Best cosy escapes

Hunker down in these snug retreats for a weekend getaway

Log fire, check. Toasty interior, check. Remote setting in wild and unspoilt countryside, check. If you enjoy the beauty of the great outdoors, these locations offer a cosy escape immersed in the peace of nature, from a luxury bijou castle to a rustic renovated pigsty.

Glen Dye

Set on the banks of the River Dye in Aberdeenshire, Glen Dye is a 30,000-acre private estate surrounded by forest and moorland which are yours to roam. Owners Charlie and Caroline Gladstone used to run vintage emporium Pedlars, so their cosy cottages and cabins are furnished with a design-led vibe.

Highlights: Wood-fired hot tubs, open fireplaces, a 1955 Airstream and jaw-dropping wild locations

Bryn Eglur

Step back in time at Bryn Eglur in Carmarthenshire, a 1755 Welsh smallholder’s cottage filled with country antiques. Restored by craftsman/designer Dorian Bowen, this cottage is one of the most traditional Welsh cottages you can stay in, with home comforts such as a modern bathroom and kitchen.

Highlights: Ancient cawl spoons, rustic furniture, flagstone flooring, old stone walls, a cosy range and a leafy, remote setting

Fforest

Escaping to Fforest is all about enjoying the simple beauty of outdoor living with little luxuries thrown in. Just minutes from Cardigan and the stunning west Wales coastline, the farm setting offers cosy geodesic domes, crog lofts (renovated pigsties), a farmhouse, shacks and cabins. Wander through the nearby nature reserve or take a canoe along the river Teifi.

Highlights: Vintage Welsh blankets, old enamelware, antique furniture, open fires, a cedar-barrel sauna and a private on-site pub

Kilmartin Castle

Formerly a 16th-century ruin, Kilmartin Castle has been lovingly transformed into a chic retreat by owners Stef Burgon and Simon Hunt. In wild and unspoiled Argyll, at the top of Kilmartin Glen, this bijou five-room hotel is surrounded by hill forts and standing stones.

Highlights: Reclaimed materials, antique finds, handcrafted copper baths, rain showers and wood-burning stoves