Les Cabanes de Graville

What a splendid French setting this is: in the grounds of a 13th-century château once home to the noble Melun family, this site is set among a woodland inhabited by all sorts of wild critters, from pheasants, peacocks and owls to rabbits, wild boar and roe deer.

This is a verily peaceful wildlife haven in Vernou-la-Celle-sur-Seine, 94 kilometres from the lights and sights of Paris and an easy 111 kilometres from the edge of Fontainebleau Forest, famed for its excellent bouldering opps.

It’s safe to say that you’ll have an exceptionally relaxing time around here: to start proceedings off, there’s no need to lift a finger in the morning – breakfast is included and delivered direct to your door in a wicker hamper between 8:30am and 9am for feasts among the trees. If you fancy venturing out safe in the knowledge that luncheon is sorted, picnic baskets filled with seasonal local delicacies like stuffed cabbage, boar and foie gras are also available to order 48 hours before your arrival date, designed and cooked by the site's skilled resident chef, Blandine.

As for leisure time on site (aside from eating), you can spend it at the estate’s horse riding centre, or if you’d rather hotfoot it around on your own two pins, there are heaps of woodland walks to be had and wildlife-filled nature trails to explore.

For extra relaxation factor, all accommodation comes without without water and electricity: candles and lanterns are supplied, an oil stove is provided between 1 November and 31 March, and timber is available to keep the nights cosy with fires in the woodburning stove between 1 October to 30 April.

As for amenities, bathrooms in the cabins consist of a dry toilet and a lovely old-fashioned washbasin and pitcher for hand/face washing and tooth brushing. Hot showers can be had over in the château.