Hide & sleep
WORDS CECILY LAYZELL & MATT FARQUHARSON
Up and away
If you fancy the idea of hiding out in nature but pitching a tent just doesn’t appeal, The Treehotel could be the answer. Located in Harads, northern Sweden, it combines a child’s fantasy of living in a tree house with some very grown-up amenities. Six individually designed rooms, each divided into sleeping and living areas, are built around one or more pine trees some four metres from the forest floor. The two-person mirror cube offers additional refuge: enjoy 360-degree views of the pristine surroundings, while the reflective exterior keeps out prying eyes. www.TREEHOTEL.SE
Totally bushed
In a country the size of Australia, you can guarantee that a place called Faraway Bay will really be kilometres from anywhere. Nestled on a rocky hilltop in a remote corner of the north-western Kimberley Region is The Bush Camp, Faraway Bay. Boasting exotic wildlife that far outnumbers people – only 12 visitors can be accommodated at any one time – the camp offers luxury cabins and top-class local foods and wines in a simple, secluded outback setting. www.FARAWAYBAY.COM.AU
Deserted desert
Escaping to a desert may sound more arduous than agreeable, except when the packaging is as pretty as Awasi. Tucked away in Chile’s Atacama Desert, the hotel offers ‘lodgings, gastronomy and outings’. Eight private stone, adobe and wood cottages provide the shelter, while in the restaurant, the chefs cook up local delicacies, such as purple potatoes and quinoa, exclusively for hotel guests. Excursions to the nearby volcanoes, dry salt lakes and azure water holes are always private and tailored to each guest. This is desert hospitality without any discomforts. www.AWASI.CL
Harbour master
Hide in plain sight at this converted harbour crane overlooking the Wadden Sea in the north of The Netherlands. For most passers- by, it looks like a relic from a past industrial age but, in fact, inside is 60 cubic metres of designer swank, from Charles Eames chairs to touchscreen lighting and music. Access is through two slimline lifts that have replaced the old cage ladders, and above the main room is a special extra: climb up into the top cabin, and the old crane controls allow you to swivel your hotel room through 360 degrees, whenever you want to change your view, or catch the sun. www.VUURTOREN-HARLINGEN.NL
Scots missed
George Orwell called The Isle of Jura “Extremely unget-at-able”. When he wanted to escape from the world to spend two years writing 1984, he came here. It remains hard to reach, a misty, barrenly beautiful island off the west coast of Scotland shrouded in legends about clansman’s ghosts, vengeful prophets, and other myths and mysteries. The lodge is carefully decorated with antlers, animal skins and local craftmanship, and visitors can enjoy fishing, fell walking, excellent seafood and the produce of the local whisky distillery. www.ISLEOFJURA.COM
