Hot tubs, cycling and cosy cabins: a woodland stay south of Calais

Chic boltholes set amid towering pines make a relaxing base for families to explore wild beaches, chateaux and Boulogne’s fishy attractions

The Japanese concept of forest bathing – or shinrin-yoku – has been embraced by Europeans for some years now as a way to get back to nature, away from the demands of daily life. It’s not supposed to involve actual bathing in a hot tub decorated by fairy lights while sipping Crémant de Bourgogne, but who am I to say “no” if that’s on offer?

This is Bain de Forêt, a pair of smart cabins set between the towering pines of Hardelot-Plage, just 45 minutes’ drive south of Calais. Each cabin has a Nordic bath set under its own little wooden gazebo; the site is so peaceful, it is ideally suited to a romantic getaway à deux. But seeing as both the A-frame-style La Cabane and the lower-rise cabin Le Refuge (where we are) sleep four, we couldn’t really leave the two kids (aged nine and 11) behind. As we arrive on site for our three-night stay, everyone seems happy. My husband puts the fizz in the fridge to cool, the kids take the wooden cover off the Nordic bath, and I gaze up into the verdant canopy and breathe a huge sigh of relaxation.