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Tech-free living: the best UK locations for a digital detox

21 April 2022

While technology has done some wonderful things for the world, its demands can often seem relentless.

You can’t open up your laptop without facing a barrage of emails, and let’s not start on all those noisy smartphone notifications (which, if you’re anything like us, you have to check immediately… just in case you miss something important!)

Sometimes, you just need a break from it all.  

We’ve got just the places for a soothing digital detox in the UK, where you can literally switch off, breathe easy, and recharge amongst all the beauty of nature.  

(Since most of these amazing settings are off-grid, you’ll also have a handy excuse for not responding to that ‘urgent’ message!)

Author: Nina Jervis
Main image: Wilderkin | Midlothian, Scottish Borders

Lantern & Larks Sweffling Hall

Saxmundham, Suffolk, England
Experience a world of luxury glamping accommodation at Lantern & Larks Sweffling Hall in the heart of rural Suffolk.
Bedrooms: 3 per tent
Sleeps: 6 per tent
From
£352 (4nt)

Loch Ken Eco Bothies and Glamping

Loch Ken, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland
Off-grid lochside eco-retreat featuring beautiful bothies with private hot tubs, Mongolian yurts and more - plus a wide range of exciting on-site activities.
Bedrooms: up to 2 per unit
Sleeps: varies
From
£375 (3 nts)

Shank Wood Log Cabin

Longtown, Cumbria, England
Get back to nature and breathe clean air in ancient Cumbrian woodland, in a secluded eco-friendly cabin that sets your senses to ‘Do Not Disturb'.
Bedrooms:
Sleeps: 4
From
£230 / night

Comrie Croft Nordic Kata Tents

Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland
Enjoy a wee slice of gloriously green relaxation and fresh adventure in an authentic Scottish heartland home-from-home.
Bedrooms:
Sleeps: Up to 6 per tent
From
£99 / night (Sun-Thurs)

Fisherton Farm's Vintage Vardos

Atherington, Devon, England
A beautifully wistful collection of off-grid, bow-top wagons nestled in the North Devon countryside.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8 adults (+ 6 children)
From
£230 / night

In the Stix

Greetham, Rutland, England
Six unique and ultra-modern geodesic domes, each with their own private kitchens, bathrooms and blissful wood-fired hot tubs in rural Rutland.
Bedrooms:
Sleeps: 4-6 per dome
From
£585 (4 nights midweek low season)

Red Kite Tree Tent

Builth Wells, Powys, Wales
A rurally romantic Amazing Space for two, set in 80 breathtaking acres of private woodland teeming with wildlife and fresh adventure.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£588 (1 week)

Dimpsey Glamping

Chard, Somerset, England
A multi award-winning, romantic shepherd's hut retreat in soothing Somerset, taking glamping to brand new levels of luxury in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Bedrooms: Studio
Sleeps: 2 per hut
From
£125 / night

Forest Garden

East Grinstead, Sussex, England
Escape to an enchanting new way of life and learn woodland crafts, in a luxury camping & eco retreat nestled in ancient Sussex woodland.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: Varies - 2-5
From
£240 (2 nts)

The Linhay

Braunton, Devon, England
A sublime and secluded off-grid Devon retreat that brings you blissfully back to nature, batteries fully recharged.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2 (+2)
From
£125 / night

Mad Dogs and Vintage Vans

Ross-on-the-Wye, Herefordshire, England
Elegant boutique glamping with plenty of comfort and extra treats, set in the picturesque heart of the Wye Valley.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: Varies
From
£90/nt Elsie

Bulworthy Eco Cabin

Tiverton, Devon, England
Learn to appreciate nature again and relax in a lovingly handcrafted off-grid cabin, secluded in its own Devon woodland glade.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£200 /2 nights

Cabin on the Lake

Machynlleth, Powys, Wales
An idyllic off-grid haven on a secluded farm in the Welsh hills, where nature, comfort, and a wood-fired hot tub await!
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£98 / night

Campwell

Nr Marshfield, Gloucestershire, England
An off-grid, eco-friendly village inspired and powered by nature, with eclectic accommodation hidden in woodland near Bath.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2-4 per unit
From
£79 / night

Den by the Stream

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.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£100 / night

Inverlonan

Glenlonan, Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Three off-grid, architect-designed bothies, rich in fine Scottish style and luxurious sensory experiences, hidden amongst ancient oaks in an idyllic setting that overlooks Loch Nell.
Bedrooms: 1 per bothy
Sleeps: 2 per bothy
From
£200 / night

Pennard Hill Tree Tents

Shepton Mallet, Somerset, England
Joyful spherical havens for two, elevated amongst the trees on a family-run farm in Somerset, with outstanding views over the Mendip Hills.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£115 / night

The Secret Cabin

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.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£105 / night

Holly Water Holidays

Crediton, Devon, England
A glorious, off-grid glamping escape with a Gold Award for Green Tourism, for grown-up holidays on a farm in the rural heart of Devon.
Bedrooms: 1 or 2 per unit
Sleeps: 2 (huts) 4 (treehouse)
From
£90 / night (Shepherd Hut)

Skoolie Stays

Ashington, West Sussex, England
An iconic American school bus, creatively transformed into an off-grid haven with loving attention to detail, nestled beneath the South Downs National Park.
Bedrooms: 1 & bunks
Sleeps: 4
From
£125 / night

The Hoot

Southwick, Wiltshire, England
A dog-friendly, charmingly converted horse box nestled in a green paddock amongst Wiltshire's rolling hills that's ideal for off-grid relaxation.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2 (+2) or 3 adults
From
£110 / night

Wilderkin

Midlothian, Scottish Borders, Scotland
Start a magical off-grid adventure in a romantic, dog-friendly hideaway with Japanese Ofuro inspired bespoke hot tub for two, nestled in a private tree-strewn glade within the wild and wonderful Scottish Borders countryside.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£145 / night

Lazybed & Batbox

Nr Lochinver, Highlands, The Highlands, Scotland
Two unique, eco-friendly retreats, blissfully secluded on a three-acre croft in the North West Highlands, with jaw-dropping mountain-and-sea-loch views, and white-sand beaches close by.
Bedrooms: 1 per cabin
Sleeps: 2 per cabin
From
£108 / night

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