Hands up who is in need of a break right now? Yep, us too! There's something very appealing about a forest holiday. Long walks over crunchy leaves, perhaps with a pooch by your side. Heading back to your accommodation to curl up under a blanket by the fire with a hot chocolate. Sounds heavenly right? And even better, we've scoured the web for the cheapest forest holidays we could find so you have even more reason to escape the hustle and bustle of life.
Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire
With a timeless landscape of woodlands, rivers, hills and valleys, The Forest of Dean is the perfect location to enjoy the great outdoors. Sheltered beneath a canopy of ancient oak woodland or situated in the open meadow at the forest edge, the cabins at Forest of Dean offer an escape from everyday life in one of Britain’s most enchanting forests.
In autumn, the woodland becomes ablaze with beautiful colours from the oaks, beeches, larches and sweet chestnuts which can be admired on foot or bicycle along one of the Forest of Dean’s numerous trails, passing time-worn stations and former collieries through ancient woodland. Home to wild boar, fallow deer, badgers and hedgehogs, the location offers great animal spotting opportunities.
Three nights in a two-bedroom cabin from £530. Call 0333 011 0495 or visit www.forestholidays.co.uk
Silver Birch, Blackwood Forest, Hampshire
Blackwood Forest offers a a tranquil woodland escape just one hour from London, offering cabins dotted among the tall beech trees in a secluded corner of the forest. With an inviting outdoor hot tub, comfortable en-suite master bedroom, and high-spec fittings, this Silver Birch cabin is a great choice for your forest break. The cabins are equipped with everything you will need for a wonderful break, and we love the attention to the small details of design and finish.
Silver Birch cabins offer a choice of two or three bedrooms, sleeping four to six people.
Four nights from £505. Visit www.forestholidays.co.uk
Deerpark, Liskeard, Cornwall
Whether you need a weekend break or a long getaway, this Cornish bolthole provides the perfect location. Nestled deep in a wooded valley and set around a quiet millpond, a collection of cosy cabins enjoy picturesque peaceful views and individual privacy. There's direct access to a host of trails where you can spot rare plant species and encounter the surrounding wildlife, including different species of bird from woodpeckers and marsh tits to owls and buzzards. Despite Deerpark’s secluded location, it’s close proximity to the Cornish coast offers visitors the chance to swap their walking shoes for a bucket and spade in the pretty town of Looe, which is just a 15-minute car trip.
Three nights in a two-bedroom cabin from £420. Call 0333 011 0495 or visit www.forestholidays.co.uk
Resort Baumgeflüster, Lower Saxony, Germany
Nestled in the forest land of Lower Saxony, a collection of enchanting fairytale stilted treehouses blend beautifully among the tall ancient trees. Designed for year-round comfort, each one features underfloor heating, a designer bathroom and a compact kitchenette and private patio.
With the surrounding area steeped in wildlife, you'll be able to greet the deer from the comfort of your treehouse, listen to the birds sing and watch squirrels scurry around the 200-year-old tree from the panoramic window views and terraces.
Make the most of all that wonderful tree-purified fresh air and wide-open space with a walk along the forest path, through the flower meadow and on to the apple orchard. Nearby lake, Zwischenahner Meer, is the perfect spot for enjoying lazy strolls. Further afield, day trips to nearby Bremen or the Dutch town of Groningen, with its tempting weekly market, are musts.
Cabins from 225 euros per night, Monday to Friday. Flights London to Bremen from £40 (Ryanair). Call +49 179 73 92 658 or visit www.baumgefluester.de
Les Cabanes de Fontaine-Châtel, Normandy, France
If you've got a sense of adventure and a head for heights, this woodland village in north-east Normandy elevates the glamping experience to the next level. At first glance, it’s easy to miss these ten hand-crafted quirky wooden lodges, tucked up between the beech, oak and ash trees. Connected to the forest floor by way of ladders, staircases, zip-wires and wobbly wooden bridges, daring guests can opt for accommodation as high as 12 metres off the ground. For families, there are much more accessible treehouses that sit at a more modest four metres.
In keeping with the surroundings, each treehouse features a very basic set-up, but a nearby shower block is accessible onsite. The surrounding woods provide the perfect setting for orienteering and wild boar and deer spotting. What’s more, the site is just a stone’s throw from Calais, taking less than two hours to reach by car.
Three nights from £220, including breakfast. Visit glampingly.co.uk
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