8 of the best log cabins in the UK

Isolation is a distinct theme for 2020, so we may as well be doing it in style. Get away from it all at our pick of the best log cabins in the UK – from upcycled railway carriages to far-flung island outposts – where you'll only have to worry about social distancing from the resident sheep.

An isolated pair of houses on the Isle of Harris, the Sheep Station brings a little luxury to the Outer Hebrides, in the form of Bollinger on arrival, Egyptian-cotton bedding and Bamford bath products. Choose from the slightly bigger House One, or the single-storey House Two – each has a log-burning stove, super-king-size bed and ensuite marble bathroom. The most important bit is the Atlantic-facing outdoor deck, with chairs perfectly positioned to enjoy the midnight sun in the summer and the Northern Lights come winter.

Three nights, from £900 (thesheepstation.co.uk).

Once the home of a self-sufficient farmer, Juneberry has sustainability in its soul – the cosy cabin, a two-mile stroll from Holywell Bay in north Cornwall, is insulated with sheep’s wool and has solar panels taking care of its energy supply. There’s a deck with a firepit where you can practise some yoga (or stick to toasting marshmallows), floral curtains and the perfect shade of teal gracing the wooden walls. And for all of your Cornish-village needs (shopping for sticks of rock and fudge; cream teas), head into Cubert, which has frequent sights to make city-dwellers sigh.

From £950 a week, with Unique Homestays (01637 881183).

The log cabins of a lumberjack’s dreams, Eagle Brae sits on thousands of acres of wilderness in the Scottish Highlands – with all the glens, lochs and free-roaming deer you could wish for. Each one sleeps between two and six guests, and has an open-plan living space with a log-burner and squashy sofa. It’s just half an hour by car to Inverness, with the village of Beauly offering nightlife as rowdy as it gets around here. You’ll also be able to order locally sourced meat or fully cooked meals from the team if you want to take the hibernation theme seriously.

Eagle Brae, from £1,366 a week, with Cool Stays.

There may be a fine luxury hotel next-door, but it’s much more fun to stay at the Treehouses at Chewton Glen – hidden in the heart of the New Forest, with some linked by Tarzan-approved walkways through the forest canopy. Each has its own hot tub on the deck, or you can warm up inside by the fire or in the forest-facing freestanding bath tub. A breakfast hamper will be delivered each morning, or order room service to your private playground. There are even spa treatments designed to be performed here to fully make the most of both the nearby coast and the surrounding woods.

The Treehouses at Chewton Glen, from £1,150 a night (chewtonglen.com).

A charming cottage for two near Newquay in Cornwall, Firefly has its own pond (with your very own wildlife neighbours), Aga and indoor and outdoor fire – as well upcycler-pleasing corrugated roof, rope lights and reclaimed walls and floors. Indoors, you’ll find a king-size bed, rain shower, double-ended bath and plenty of distraction from modern life – vintage books, board games and a TV that’s hidden, though you’ll hardly notice it’s not there. Other wholesome activities include setting off on a coastal walk to conquer some of Cornwall’s most rugged scenery, or catching some of Britain’s best surf in the waters of Mawgan Porth.

From £1,350 a week, with Unique Homestays (01637 881183).

Possibly the breeziest log cabin we’ve ever seen, thanks to its lofty windows, Bliss Haus in the north-west of Scotland is also one of the most stylish (there’s even a yellow Smeg fridge). The house sleeps four, with a king-size bed in the master bedroom and bunks next-door that children will love. Fresh seafood from the surrounding waters can be delivered for dinner parties that have a reclaimed-pine table, vintage leather chairs and a discoball as the backdrop. The cabin is on the shores of Loch Ewe, with Wester Ross, the Outer Hebrides and the Torridon Massif all making up the spectacular scenery. You’ll be grateful for those windows.

From £900 a week, with Cool Stays.

With all of the sheep-studded views anyone coming to Wales hopes for, Hinterland Cabin on the northern edge of Snowdonia National Park is about as far removed from civilisation as somewhere with 4G can get. The hut looks out across the Conwy Valley, with the peaks of the famous mountain in sight, too. The aptly named cabin is hewn from Welsh slate and converted railway sleeper carriages retrieved from the local line. Outdoorsy pursuits in the form of fishing, gorge trekking and, of course, hiking await, but if you’d rather stay secluded with a board game as you dip in and out of your hot tub and sauna, that’s perfectly acceptable.

From £1,750 a week, with Unique Homestays (01637 881183).

Just a mile from the Giant’s Causeway on Northern Ireland’s Antrim coast, these log cabins are crafted from Canadian cedar. There are two to choose between, each with a view of the crashing Atlantic and neighbouring countryside, along with a private outdoor hot tub on a veranda, a kitchen, and a lounge with a corner sofa and a wood burner. Whiskey fans will be thrilled to know that the next village along is Bushmills, which should need no introduction – the distillery has been pumping out Ireland’s finest water of life since 1608.

From £250 a night, with Cool Stays.