While I do my best to reduce screen time within my own abode, I've always been curious about what it would be like to go off-grid for a couple of days, with no excuse of having to reach for my devices. So, when I noticed that Unplugged, a beloved British-founded tech-free cabin brand, had collaborated with fashion and recently launched homewares label, Damson Madder, my interest was piqued, and before I knew it, my tickets were booked.
Considered to be digital detox zones in their own right, these quaint cabins are nestled into large open plots of land for a truly disconnected experience. And uniquely, the minimum duration you can book for is three days. This is because the effects of being unplugged are only known to kick in and form a nascent habit after around 72 hours.
And while I could only scrounge up 48 hours in a weekend to get out of London and into the zen countryside of Shropshire, the difference was almost immediate, and I returned to the city with an excitement about disconnecting from devices and reconnecting in real life. It may sound cliché, but once you hear about my Unplugged weekend, you'll understand exactly why it might be time to book your own, too.
Unplugged x Damson Madder
Even after my first train was cancelled, the second one detrained, and the third one took us back a couple of stops, I was still determined and yearning for an off-grid weekend away. And this digital detox corner in the middle of Shropshire did not disappoint.
So, even when my willing-to-unplug friend and I reached the train and took a taxi to the remote cabin, finding the land around shrouded in darkness, we were still determined to find our way. And after a minor snafu of our own with directions, we found ourselves inside the Unplugged 'Jasper' cabin. Now, let me set the idyllic scene.
The beautiful wood encompasses the cabin and brings in a natural air of warmth, and then there's the roomy bed framed by a window of the view that feels like a postcard in real life. And the sleeping space is dressed in the coziest Piglet in Bed linens (one of my favorites) to ensure each night is dreamily comfortable.
The kitchenette is simple but features all the basics you need, from cutlery to cookware, bowls, plates, mugs, and more. Not to mention this sleek HARIO V60 Buono Teapot, which I now want for my own home. Plus, some coffee beans (so you can grind yourself a fresh cuppa), chamomile tea for the less morning-averse, Scottish breakfast tea, olive oil, pepper, and salt.
In terms of food, the ingredients are yours to bring, so you can whip up freshly cooked meals to add to the healthy experience. And if you're worried about how you'll spend your time at the cabin without a screen to distract you, each site is stocked with plenty of things to keep you from scrolling including board games like Scrabble and Sequence, a couple of books to break into, and an old-fashioned radio with cassette tapes from the likes of ABBA to Billy Joel to keep you company.
The self-check-in cabin also features a fireplace, an eco toilet, a shower room, and an outdoor firepit so you can get warm while enjoying the fresh air and star-studded skies. It also comes with a mini lock box for you to put your phone away for the duration of your stay, and a mini Nokia just in case you'd like to give your family an emergency number or if you're keen to call a local pub to reserve a Sunday roast.
My Unplugged Takeaway
As far as digital detox retreats go, Unplugged's cabins are a charming idea for a quick getaway from the bustle of city life. My first few hours there had me instinctively reaching for my phone, but after intentionally setting it aside, I found myself getting more used to being offline.
By the end of the trip, I had learnt how to start a fire, cooked up a couple of delicious meals, roasted sausages, and melted s'mores over the outdoor firepit, finished a book that I'd long put off, and felt so much calmer. On the final morning, I wasn't even keen on catching up on notifications or quick to take a scroll through Instagram.
There was a weight that evidently lifted off me over the course of my 48 hours in the Jasper cabin, and the experience was made all the more beautiful by the colorful Damson Madder homewares dressing the space.
In the lead-up to the trip, I was feeling major screen-fatigue, but the thought of being phone-less made me slightly anxious. If you've felt this way before, and it's holding you back from going off-grid, my advice is to try to set those feelings aside and do it anyway.
You don't have to go solo, either. Take a friend, and plan a digital detox vacation to soothe your senses. After all, Hector Hughes, co-founder of Unplugged, tells me that this was the very reason these cabins came to life.
"It was, and still is, so clear that technology is becoming increasingly addictive and people find it hard to spend intentional space offline," he says. "So we've created that space — somewhere for people to switch off, slow down and recharge."
These pretty country cabins do just that. They help you stop and smell the roses, walk through a field of sheep (yes, literally), and touch grass. From the fresh air to the unbelievably stunning skies flooded with blue by day and carpeted with clear shining stars by night, you'll find yourself drawn to connecting in real life. And it'll give you plenty of inspiration to digitally detox your own home, starting with designing a tech-free bedroom.
All in all, it was a restorative, slow living affirming weekend away that has me planning a future Unplugged retreat for the next time I need a break from my typically electronically charged life.
Shop the Cabin's Look
Color: Cream
I spent many a moment sipping coffee and switching to tea with this Handpainted Chubby Mug in hand, and it's just what you need for slow mornings.
Quantity: Set of 2
Damson Madder is making needlepoint flourishes cool again, and the proof lies in these Ruffle Embroidered Placemats.
Material: 100% Organic Cotton
Hang these painted Tea Towels from Damson Madder on your oven for a pop of color.
Color: Blue
We served up our chocolate biscuits on this Handpainted Harlequin Serving Platter at teatime, and it elevated this simple twilight ritual.
Size: 26 cm x 7 cm
Anything from a fresh summer salad to a steamy bowl of pasta looks pretty in this Handpainted Stripe Spot Serving Bowl.
Color: Butter Burgundy Spot
Save your table from ring marks, and match your chubby mug with this sweet little saucer.
Color: Wine
These Frilly Stripe Cushions from Damson Madder bring color, texture, and a plush presence to any undressed furniture.
Size: 152 cm x 120 cm
Having wrapped this Cotton Printed Striped Throw Blanket around myself, I can say it's perfect for when you're getting cozy on the couch.
Size: 45 cm x 45 cm
Also spotted was this Cotton Printed Cushion that instantly enlivens even the dullest of plush corners.
Color: Burgundy / Blue
Damson Madder has been a pioneer in the browny-bordeaux and blue polka dot movement, and this vase is my favorite piece to fashion the trend.
Style: Mixed Stripe
Forget boring black oven mitts and tea towels when grabbing your hot cookware; use this fun glove instead.
Size: 69 cm x 85 cm
Putting this tie-style apron on will make you romanticize cooking up breakfast in style.
If you're looking to ease yourself into a life that's less online, our guide to slow living holiday destinations will give you plenty of inspiration for the next time you want to be whisked off on a vacation.
