This cabin in the woods is nature getaway at its best

At Wilderness Wood, ancient and modern sustainable practices combine in harmony. Since Roman times, the wood has been cut to provide charcoal for the iron industry. Today, felling continues each year, allowing more light to reach the forest floor, encouraging the growth of wildflowers and providing food for birds, bees, butterflies and insects. The felled wood is then used for firewood and for Dan’s ongoing construction projects, or by local artisans whose wares you can purchase locally. At the same time, a program of conservation and rewilding activities encourages and supports wildlife, particularly in the form of a small apiary, a beaver dam and a bat park. All visitors to the forest – including those staying in one of the low-impact huts or on the campsite – are asked to contribute to its maintenance. This can be as simple an activity as helping chop firewood or clearing rubble, or it can be more involved (see ‘The Eco-USP’ below). Canopy and Stars, which handles cabin bookings, also actively rewards visitors for their eco efforts: if you can prove you got there by public transport, they’ll give you a £75 voucher towards your next stay.