Kicking through the leaves is one of the best parts of autumn, and finding a place to cosy up in at the end of the day is essential for any seasonal break. We’ve found 10 of the best country cabins to watch the landscape change colour, including raised huts that sit amongst the leaves and off-grid stays that let guests digitally detox.
Sweeney’s Bothy, Isle of Eigg, Scotland
The vibrant colours of the Isle of Eigg tare framed from this mono-pitched cabin, created by the Bothy Project and artist Alec Finlay. Floor-to-ceiling windows let guests gaze over the sea to the nearby Isle of Rum, but there’s also a bench perched out front for those that want to brave the cold. Visitors sleep on a bed propped up on thorn-shaped supports – a nod to the story of 7th century Gaelic King Sweeney, who slept in a tree when he escaped into the wilderness.
Email info@bothyproject.com to book a stay
Enough House, Nova Scotia, Canada
The weathered steel of this Nova Scotia cabin by MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects stands in stark contrast with the surrounding farmland and pastures. Inside, the home is panelled in warm wood, with a wood-burning stove, leather armchairs and timber beams all adding to the classic rustic feel. Touches of steel, including a bespoke staircase that leads up to the bedroom, keeps things contemporary. Hiking trails are close by, as are the LaHave Islands – which are a popular choice for sea-kayakers. Thanks to its cliff-side location, guests can also peep across to Hirtle Beach.
From $180 per night
Rolling Huts, Washington, USA
Olson Kundig designed this set of huts, which are a minimal take on the traditional rustic cabin. The wheeled supports lift the homes above the surrounding meadow, giving guests a better view of the mountains that surround the alpine valley. The interiors are as minimal as the steel-clad exteriors, with clean lines decked out in raw plywood and cork. Light filters in through clerestory windows, while a sliding glass door opens straight onto a front deck.
From $135 per night
Baumhausssuite, Salzburg, Austria
Guests sleep between the trees at this wood-clad mountain cabin located on the edge of Austria’s High Tauern National Park. Stilts raise the home above the landscape, with the bedroom situated amongst the branches of a pair of 500-year-old maples. Spruce boards cover the interiors, which includes a sauna where guests can appreciate the mountain views. There’s no shortage of things to do either, with trekking, tobogganing and cross-country skiing on offer during the colder months.
From €205 per day
Gunflint Lake Cabin, Minnesota, USA
There’s no internet, TV or phone reception at this Minnesota cabin, allowing guests to focus instead on the trees and waterfront view. Its black metal exterior might look stark, but inside all is warm knotted pine, kept cosy with a wood-burning stove. Canoes are stashed away, ready for trips to the lake, and there’s a sauna for soothing aching muscles in.
From $395 per night
Black h, Isle of Skye, Scotland
At this Isle of Skye cabin, the architecture is as dramatic as the surrounding landscape. Its boxy profile is clad in blackened larch, leaving the light to glow out from its single glazed end. Guests can lounge in bed and watch the sunset over Loch Vatten and Loch Bracadale, and potentially spot some of the local wildlife – which includes sea eagles and otters.
From £1050 for 3 nights
The Hideouts, Cornwall, England
Guests at this off-grid enclave can unplug themselves from the rest of the world and enjoy views over the stilted huts’ 45-acre quarry site. It’s a cosy fit inside the cabins, but there’s more room by the communal fire pit and an outdoor bar. The forest is nearby as well for crisp autumn walks, and the huts’ owners organise a programme of pop-up workshops, lectures and events.
From £122 per night
The Hunter Greenhouse, Catskills, USA
Head upstate for this carefully renovated Catskills cabin, located in the village of Tannersville. Its owners have given everything a fresh coat of white-wash, to emphasise the home’s soaring 16ft ceilings, and stripped back the original hardwood floors to up the rustic factor. Woods surround the cabin – brought alive at night by strings of fairy lights – but hiking and ski trails are also close by, for guests that want to venture further afield.
From $478 per night
Odles Lodge, Dolomites, Italy
Guests sleep 2,000 metres up at this Dolomites cabin, which makes the most of its mountainside location with huge windows and wooden sun terraces. Timber panelled interiors are contrasted by flashes of blue and green, and soft touches in the form of felt baskets and knitted furniture. There’s also a few extras to be enjoyed, including a spa, and a cellar well-stocked with wines from the local area.
From €180 per night
Hintercabin, Quebec, Canada
Hunker down in this lakefront cabin in Quebec, which takes cues from classic Scandi design. Windows wrap around the living space, bringing in plenty of light and emphasising the views of the surrounding woods. The cabin has a dock and handmade canoe for trips across the nearby lake, and blankets and roaring fires for warming up after.
From $300 per night
