5 reasons winter is the best time for a solo writing retreat
Embrace the quiet winter months and enjoy some peaceful, focused writing time.
The cabins are warm and cosy
Inside our Lucy cabin in winter
When you think of cabin stays in the UK, you might picture glamping - shepherds huts and cabins mainly for use in summer. Our cabins are more like tiny houses, built by our eco builders, Wildly Crafted, to be comfortable year-round.
As well as being really well insulated, they have two Rointe heaters (which we turn on before you arrive to ensure it’s nice and toasty as soon as you step in), a heated towel rail and doubled-up duvets. We also have a fire pit, which makes for magical winter evenings under the stars.
The cabins are glorious in the summer, but in winter, when the wind is howling and the rain is pattering on the stargazing windows, they feel really cosy and comforting. No need for white noise apps, you’ll have a real life ASMR experience.
2. There’ll be less distractions
A writer in focus mode in our Catherine cabin at Christmas
If you’re anything like us, it doesn’t take much to distract from the task in hand. And a hot sunny day is basically a write-off. So avoid the FOMO (no one does anything in January anyway) and hunker down at the cabins this winter.
Start as you mean to go on, and get to work on those 2026 writing dreams right away. While fitness goals may be more challenging to stick to on cold, dark days, you don’t even need to get our of your dressing gown and slippers to start writing. After all, putting pen to paper (or fingertips to keyboard) is the only way that book is going to get written.
The cabins are usually quieter in winter, too. So if you’re the sort of writer that needs time alone to really concentrate or recharge, you may get lucky and have the entire place to yourself!
3. Winter is ideal for stargazing (and bird watching)
View of aurora borealis and the night sky from our Lucy cabin
Winter is the best time to enjoy stargazing, thanks to cooler, clearer air and longer nights.
We’re very lucky that despite being less than 90 minutes by train from London, we’re in a dark sky area of the High Weald AONB. On a cloudless night, you can see the Milky Way. And even though we’re on the south coast, we’ve been treated to spectacular views of the aurora borealis.
Did you know as well as being essential for nocturnal wildlife, dark skies (or the lack of them) effect human health? According to darksky.uk, light pollution, particularly from street lights, smartphones and laptops, can have impacts beyond the quality of our sleep, including damaging our immune system. This is because it suppresses the sleep hormone melatonin. We need the darkness to sleep well, and protect our bodies.
During the day, the bare branches also make it easier to spot the wonderful array of bird life that visits the meadow, including woodpeckers, starlings and buzzards.
So put down your smartphone, and look up - you’re bound to feel better for it.
4. If you come in December, the cabins will be transformed into enchanting Christmas cabins…
Festive dragonflies in our Matilda cabin at Christmas
… but you won’t pay a penny more because we keep our prices the same year-round.
We absolutely love decorating the cabins, and we dress them differently each year - always in keeping with each cabin’s historical era. Expect fresh foliage, handmade paper decorations and lots of vintage treasures. You can read all about it and see photos on our Christmas cabins blog.
And we also have a village Christmas tree farm! As well as selling trees, Catsfield Christmas Tree Farm hosts an annual Christmas tree throwing competition, and also has a twinkly festive shop full of beautifully curated decorations.
5. This year we’re offering a winter-only student discount
The cabins in a crisp, frosty meadow
Are you studying for a masters, PhD or professional qualification? If you send us proof of study, we’ll give you a discount code for 10% off any length of stay.
We know a lot of you use the quieter winter months to get stuck into research and writing, but it’s not always easy to find the focus you need at home during the holidays.
Alternatively, if you’d like to hire all three cabins for your study group, we can offer you our exclusive use 20% discount.
This offer is available for any stay booked and taken between 1 December 2025 and 28 February 2026.