Our most romantic French cabins

Instant calm descends as you recline on the wooden deck at Caru Cabin with an aperitif in hand, gazing out over the still waters of the pond. The hand-crafted cabin is utterly charming with little works of art dotted around, a tree stump coffee table and a canopied double bed with a magical skylight above. A good night’s sleep is practically guaranteed when you drift off to sleep spotting constellations and wake up to the morning sun. The day keeps getting better as you fling open the French doors and take a shower in the open air, overlooking maple groves. You’re a short drive from some of the most historic, picturesque towns in the region, including Bordeaux, Saint Emilion and Bergerac. Travel is always better when it reads like a wine list. Once you’ve had your fill of adventuring, scuttle back for a romantic meal for two and a glass of something local.

It doesn’t get much more romantic than a getaway to a mini floating chateau crowned with fairy tale turrets. Fit for royalty, Chateau Biron has been designed by treehouse artisan extraordinaire Rémi Becherel and features an outdoor hot tub, king sized bed and luxury coffee machine. The owners deliver a daily hamper, packed with continental breakfast goodies so you can stay cuddled up in bed awaiting fresh croissants. Part of a twenty-seven acre Dordogne estate there’s a shared pool on site open from May to September, bike hire, table tennis and pétanque. If you want to eat at the chateau, delicious chef-prepared meals can be ordered a day in advance. Walks, tennis, hot air ballooning and waterskiing are all available locally and guided tours can be arranged to get the inside scoop on local culture, cuisine or wine.

Utterly secluded, Woodman’s Cabin is a slice of rustic French paradise. There’s no need to share your partner with another soul, but the eclectic cast of local wildlife might attract their attention – from kingfishers, frogs, red squirrels and deer to the very tame carp in the lake below. The off-grid cabin is self-contained and eco-friendly with hot water coming from the wood burner, solar-powered lights and shower and a compost loo. Get your daily exercise with a paddle across the lake to Duck Island on the handmade raft or hire a tandem bike from owner Di and breeze through the picturesque countryside stopping for the occasional selfie. For honeymooners, Di can arrange champagne, flowers, a delicious ‘cabin cuisine’ dinner on the first night and fresh croissants, bread and jam every morning.

Stay in Kate Humble’s off-grid bolthole, a lovingly restored fishing shack in the Périgord-Limousin National Park. Kate and her husband fell in love with the region on holiday, and their remote retreat combines home comforts with some pleasingly quirky design features like a tea light chandelier made from glass yoghurt pots! Overlooking an idyllic lake, you can take the raft out for a romantic paddle, try catching your supper with the fishing rods, forage for firewood or simply lounge in the hammock on the deck. Surrounded by forest and farmland, there are off-road cycle tracks and walking trails leading off in every direction and a wealth of villages, caves and chateaux to explore. The weekly market at Piegut-Pluvier is definitely worth a visit to stock up on local specialities for a leisurely dinner under the stars.

Deep in the woods, Little Rock appears in a clearing as you wind through a forest trail past lily ponds. The deck overlooking the pond is where you’ll spend most of your time – it’s the perfect spot to read, sunbathe, loll in the hammock and whip up relaxed suppers on the BBQ. If you fancy a change of scene, drift out onto the pond on the little raft, jump in the lake for a swim or head to the nearby rivers for a spot of canoeing. The owners can even lend you a portable cinema for a romantic private movie night in the woods. For an experience you won’t forget, the velorail network is about an hour away, where couples can power bicycle-like contraptions along (disused!) train tracks, taking in epic views of the Dordogne.