TREETOP FIDDAN,
Norway
It dawned on me recently that I spend way too much of my time pursuing, achieving and comparing – and, frankly, it’s exhausting. The antidote? Escaping modern life for a few days in a treehouse, on an island in a lake in Norway. In short, the middle of nowhere.
Getting there alone is an adventure. After flying to Kristiansand in southern Norway, my husband, Roy, and I pick up a hire car and head for the wilderness, stopping for food supplies on the way, before deciding whether to take a canoe or walk the final part of the journey. We opt to follow the makeshift path through towering pine trees around a secluded lake, before crossing a floating walkway to our island treetop home. It’s a magical spot.
Within 24 hours we’ve truly embraced nature, fired up the small outdoor sauna and, wearing nothing but a smile and our
Wellies, dashed down for an icy slosh in the lake! We spend the rest of our days with no plans and no wi-fi, just time and space to read, talk and watch the birds. Nights are passed by candlelight, sitting beneath the treetop canopy, taking in the vastness of the dazzling night sky as the cabin sways gently in the breeze. Romantic? Definitely, but our rustic Scandi-style nest would work just as well with kids. It’s warm and comfortable, complete with sheepskin rugs and a wood-burning stove, and a double sofabed in which we sleep soundly. A wooden ladder stretches up to a second storey, housing three single beds.
The amenities are unapologetically simple: a solar-powered fridge and electric lights in the kitchen, a gas hob and a small washbasin for teeth brushing. The limitations? No hot water, no plug sockets (there are two charger points for mobile phones) and no inside loo; so be prepared for midnight trips to the outside compost toilet. I soon forget to worry about my hair and make-up, which, like the rest of our stay, turns out to be surprisingly freeing! It’s said that just 20 minutes spent in nature can lower stress; after four nights, I can report
I have never felt so Zen. JULIE POWELL
TRIP NOTES Treetop Fiddan starts from £225 a night (sleeps five people). canopyandstars.co.uk/treetopfiddan