Short Stay: The Treehouses, Dittisham Hideaway, Devon, UK /

In the famous 19th-century children’s book, when the castaways of the Swiss Robinson family get the chance to leave their tree house on their remote island, many relatives choose to stay. And they didn’t even have the designer luxuries of Dittisham Hideaway’s toe-warming underfloor heating, fresh herbs growing next to the front door, Nespresso coffee machine and foosball on the balcony.

Four wooden treehouses are part of an idyllic rural Devon retreat that makes up the Dittisham Hideaway. In addition, there’s an American Dream of a 1956 silver-gloss Airstream caravan and five larger-than-average artisan Shepherds Lodges.

Forget any idea of ​​inelegantly climbing rope ladders and loitering in the branches. They are high-end homes that curl and bend through the trees. The Pheasant, Owl and Woodpecker tree houses are all dog-friendly.

Loosen up your legs on a walking tour of the Hideaway Estate, before heading for the hill walks and beaches of South Hams.

The welcome

Three days before arrival we receive an email with the code for the electric gate of the estate and a second code for the key box at Buzzard’s front door.

A welcome pack of bread, cereal, crisps, jam, orange juice and sachets of hot chocolate awaits us. Butter and milk are also chilled in the fridge.

The room

Open plan, under a yurt style vaulted ceiling, the kitchen flows into the living room and the living room flows into the master bedroom. Wooden struts of the sun’s rays lead up to the glass center of a roof that gives a view of the stars. Cream, green and flashes of tree brown make up the pastoral palette.

Above the cedar floors, the textiles range from the soft natural wool of the bedspreads, through bronze hare sculptures to the nautical rope piping. A five foot wide bed is dressed in an eco-friendly Devon duvet handmade from the wool of the South West. The carefully designed bedrooms have reading lamps, bedside tables and sockets for charging phones on both sides of the bed. Each treehouse is potentially a romantic Hans and Greta retreat for two.

Or turn right from the entrance hall to family time. Under a smaller yurt dome is a bedroom with three bunk beds next to a family bathroom.

The bathroom

Sinuously curved and apostrophe shaped shower rooms feature in both the family bathroom and master bedroom en-suite.

An ingenious design, which follows the curved outer wall, helps keep the water on the business side of the rain shower. Eco-friendly toiletries are from Basic Earth.

Services

For summer living, a balcony curves around the treehouse, providing facilities the well-known tree-dwellers Tarzan and Jane could never have dreamed of. A hammock and patio furniture are on hand for relaxation.

Next to the BBQ there is an al fresco dining table. A place of honor goes to a wood-fired hot tub. More cerebrally, an outsized outdoor chess set is set up to play.

Inside, the spacious kitchen is so well equipped you could host a dinner party – and then just toss all the crockery and cutlery into the dishwasher. There is probably enough equipment to cook a Christmas dinner. A washing machine and ironing board are discreetly concealed in a large closet.

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Rent

A five minute drive takes guests to Dittisham car park and then a downhill walk to the ferry jetty. Ring the bell and a ferry should soon appear for the short crossing from the River Dart to Greenway.

Agatha Christie’s former home is now managed by the National Trust. A ferry runs along the River Dart to and from Dartmouth on a more formal timetable.

Few guests can resist a visit to the pretty pink waterfront Ferryboat Inn. The FBI, as it likes to be called, has a menu of dishes that check J Edgar Hoover as well as Agatha Christie and Miss Marple. Comforting gooey fudge and a spicy treacle tart are among some of the best puds served in the South West. Another superlative is the FBI’s hard-to-dispute claim that they have one of the best pub views in the world.

If you like to do your own cooking, Dartmouth’s supermarkets are only a 10 minute drive away for some shopping. Then it’s easy to drive on to visit crab sandwich and Dartmouth ferries. You can also head west to the white sandy beach at Blackpool Sands or Slapton Sands.

If you get tired of cooking for yourself, you can book a visit from a private chef. Just like the services of a mobile massage therapist and a mobile beautician.

Other nice keys

Complimentary wine chilled in the fridge and a carafe of sloe gin ready to serve.

The first bag of logs and kindling for the wood-burning stove is free. Guests can pick runner beans and peas from the vegetable beds in season.

Costs

For 2023, the price per night for a treehouse will start from £275 per night.

The other properties at Dittisham Hideaway, the Shepherds Lodges and the Airstream Caravan start from £195 per night.

The best bit

These quirky, high-quality treehouses pay homage to the late Peter de Savary’s willingness to support bold design and creative flair, no matter how challenging the location.

As you walk through the 12 acres of woodland at Dittisham Hideaway, look out for Mark Bell’s sculptural collection, Dancing to the sounds of natureincluding a squirrel on saxophone and a spider playing drums.

The final verdict

Forget the glamping word. These extremely well designed treehouses are on another level. Peter and Lana de Savary have brought 5 star hotel standards to the treehouse.

Dittisham Hideaway is a year-round destination. Whether for a wonderfully easy summer life or for a cozy place for a hibernation far away from the crowds.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Dittisham Hideaway.