Shorter days and longer nights have their perks. Discover crackling fires, steaming outdoor baths and star-filled skies at these dreamy South West stays
Lilypod, Devon
There’s off-grid, then there’s floating on a private lake beneath a starry Devon sky. At Lilypod near Dartmoor, three handcrafted timber retreats sit on the water, surrounded by countryside and gloriously little light pollution.
Days at Lilypod are deliberately slow, but it’s after dark that the setting really comes into its own. Settle outside your pod and watch the stars appear above the lake, their reflections shimmering on the water below. The solar-powered hideaways have been designed for switching off, so there’s little to distract from nature’s nightly show.
For a daytime diversion, make the short trip to nearby Alder Vineyard before returning to your floating sanctuary in time for sundown.
Hinton Hideaways, Somerset
Bathing under a blanket of stars is part and parcel of the experience at Hinton Hideaways, a collection of five design-led retreats scattered across 260 acres of organic Somerset farmland.
Each offers a slightly different route to slow living, with wood-fired hot tubs, private saunas, outdoor baths and fire bowls making it tempting to spend most of the stay outside. Forest-bathe from the hot tub, warm up in the sauna or settle beside the fire as daylight fades.
After dark, the rural setting comes alive. Keep an eye – and ear – out for the farm’s nocturnal residents, including barn owls, bats, foxes and badgers, then get cosy outside and turn your attention skywards.
Hudnalls Hideout, Gloucestershire
You’ll find a telescope among the creature comforts at Hudnalls Hideout – a clue that nights here are worth staying up for. This adults-only treehouse is buried deep within ancient woodland in the Wye Valley, with little more than birds, squirrels and deer for neighbours.
Climb the winding staircase to the handcrafted oak loft bed and an A-frame window that reveals the treetops beyond. Come nightfall, enjoy a front-row seat to the stars without even having to leave your duvet cocoon. Stargazing in pyjamas without sacrificing the Egyptian cotton sheets? We’re sold.
If you’d rather take things alfresco, bring the telescope outside onto the decking or sink into the outdoor bath and gaze upwards from the bubbles. Speaking of bubbles, take a bottle of something sparkling to sip as you stargaze for a little twit-twoo romance.
Nymetwood Treehouses, Devon
Stargazers should make a beeline for Blackcap, one of two timber retreats tucked among 20 acres of woodland, meadow and orchard at Nymetwood. Perched high on a mid-Devon hillside overlooking Dartmoor, the treehouse sits within a dark-sky zone with minimal light pollution and suitably big skies.
The best seats in the house are outside. Run the copper bath, pour in a dash something that smells delicious and settle in for a soak as daylight fades and goddess Asteria sets free her falling stars. Back inside, a woodburner, super-king bed and locally stocked welcome hamper provide ample incentive to stay put until morning.
Starling Spa Treehouse next door swaps Blackcap’s hilltop perch for its own woodland spa, complete with hot tub, sauna and outdoor shower.
Escape Off The Grid, Dorset
No wifi, zero neighbours and very little between you and the night sky: Escape Off The Grid’s Aslan cabin makes a persuasive case for going off the beaten track. The tiny timber hideaway sits amid open countryside in Plush, a setting made for inky night skies and Milky Way entertainment.
Large windows pull the rolling Dorset landscape into the pared-back interior, while a woodburner keeps things cosy when the temperature dips. Spend daylight hours hiking the surrounding countryside or wild swimming, then return as dusk falls and watch the stars emerge over the hills.
Civilisation isn’t entirely banished: a thatched country pub is just a couple of minutes’ walk away for dinner before the celestial show begins.
Enjoyed our pick of the best stays for stargazing? Continue the sensory thrills with these sound bath experiences.
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