels like a magical forest secret.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 2 (+2) per yurt
From
£299 /2 nts

Burrenmore Nest

Castlerock, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Gleaming glass-fronted treetop lodges with al fresco whirlpool baths, sumptuously nestled amongst scenic forestland on Ireland's sweeping north coast.
Bedrooms: 1 per lodge
Sleeps: 2-3
From
£255 /night

Nymetwood Treehouses

Crediton, Devon, England
Sumptuous Scandi-inspired hideaways with al fresco copper bathtubs, secluded amongst acres of Devon woodland, meadow, and apple orchard, with idyllic views over Dartmoor.
Bedrooms: 1 per treehouse
Sleeps: 2 per treehouse
From
£250 / night

Tiny House Ballater

Ballater, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
A small, perfectly-formed retreat with big mountain views - and a wood-fired outdoor bathtub to enjoy them from! - gloriously positioned in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2-4
From
£137 / night

Ty'r Derw Treehouse

Talybont, Ceredigion, Wales
A treetop sanctuary, complete with an al fresco copper bath and an indulgent hot tub, blissfully secluded deep in the Cambrian mountains, close to the Ceredigion coast.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 5
From
£309 / night

Miluna

Hormigos, Castilla La Mancha, Spain
Savour a star-sprinkled dream in nature, from the comfort of your own private ‘moon' set amongst wide open Spanish countryside, mere moments from the World Heritage city of Toledo.
Bedrooms: 1 per 'moon'
Sleeps: 2 per 'moon'
From
£237 / night

Tiny Bubble

Harrietsham, Kent, England
Sleep among the stars in a transparent, one-of-a-kind tree tent with self-contained facilities and a dreamy outdoor bath, blissfully secluded on a Kentish estate with idyllic views to the North Downs.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£130 /nt

Dol Swynol Glamping

Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, Wales
Detox from digital life in a bespoke, lovingly hand-built cabin with a dreamy outdoor bath, set within an enchanting Welsh meadow close to Aberystwyth.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£110 / night

Carriage 101

Batchmere, West Sussex, England
An expertly-restored ambulance carriage from World War Two, complete with vintage-style décor and an al fresco bathtub, peacefully secluded in lush West Sussex countryside that’s close to the coast.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 6
From
£90 / night

West Cawthorne

Cawthorne, North Yorkshire, England
Lovingly hand-built cabins and historic barns filled with luxury, all beautifully nestled on a lush, wildlife-steeped hilltop on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.
Bedrooms: 1-3
Sleeps: 6
From
£120 /night

Holly Water Cabin

Cheriton Fitzpaine, Devon, England
A bespoke-designed, ultra-secluded eco-retreat with an al fresco copper bath, nestled on a welcoming, family-run Devon farm with a meandering river and acres of wildlife-rich countryside to explore.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£180 / night

Perry Pond Cabin

Exeter, Devon, England
An oak-clad, sumptuously furnished retreat with an al fresco bathtub and rolling Exe Valley views, privately secluded by a stream-fed wildlife pond on a 23-acre Devon farm.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£152 / night

Croft 103

Laid, The Highlands, Scotland
With awe-inspiring design, enviable eco-credentials, and even outdoor bathtubs overlooking Loch Eriboll, Croft 103 certainly has it all.
Bedrooms: 1 per cottage
Sleeps: 2 per cottage
From
£2200 /week

Elmley Nature Reserve Shepherds Huts

Sheerness, Kent, England
Eclectic accommodation and seasonally-inspired dining on a National Nature Reserve in Kent, with an abundance of wildlife right on your doorstep.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: Varies
From
£120 / night

HappenOak Treehouse

Balsham, Cambridgeshire, England
A hand-built oak haven with an elevated Finnish-style sauna and indulgent al fresco bathtub, beautifully secluded in peaceful Cambridgeshire countryside.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£270 /night

One Acre Wood

Bishop's Frome, Herefordshire, England
Magical, lovingly hand-crafted treehouses filled with creature comforts and exquisitely nestled on the rural Herefordshire and Worcestershire border, with fun fresh-air activities aplenty!
Bedrooms: 3 per treehouse
Sleeps: 6
From
£323 / night

Ledmacoy Shepherd's Huts

Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Luxurious, hand-built hideaways (complete with al fresco baths!) nestled on a friendly family farm in the magnificent Cairngorms National Park, with magical views of Glen Nochty.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 2+2
From
£120/nt

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