THE BIG SWITCH-OFF
Already sick of the general election? Anna Tobin picks 11 places to get off grid with no wifi, email or mobile signal
Twenty years ago, a holiday was truly a holiday – the only way we could be contacted was via the hotel reception’s switchboard, and our nearest and dearest would only use that in an absolute emergency.
Now, our phone calls and emails catch up with us wherever we are in the world and the lure of the internet is often too strong to resist. But with another seven weeks of political grandstanding until the snap general election on 8 June, the idea of escaping the news cycle with a digital detox is more attractive than ever. For those who really want to check out, here’s where to check in.
1. Browse out in the Beacons
It might look high tech but this geodesic dome, part of Argoed Barns glamping site in the Brecon Beacons National Park in south Wales, is totally off grid. You won’t even find a bath plug here. There is a brass bed with goose down topper, though, plus a wood-burning stove and the ultimate picture window with a fivemetre-long panoramic view of the Black Mountains. Leave your phone and laptop at home, but don’t forget to pack the candles and matches. From £120 for a double, room only. argoedbarns.co.uk
2. Turn on your out of office in the Highlands
Tucked away in a remote corner of the Scottish Highlands is this idyllic three bedroom, two bathroom fisherman’s cottage just steps from the water’s edge and a six-mile trek to the nearest pub and shops. There is no chance of your phone ringing or your email pinging here: it’s part of Sykes Cottages’ JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) collection, which offers the chance to escape from the digital world and immerse yourself in nature. Salmon- and trout-fishing trips can be organised and on dry land you can look out for stags and deer. From £384 for a week, self-catering; the cottage sleeps five. sykescottages.co.uk
3. Tune into the Channel at Herm Island
Forget email – you won’t even be able to check the time at the only hotel on Herm. There are no clocks, TVs or telephones at the White House Hotel and you won’t find a car or bicycle on this tiny Channel Island either. The hotel runs tech-free retreats where mobiles are dropped off at reception on arrival and you’re encouraged to embrace mindfulness, practise yoga and gaze at the stars. From £295 per person, two nights half-board. herm.com
4. Leave the herd for a Somerset shepherd’s hut
The only tweet to reach you at this luxury shepherd’s hut at the foot of the Blackdown Hills will be from the birds. Your hosts will fill a vintage picnic basket to order and you can spend the day exploring the surrounding area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, arriving back to the hut at dusk to step into the woodfired hot tub to gaze at the stars. From £125 for a double room, B&B (including a welcome tea tray). dimpsey.co.uk
5. Have a digital detox in Puglia
An 18th century masseria surrounded by olive, fig, cherry and almond trees in the Puglia countryside in Italy is the setting for It’s Time to Log Off’s digital detox retreat. You literally switch off on arrival when mobiles, tablets, laptops, Kindles and Fitbits are confiscated. You’ll spend your time learning mindfulness, taking part in yoga classes and enjoying bike rides and leisurely walks down to the beach instead. The seven-night retreats take place in May and October. From £870 per person, full board. itstimetologoff.com
6. Pitch up to a French yurt
Log off and take to the hills – or the Alps, to be precise. This yurt in Rhône-Alpes is so remote that in the winter months you have to don skis or snow shoes to reach it. The fantastic 360-degree views across the Baujus mountains make it worth the journey, however. And the wood-burning stove will ensure that, once inside, you’ll feel toasty whatever the weather. From £66, room only. airbnb.co.uk
7. Stick to the bear necessities in Canada
There is no wifi or signal at Knight Inlet Lodge, a series of floating cabins on the longest fjord in British Columbia and one of the best bear-spotting locations in the world. But with a programme of wildlife tours offering the chance to get up close with seals, sea lions, dolphins, mink, killer whales and, of course, grizzly bears, who needs screen time? From CAD $1,180 (£685) per person for a two-night all-inclusive package. knightinletlodge.com
8. Flag your needs, not your emails, in the Grenadines
Beach villas in the tropical island resort of Petit St Vincent in the Grenadines might come with air conditioning, a Nespresso machine and Bose ipod dock, but you won’t find a telephone, TV or wifi. Instead, you raise a flag to order room service, transportation or lunch on the beach. From £3,585 per person for one week all-inclusive, including flights and transfers. tropicbreeze.co.uk
9. Swap Amazon for the Amazon
There’ll be no online shopping opportunities at Amazon Planet in the Upper Amazon. The telephone signal is sporadic and there is no internet in the bungalows dotted around the lodge with views over the forest and river. But you’ll find plenty to keep you busy while offline. You can spot jaguars, jungle cats, macaws, tapirs and monkeys in the rescue centre or explore the Taricaya turtle conservation project. From £195 for a double-bed lodge, all-inclusive. booking.com
10. Switch to airplane mode on a cruise round Cape Horn
Set sail to the southernmost tip of South America, Cape Horn, to explore one of the most unspoilt landscapes on earth. On board the Stella Australis cruise liner there is no wifi and there’s no signal in the region either. No one will disturb you as you sail through Glacier Alley and disembark to visit to Wulaia Bay, Alberto de Agostini National Park, and Magdalena Island, which is home to a Magellanic penguin colony. From $2,366 (£1,908) per person, seven nights all-inclusive. australis.com
11. Surf the waves, not the web, in Fiji
If you want to discover a part of the world that Starbucks hasn’t, head to the tiny Fijian island of Qamea. At The Maqai Beach Eco Surf Resort life isn’t hectic enough to need a caffeine boost – your phone will get no reception and emails can’t reach you. Sandwiched between rainforest and an icing-sugar-soft sandy beach edged by coral reefs, you wouldn’t want anything to distract from the snorkelling, diving, fishing and surfing anyway. Doubles from £76, all-inclusive. booking.com