Disconnect. Slow down. Breathe deeply. Be in the moment. In our fast-paced, tech-led lifestyles, never has it been more vital to escape from digital distractions in our downtime. Cue the rise of digital detox holidays.
In Amsterdam, they’ve even launched an official, ‘Offline Club’, with an increasing number of digital-free cafés and hangouts where you can be creative, meet people, slow down and refocus.
Here at Simply Sea Views, our version of the offline club is time out in these rugged and remote coastal locations where you can swap 5G for five-star scenery, WiFi for wellbeing, and screen time for special time with your loved ones.
Gardenstown, Scotland
Reboot and reconnect on the wild and rugged northeast coast of Scotland, where you’re guaranteed peace, quiet and patchy reception along miles of lonely beaches.
Base yourself in the pretty little fishing village of Gardenstown, where stone cottages huddle around a wave-gnawed bay, and there’s little to do except soak up the solitude, take windswept strolls along the waterfront and pop into the ‘wee shoppie’, gallery and tea shop down by the harbour. Pure bliss.
Stay in the Seafront Cottage nestled on the shoreline. With the ocean just ten feet from the windows and frequent dolphin sightings, you’ll be much more focussed on the views than Netflix from this cosy abode that was once a fisherman’s net store.
Porthgwarra, Cornwall
Despite gracing our telly screens in the BBC’s recent Poldark series, Porthgwarra is one of the tiniest and most remote little villages tucked in Cornwall’s Penwith Heritage Coast.
Strike out along the staggering coast path with seabirds and seals for company, and soak up real-life Insta-worthy scenery from dreamy white coves to rugged cliff tops. Instead of turning to your screen for entertainment, watch a play with an ocean backdrop at the Minack Theatre, or feast your eyes on contemporary art at the Tate St Ives.
Escape to Cove Cottage in Porthgwarra in Cornwall, and swap early-morning phone scrolling for sunrise sea dips and coffee at the water’s edge.
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Wales
Jutting into the Celtic Sea and rated the second-best coastline in the world by National Geographic, Pembrokeshire flaunts 186 miles of magnificent coastline, studded with over 50 beaches, soaring cliffs, mystical sea caves and historic landmarks. How’s that for grabbing your attention away from your screen and into the moment?
Squirrel away in a character cottage for two in the seaside hamlet of Porthgain, where you can castaway on a kayak, dip in the magical blue lagoon, or throw a crabbing line off the harbour wall and watch the world go by. The ideal location for a digital detox by the sea.
Isle of Harris, Scotland
In our experience, there’s nowhere more sublime to slow down and get away from it all in the UK than on the Outer Hebrides. Float away to the remote outpost of the Isle of Harris, where highland cows outnumber cars on the road, deer roam on white-sand beaches, and golden eagles soar above rugged peaks. Phone reception is patchy, to say the least, so you’ll find a map, walking boots and a woolly hat are far more useful than a mobile phone in these parts.
While you can connect to the WiFi at this contemporary family retreat beside the sugar-white sands of Hushinish, you’ll be far too preoccupied by the wild walks, turquoise waters and sandy-toed lifestyle to plug into digital distractions.
Bamburgh, Northumberland
When you conjure up an image of the Northumberland coastline, it’s the vast, sandy beaches and Bamburgh Castle that first spring to mind. You see, on this wild stretch of coast, there are few distractions other than long, wild walks and this iconic fortress – making it a serene location for a digital detox.
Even when night falls, there’s no need to turn to digital entertainment because you’re on the edge of Northumberland National Park – England’s first and largest International Dark Sky Park and the perfect spot for stargazing.
Ditch your screen and get lost in a good book in one of many fantastic, laid-back holiday cottages in Bamburgh.
Jurassic Coast, Dorset
Disconnect from the digital era and dial into the ages when dinosaurs roamed the earth on the Jurassic Coast. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to mile-upon-mile of fossil-rich beaches, where you can hunt for belemnites and ammonites, climb some of the highest cliffs along the south coast of Britain, and fire up your imagination without the assistance of technology.
Enjoy the best of beach life and fossil hunting from a family apartment on West Bay. This apartment boasts beach views and direct access to the Jurassic Coastal Path.
Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland
Why not perch yourself on the edge of Europe in Ireland’s County Kerry, far from tech-led trappings, where the ocean, peaks and lakes fill your view and the salty air fills your lungs? Slip into a slower pace of life dictated by your natural surroundings, swap screen time for scenery and clock up hours in the Great Outdoors, hiking and biking in wild landscapes with limited connectivity.
If you’re tempted to switch on your screen when you retreat to the fireside at this secluded cottage with mountain and ocean views, turn your attention to the glistening bay views or a game of tennis instead.
Sea Palling, Norfolk
On the edge of the Norfolk Broads, the serene and secluded Sea Palling beckons you to disconnect and explore the coastal and woodland scenery of the scenic Norfolk coastline. Embrace the limited mobile reception as you delve deeper into the landscapes – beachcombing, canal boating and seeking out natural distractions such as sea dips or the sauna box at Sea Palling.
Escape to a home-away-from-home in 12 acres of woodland, close to the beach and with a waterway at the end of the garden. One of many holiday homes in Norfolk which are perfect for a digital detox retreat.
Book your digital detox on the UK coast
Browse our collection of coastal cottages beside the beach. Once you’ve selected the perfect destination to disconnect and unwind, switch off your phone and take a screen-free seaside holiday.
Note: This is just a selection of destinations we recommend for a digital detox. However, almost all of our properties have WiFi, so if you really do need to connect during your time away, there’s Google, film nights and your favourite tunes at your fingertips.
