Hushpitality is the new travel buzzword …
Featured image; bedroom by Anthony Gormley at Beaumont Mayfair.
According to a recent report, 56 per cent of travellers are seeking destinations that are calm and quiet. “Hushpitality” responds to a move away from overstimulated travel, toward less movement and better sleep. Hotels are creating more intimate environments, from soundproofed rooms to isolated eco-luxury cabins in places like Scotland, rural Finland and lesser known “anti-tourist” regions.
Namibia is on my bucket list, particularly Sandfontein, a wilderness reserve recognised for its seclusion, silence and dark skies. Days are spent on guided walks tracking wildlife – from oryx and springbok to ostrich and giraffe – or on the river kayaking, fishing or drifting downstream. Guests camp beneath the stars, in the stillness of the desert. This is African travel stripped back to its essence where the luxury is space itself. @sandfontein.lodge
Closer to home, one of Scotland’s most ambitious wildlife projects is WildLand in Sutherland where you can stay in Kyle House, a beautifully designed one-bedroom Highland cottage. On the agenda are coastal walks, watching the tide go in and out, long lunches, fireside reading and candlelit dinners. @wildland.scot
In Co Antrim, Dunluce Lodge’s new “sleepcation”, designed around rest and relaxation, makes the most of the hotel’s location overlooking the Atlantic. Whiterocks Beach is accessed via a private walkway, while golfers can play a round of golf at the adjacent Royal Portrush Golf Club. A Seabody Drift & Dream ritual in the hotel’s woodland spa complements the sleep experience. Hypnos beds layered with Cheviot wool pillows by local brand Ava Innes and duvets filled with cashmere help with temperature regulation. @dunlucelodge
In West Cork, Dromgarriff is a 50-acre oakwood rainforest, brimming with waterfalls and sub-tropical flora. It’s home to five beautifully decorated houses available to rent, each offering tranquility in an extraordinary corner of the country. @dromgarriff
PERFECTLY PAIRED WITH …
READING: The Sartorialist Milano, Scott Schuman, Taschen, €87.
RETREATING: A photography retreat at Inish Beg, West Cork. @inishbeg
CHECKING OUT: The Hawthorn by Galway Bay. @thehawthorn_hotel
