Monday, 25 July 2022 | 15.4°C Dublin

T he Belgian slow travel concept is set to open its first location in Ireland this August 

A Slow Cabin in its secluded setting

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Would you book a cabin stay without knowing its exact location, letting the company take the “stress of the choice” out of your hands?

I f so, you may like Slow Cabins – a Belgian short break concept opening its first site in Ireland next month.

The off-grid cabin experiences are available from August 1 at a “secret” Irish location. They can be booked on slowcabins.ie, with rates from €250 per night and a two-night minimum stay. 

Slow Cabins describes itself as an “eco-hospitality brand” that encourages guests to slow down, take a digital detox, and escape the grind for a few days. 

Guests book without knowing the cabins’ exact location, although the co-ordinates are provided within two weeks of the trip – along with a brochure of cabin tips.

Cabins come with a queen-size bed

The secrecy is not obligatory. “If you really need, we can provide you with more information,” the website says. Though it adds: “keeping it secret is more fun though, we promise!”

Independent.ie can reveal that the first cluster of five cabins is set in near the coast in Connacht, within a 2.5-hour drive of Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick.

Guests are asked not to share the cabins’ location once they learn it, and to turn off location services on social media posts, to preserve the surprise for others. 

Slow Cabins was first launched in Belgium in 2017, and arrives at a time when outdoor living and lodge-style stays are booming in Ireland – from Cabu by the Lakes in Co Cavan to the new Drumhierny Woodland Hideaway in Co Leitrim and a host of cosy and quirky additions to the country’s glamping sites. 

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Its 40sqm cabins are located in secluded natural settings, designed for one to two people, and usually booked by couples, though baby cots can be provided. 

There is no WiFi – the concept leans heavily into the “slow travel” philosophy, which favours a mindful and sustainable approach over mass tourism. 

“Recent European studies show that our resilience improves and stress levels decrease by up to 70pc after a stay in nature,” says Slow Cabins Ireland Director, Matthew Parkinson.

Cabins are clad in charred wood, reflect a rustic, Scandi-style minimalism, and come kitted out with queen-size bed, shower, dry toilet, log burner and  picture windows.

A keyless entry system means guests can check in and out by themselves, and facilities also include a small kitchen equipped with gas burner. Outside, there is private space for a fire pit, BBQ and seats to watch the world go by.

The cabins also use filtered rainwater and solar panels for energy.

“Profit is not our only goal, but rather a means to create more positive social and environmental impact,” Mr Parkinson says.

The cabins are clad in charred Japanese wood

Finding locations in Ireland has been a long process, with the launch delayed during the pandemic. But two further sites are now in development.

“We will have new cabins nestled in [Ireland’s] Hidden Heartland’s and Ancient East as soon as possible,” its website says.

See more on slowcabins.ie. 

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