Into the forest I go to lose my mind and find my soul – I doubt that John Muir was talking about a digital detox, but in 2025, these words ring truer than ever. Woodlands have long been associated with spiritualism and healing, offering a feeling of tranquillity that isn’t replicated anywhere else. It makes sense, then, for someone embarking on a digital detox to seek out a treehouse in which to lose their mind (or, in fact, Wi-Fi connection) and go cold turkey from tech.
Losing Your Wi-Fi Connection to Find Your Calm: A Digital Detox in Perthshire
There is something quietly radical about choosing to spend three days entirely alone in the Scottish countryside, without scrolling, without notifications, and without the constant pull of a screen. The Treehouses at Lanrick, nestled in a private woodland on the banks of the River Teith and bordering the Trossachs National Park, offer exactly that kind of rare and restorative escape. Designed with a luxurious yet deeply natural aesthetic, each treehouse features a freestanding copper bath, plush king-sized bed, and a log burner, all set within a remote location that encourages you to slow down and be genuinely present. For anyone who has found themselves struggling to read a book or watch a film without reaching for their phone, this is the antidote.
What Three Days Off-Grid in a Scottish Treehouse Actually Does for Your Mind
The benefits of a digital detox become apparent remarkably quickly in this setting. Without the blue light of a screen before bed, sleep quality improves almost immediately, which is consistent with research linking additional screen time to significantly higher insomnia risk. Days fall into a natural rhythm of woodland walks, solo sauna sessions, alfresco meals, and morning stretches on the deck. The power of nature when it comes to calming down is easy to forget in a busy city, but impossible to ignore among the beech trees of central Scotland. There is plenty of joy to be found in solitude, particularly in a place as beautiful as this, and The Treehouses at Lanrick make a compelling case for unplugging far more often.
The Treehouses at Lanrick are a collection of beautifully designed cabins nestled in a private woodland setting on the banks of the picturesque River Teith, bordering the Trossachs National Park. They offer a truly remote location for an off-grid experience.
While the concept of a ‘treehouse’ might sound primitive, The Treehouses at Lanrick are anything but. That’s not to say that they don’t feel fully immersed in nature, enhanced further by timber walls and furniture that echoes their surroundings. But while the design is rooted in nature, the finish is undoubtedly luxurious. Plush sofas and a huge, king-sized bed await inside, topped with soft throws and cushions. Adjustable warm lighting sets the mood. And the freestanding copper bath, designed for moonlit bathing, offers a further opportunity to connect with the wild.
And that was the aim of my three days away from hectic London – to become immersed in the natural world and take a hiatus from the constant ping of notifications. We’re living in an era of increased awareness around our cortisol levels. And when it comes to spikes, our trusty smartphones are the main culprit. Lately, I’ve found myself struggling with focus. It’s hard to read (with the expectation of when on the tube; multitasking always feels easier) or watch a series without reaching for my phone to flick through emails and messages. It’s as if my brain is hardwired not to settle on one single task; there’s always another tab to flip to in my mind’s browser. In other words, a prime candidate for a digital detox.
There are several ways to approach this concept. The easiest way is to unplug and recharge at home, then continue with your daily tasks without any technology. Couples might enjoy a digital detox together, ideally in a romantic setting with quiet evenings, to reconnect. Or you opt for the whole shebang, like me, and travel to one of the most remote places in the country, staying in a treehouse miles from anywhere or anyone, with no Wi-Fi, and truly embrace being alone.
A caveat: this is an easy place to be alone. Waking up here, there isn’t a deafening silence but the low hum of birdsong, the trees gently swaying in the breeze, wildlife scuttering across (you’ll likely spot red squirrels, red kites, and ospreys in the area). There’s also just enough to keep you busy, with a sauna and plunge pool on site, a full kitchen, and aforementioned copper bath for stargazing, as well as beautiful walks in the surrounding area.
Day one: first impressions of The Treehouses
I arrived early evening at The Treehouses, taking the winding road down past the River Teith. My treehouse, Flycatcher, was positioned second to last out of five wooden treehouses, each similar in appearance but with their own individual character. The scenery was breathtaking, and the area quieter than imagined; I’ve visited remote spots in the Highlands but was previously unaware of this hidden gem nestled among the beech trees in central Scotland.
My excitement started to build as I made my way up wooden steps to the decking area, which was surrounded by woodland, looking out onto a field of sheep, who would be some of my wildlife companions for the next few days. The decking area was vast, featuring a table and chairs, as well as a covered BBQ, which conjured images of enjoying an alfresco dinner with friends among the trees. But as my primary focus was some alone time, I filed that thought away for a later date and instead put down my yoga mat on the deck, ready for some morning stretches – all part of my digital detox itinerary.
Inside, the lounge was impressive – spacious and inviting, with an oak table and kitchen area at the back, with a large window looking out onto the forest. The bedroom followed the same formula of fusing natural elements with stylish furnishings, and I noted thoughtful extras, such as a backpack hung on the wall, ready for hikes, as well as water bottles and extra blankets in the bedroom. Stepping into Flycatcher immediately set the scene for a woodland adventure.
A welcome pack, with essentials like fresh bread, eggs, jam, and coffee, was placed in a basket on the kitchen table as another thoughtful touch. I’d also brought a few groceries myself and set about cooking dinner, which was easy to do with a fully-equipped kitchen. All that was left to do now was to light the log burner in the living area and settle in with a book for a few hours of relaxation.
Admittedly, this was not as easy as it sounded. The pull of technology is strong. While the concept here is not quite as extreme as, say, Unplugged cabins, where your phone is locked away in a box for the duration of the trip (and there’s pretty reliable phone signal in case it’s needed – I rang my significant others to reassure them I’d arrived safely), The Treehouses lend themselves to properly going off grid. And while the urge was strong to check in on Instagram, Gmail, and potentially download a new episode of my go-to Netflix show, the urge was offset by the pursuit of serenity – I’d come this far.
Instead, I turned back to the pages of the new Sally Rooney and let my mind drift away into another world. And it wasn’t long before the cocoon of Flycather’s plush bedcovers was calling my name.
Research suggests that looking at our phones before bed, however harmlessly, can heavily impact our sleep. A recent Norwegian survey indicated that each additional hour of screen time was linked to a 63% increase in insomnia risk and 24 minutes less sleep. Anecdotally, a colleague recently noted how tracking her sleep via an app led her to the realisation that, the nights she read before bed rather than reaching for her phone, her sleep quality vastly improved. I’m guilty of scrolling late into the evening, but the proof is in the pudding with this: my first night in the treehouse, I drifted off into a blissful, uninterrupted sleep and woke up feeling refreshed.
Day two: moonbathing and solo sauna sessions
Morning came, along with an insistent woodpecker who made me think I had an unexpected visitor. I jumped out of bed (quite literally with a spring in my step…must be the countryside air) and made my way onto the deck through the French doors in Flycather’s bedroom to take in the views. Dappled sunlight and the sound of the birds greeted me as I breathed in a sign of contentment; in the busy city, it’s easy to forget the power of nature when it comes to calming down.
First up was toast and coffee, which I ate sitting outside, enjoying a moment of calm. While it may sound dramatic, this was quite possibly the most delicious coffee I’d ever tasted. Perhaps it was the fresh milk (I’m assuming from a local supplier) that I heated gently on the stove while taking in the surrounding beech trees. Or the Coffee Masters coffees, which I noted to buy at home. Or perhaps the rush of endorphins that accompanied drinking it when I spotted two tiny red squirrels chasing each other in the branches above me. Whatever it was, I’m still thinking about it now.
I’d set myself an itinerary to get the most out of my time alone. A long walk, followed by lunch, then an afternoon sauna session, and I’d treated myself to a massage on the deck, which I’d highly recommend to enhance your experience if staying at The Treehouses.
The sauna at The Treehouses operates with a rope system to indicate when it’s engaged, allowing everyone to carve out time for a solo session or a session for two, if travelling with a guest. If the rope is pulled across the entrance, you’ll need to wait until it’s free. The sauna itself, which has an open back looking out on the woodland, is nothing short of magical, blending seamlessly with the surroundings. There’s also a plunge pool to cool off in afterwards.
Massages can be booked through Erica, The Treehouses’ on-site manager, who is also a trained Swedish massage therapist. It’s £75 for an hour, and you can opt for a full-body massage or back, neck, and shoulders. Massages take place on the deck, with the sounds of nature alongside a relaxing playlist. As my mind drifted away, the grip of my tech-dependence lessened; I could get used to living off-grid.
Yes, everyday life doesn’t usually involve massages and alfresco sauna sessions. But still, even just a short hiatus from checking my phone religiously allowed me to be more present in the moment. It sounds obvious, but we rarely put this theory into practice. I travelled across the country to find my liberation from my iPhone, but after this moment of enlightenment in the forest, I’ve been trialling a morning walk in nature, sans phone. The same rule applies, and the beginning of the day feels a lot calmer.
Evening called for a self-taught yoga session on the deck among the sounds of the forest before a relaxed dinner and early night. But not before a soak under the stars in the huge copper bath.
Day three: a fond farewell to life among the trees
All good things must come to an end. But in all honesty, I could have stayed for a week in my treehouse hideaway. Enraptured by the sounds of the forest and soothed by the calm pace of life, it was with great reluctance that I reentered civilisation.
After a hearty breakfast, using up the produce kindly left by the owners of The Treehouses, I fired up my engine and made my way up to the winding road past the river. During my stay, aside from a quick hello to a treehouse neighbour leaving the sauna, I didn’t see another soul, though I couldn’t help but wonder how other guests were spending their time in this woodland oasis.
The Treehouses are firmly bookmarked as a place to return to. Flycatcher is joined to another treehouse, Willow Warbler, via a rope bridge from the decking, and as I left, I pondered over how wonderful it would be to book out both these properties and gather on the deck with sundowners and a home-cooked feast. But this time, the goal was to experience this unique property alone, and I can affirm that there’s plenty of joy to be found in solitude, particularly in a place as beautiful as this.
The Treehouses: Need to know
From £245 per night (minimum two-night stay)
To book a visit, go to lanricktreehouses.co.uk
