Big dreams in little spaces
There’s something timeless about building a den. Whether it’s a castle of cushions in the living room or a secret hideaway beneath a tree, dens spark a sense of childlike adventure in all of us.
A hideaway with a secret nook or a tucked-away corner is magic for escaping the everyday and grabbing a moment away from the gang when you’re on holiday.
Haylofts and bunk beds, mezzanine perches and cabin corners, here’s a round-up of some of our favourite little spots to capture that special spark – dreamy for little explorers or grown-ups looking for time-out from the hubbub family and friends.
Part-shed, part-secret lookout, this den-like hideaway in Ty Het’s garden has a woodland view window and a real sense of quiet retreat. Perfect for spying red squirrels – who treat this garden as their playground – and letting imaginations run wild.
Daisy Moo has rustic charm by the bucketload – and with a secret hayloft on the second floor, big kids will love climbing a ladder to a hidden nook with a bird’s eye view of goings-on below.
With its classic bunkbeds, this place is perfect for giggling sleepovers. It’s also got little teepee to curl up in after a day at the beach – just made for stories by torchlight.
Ty Fry Estate | Holiday House For 16 | Pentraeth | Anglesey
Those halcyon days when the kids were screen-free and you had to call them in for lunch? They’re here again when you holiday at Ty Fry, whose gardens are blessed with brilliant boughs and leafy hollows that are just crying out for den building. Feel the joy of the nippers asking for five more minutes when you fling open the doors to beckon them in for bathtime in one of the house’s beautiful cast-iron tubs!
And for the grown-ups?
Stargazing with a nightcap, sea views over morning coffee, sunset walks from the door and wild swims before breakfast. Here are a couple of our favourite spots for a big switch-off:
Swap forts for stargazing. This beautiful bolthole has a telescope trained on the skies and a view worth staying up for.
Full of tucked-away corners and cosy spots made for getting lost in a good book, this charming Grade II listed windmill holds oceans of charm for adventure-seekers large and small. Wind your way up the spiral staircase to a lookout with wild views across fields. The perfect lofty retreat, it’s so enticing you’ll almost wish for bad weather – the perfect excuse to hole up and hunker down.
Looking for more inspiration for your next getaway? Check out The Compass.
