Why is having a cabin in the woods not a thing in the U.K.?

[OutComeTheWolves]

So often on movies set in the US, people head up to the cabin for a few days. And someone I follow on Instagram has recently bought an A-frame cabin 'upstate'.

I'm very envious, I'd love to just have a cheap property in the middle of nowhere that I could take the kids to at the weekend. I've googled various version of 'cabin in woods U.K.' 'cabin in forest for sale' and it seems to me that the British version is buying a static caravan on a caravan site. I don't really like other people so this isn't really what I what. Surely it could be more of a thing here, there must be some sort of market for it? Or is there just not enough forest for it to happen here?

Show me all the wooded lakes where these isolated cabins could be sited..... yes, that’s right. We don’t have many. It’s not as if Britain has thousands of acres of wilderness just waiting to be “colonised” by people wanting to claim a slice of land to build a cabin (and then keep everyone else away).

Even in the US there are a lot of laws, existing cabins in picturesque spots have “footprints” which you cannot exceed and they must be a certain distance from the water. Otherwise some people would be building giant houses dominating the landscape.

The problem is Scotland is midges

You are not wrong @viques . See also clegs

because we dont live in america the uk is too small

We have friends here in France who have a chalet in the woods on a riverside. Like many such buildings, it and the neighbouring properties were built long ago when the land was considered worthless - couldn't be farmed, inaccessible etc. But over time such properties have become highly desirable for their waterfront, secluded, woodland location. When they bought though, they had to sign an agreement that they would not extend the property in any way, they could only make minor repairs as necessary. If the property burnt to the ground, they would not be allowed to rebuild it. The local authorities essentially want to eventually remove all human habitations from the riverside and to re-establish the land in a more natural condition.

Oh and they have to maintain a wide access across their land alongside the river to allow access (though they and many of their neighbours have put up fences and locked gates to prevent casual access).

Contested lands.

THey are cheap because you can't do anything with them!

But it is a spruce (fir tree) wood which is gloomy. I think people rather envisage something out of Robin Hood with big oak trees and dappled sunlight.

Probably the nearest equivalent we have is the beach huts at somewhere like Mudeford. Essentially little wooden chalets with minimal infrastrua tire, and people do stay in them. Not very ‘wild’ inasmuch as it’s a busy spot, and now very very expensive. But the same general idea…

You can definitely rent them in Scotland www.forestholidays.co.uk/cabins/

And you can buy them justlodges.com/holiday-lodge-and-log-cabin-parks-in-region-of/scotland. Some of these are in forests/woods and there are only 2 lodges at the location.

England is one of the most densely populated countries in the world but Scotland (and I would assume Wales too) has much more space.

West Wales woodland is Adder country. Not a place to camp ..

Also ticks in abundance.

I think also the winters are relatively mild and wet here, damp, rot and mice would be more of an issue (apparently they even have mice in the tent cabins in Yosemite which put me right off!)

Where we are staying is near the Wyre forest. The log cabins have been here 13 years now. This used to be a pig farm and was an environmental mess. Now they are very strict about rules when you stay here and it is so quiet! I think the owner said the buildings have to be classed as temporary though.

I thought the uk equivalent was a beach hut.

@OutComeTheWolves

So often on movies set in the US, people head up to the cabin for a few days. And someone I follow on Instagram has recently bought an A-frame cabin 'upstate'.

I'm very envious, I'd love to just have a cheap property in the middle of nowhere that I could take the kids to at the weekend. I've googled various version of 'cabin in woods U.K.' 'cabin in forest for sale' and it seems to me that the British version is buying a static caravan on a caravan site. I don't really like other people so this isn't really what I what. Surely it could be more of a thing here, there must be some sort of market for it? Or is there just not enough forest for it to happen here?

This reminded me of 'The Broons'.

It was (is?) a cartoon strip in the Scottish newspaper 'The Sunday Post', which I grew up with. Massive family living in a tenement, who would from time to time decamp en masse to the But 'n Ben somewhere in the Highlands. Basically a two-room crofter's cottage.

I knew no-one with a But 'n Ben. Only The Broons.

@bridgetreilly

People talking about US culture: that is only a tiny slice of well-off, white US culture. Most of the millions of people who live in the US never have a cabin in the woods or the lakes, never go deer hunting, have no ancestors who were pioneers in the 19th century.

Here in Maine a lot of the cabins are owned by people who have had them in the family for generations, and they aren't at all well off. They share them between cousins and siblings.

A friend's parents have one that cost their grandfather $2k. It would sell for $200k now but they would rather keep the cabin than have the money.

People go 'upta camp' for the weekend.

@MjonathanB

This got me thinking....

In the US, if you have a cabin in the woods, what do you own? The land it’s on? How much around it? Bought from whom? Do you need permission to build? If anyone can do it, why aren’t developers building whole towns in the wood?

In other words, how does that all work then?

Waterfront land for sale in Maine.

www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/Maine/type-land/keyword-water-front

Waterfront is the key here. Also a lot that already has power, some water supply and deeded right of way.

You'll often have to put in a septic system yourself.

If you're on a small or private road you'll have to plough it yourself in winter.

It's fairy easy to get planning permission but buildings have to be signed off by the code inspector before they can be lived in.

This one looks ideal...

www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/Frye-Rd_Somerville_ME_04348_M97529-87076

"Are you ready for a private camp getaway? Looking for a perfect summer home location? In need of an idealfishing hole? Look no further! We've got everything you could need and more. 0 Frye road is a beautiful lotin the small town of Somerville Maine. Frye Road is a private association running along the water's edge ofLong Pond. Your lot is placed on the right side of Frye road surrounded by tall oak trees and pine trees.You've got power running along the outside of the lot making installation simple and easy. In the rear of thelot, you have a private clearing of bushes that is frequently visited by deer and other wildlife. Long pond is onthe left side of Frye road along with your deeded right of way, making access to the water readily available.You also have a deeded right of way to a small patch of land directly on the water which will be a perfectplace to launch kayaks and canoes. The water views from the property are absolutely stunning, and the bassfishing is amazing every year.Somerville Maine is a small town with a population of under 600. The town is in a fantastic location to providethe rural experience, but also isn't too far away from shopping, travel, schooling, etc. You've got Augustaonly 15 miles away for all shopping, restaurants, airport, or schools. Then, you've got Lake St. George Park15 miles away as well for all camping, swimming, or 11 miles of trail hiking.0 Frye Road is a beautiful lot in an ideal location to provide the ruralcamp experience, while also deliveringan easy vicinity to all recreational needs."

@viques

It’s probably got something to do with the British not having a tradition of shooting things that apparently many Americans have. Plus we are a sea faring nation and are instinctively drawn to the coast, most of us would settle for a cottage by the sea , or at least a beach hut, rather than a flimsy wooden shack surrounded by ravenous bears and cougars , (ok badgers and foxes ) or being menaced by inbred forest dwellers or Bigfoot.

No habit of shooting things! What about pheasants, grouse, ducks, geese, deer, hare, rabbits...!

I think you have a good point about coastal cottages being the dream over woodland cabins.

Yes, I've stayed in British 'shooting things' accommodation; a country hunting lodge, sitting within an extensive estate. It was a lot grander than my home!

That's the extremes of land ownership showing.

@NiceTwin

The thought of going to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, with no electricity or running water does not appeal.

How would you get enough water there to wash, flush, cook etc?

I think it is a totally romanticized view and the reality of it would be completely different.

It is quite pleasant, though not for longer than a few days. A couple of years ago we went to a cabin that had no electricity (we visited the owners farmhouse each day though to charge phones), well water, and an outhouse (but chemical toilets like in caravans are quite common these days so can be inside and more pleasant), there was a gas fridge and hob, and it was a really nice time, a break from the norm. Best thing was being able to swim naked because there was nobody else around!

@Natsku I live in the middle of nowhere, we have a spring for our water and overhead electricity lines. No mains sewage, water or gas, hence the why would you want to mindset.
Our electricity is decidedly flaky compared to living in suburbia and when our hydro ram failed, sorting water was stressful and convoluted.
Had I been in a wooden hut, it would have been so much worse.

I lived in the middle of nowhere a few years back - well water, septic tank, electric connection that cut out every time there was a storm in the winter, that was not fun, I only lasted 6 months there. When the power cut, you couldn't get water because the pump for the well was powered by electricity.

Very different to a lakeside cabin that you only go to in the summer though, roughing it for a few days knowing you will go home to hot showers and the internet is fine.

They are getting quite pricy these days though, dunno when we'll afford to buy our own one. My DD is a party to an inheritance that includes a summer cottage which was worth 18k when the will was written and was recently been valued at 115k, probably even more now that the pandemic has driven up sales.

@NiceTwin

The thought of going to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, with no electricity or running water does not appeal.

How would you get enough water there to wash, flush, cook etc?

I think it is a totally romanticized view and the reality of it would be completely different.

I don't think all that many of the cabins in the woods in the US have no electricity or running water though. Most that I've ever been to have spring or lake water, overhead power or a generator, septic tank, and propane gas tanks.

Not that different to my house in Maine suburbia. The cabins just tend to be deeper in the woods, and the roads are often private so more difficult to access in winter.