The Red Cabin has opened its sixth UK location at Drove Orchards on the edge of Thornham in north Norfolk. The new off-grid unit provides a secluded stay with a private sauna and hot tub, situated within walking distance of local beaches and pubs.
Off-Grid Design and Amenities
The cabin is built on a wheeled chassis, which eliminates the need for concrete foundations. It is constructed using timber, plywood, cork, wool, and hemp. The structure relies on solar panels for electricity, with power stored in batteries. Water is supplied via the mains, while the toilet is a smart dry system that bags waste with the press of a button.
Guests can heat the cabin using a wood-fired stove. The unit also features a built-in sauna and a hot tub on the deck. The design draws on Japanese and Scandinavian influences, aiming for calm rather than cosiness. The interior includes a kingsize bed, a compact kitchen, and a large picture window facing the woodland.
The location is set in a quince orchard. Guests have reported seeing muntjac deer in the area, which feed on windfall apples. The cabin is positioned to ensure privacy, with trees providing a natural screen from neighboring properties.
Local Attractions and Access
Thornham Beach and the Holme Dunes nature reserve are a half-hour walk away. Visitors can reach the site without a car. The nearest train station is King’s Lynn, and the Coastliner bus stops outside the orchard. From the coast, guests can walk to RSPB Titchwell Marsh and Brancaster Staithe.
Drove Orchards includes a farm shop, independent homewares store, antiques shop, vintage clothing outlet, and wine merchant. A cafe, pizzeria, and fish and chip shop are also available on site. The Lifeboat Inn in Thornham, a 16th-century pub, serves local drinks and seasonal food.
The Red Cabin founder Tally Rix works with landowners and tenant farmers through the National Trust to select sites. Two more cabins are scheduled to open soon at Wyken Vineyards in Suffolk and Rathfinny Wine Estate in East Sussex. The company aims to help farmers diversify their income.
Cabins sleep up to four people. Prices start at £220 per night. More information is available at the redcabin.co.uk website.
Source: The Guardian
