Nutchel Les Ardennes - Belgium

As much as we love big city life, there is something unmatched about retreating into nature. Especially if this comes with dreamy cabins. Stay in instead of going out, slow down and disconnect - even if only for a few days. It might sound cliche but it’s the best we’ve done in a while. We’ve escaped the everyday at the newly opened Nutchel Forest Camp Les Ardennes.

When it comes to socially distant vacationing, Nutchel Forest Camp might just be the way to go. Tucked away in the fringes of Belgium’s eastern Ardennes, this gorgeous forest camp is where we would isolate ourselves over and over again. It’s the type of place that lets you experience the great outdoors at its best, knowing your very own cosy cabin awaits after a long hike or a dip in one of the chilly forest lakes.

Cosy cabins

Nutchel Forest Camp sits on a generous piece of outdoor land with a humble 26 cabins that seamlessly blend in with the glorious greens surrounding it. The cabins range from Sweet Cabins for two to the larger Classics and Tree Trunks that sleep up to four and six. Some of the Sweets and Tree Trunks even come with a private hot tub. Even though the cabins might seem simple and stripped-back, they are surprisingly well thought through and tastefully designed. Expect cosy nooks, a classic wood stove, gas lamps, a hot shower, a well equipped kitchen with gas stove and oversized comfy beds with thick bedding. Floor to ceiling steel framed windows flood the cabins with natural light and sleek wood-paneled walls add to that true lumberjack feel. In addition each cabin has a wooden outside deck with a seating area, a gas barbecue and string light bulbs to finish things off.

The Slow Life

At Nutchel it’s all about living life a bit more simple and slow paced. Going back to nature and enjoying the little things, with books and boardgames over TV and WiFi. We woke up to birds chirping outside and to soft morning lights peeking into our cabin that still had the subtle savour of wood smoke in it. We took extra time just because we could. And because Nutchel made powering down rewarding. We lit the wood stove to heat up the cabin, brewed ourselves fresh coffee in the Bialetti percolator and cooked extensive dinners after one of the hikes that leave straight from the camp grounds. Come night time we cosied up the cabin with petroleum lamps and read books from the outdoor hot tub. Our point: slooow is the way to go.

Nutchel - Tree Trunk

The surroundings

You’ll find the forest camp just outside the village of Martelange. Bordering Luxemburg this location is perfect for scenic hikes at the nearby park of La Haute Sure Foret d’Anlier, swims at Lac de la Haute-Sure or visits to one of the many chateaus. On a 10 minute drive from Nutchel you’ll find the organic farm La Ferme des deux Fontaines, offering organic foods, vegetables, honeys and pasta (open on Friday and Saturday).

Back on the camp grounds you’ll find a small honesty shop at The Chalet, which serves as the main reception. This is also the place to rent (e-)bikes, grab a coffee and chat with the friendly staff or gather around the camp fire with fellow guests. We said it before and we’ll say it again: no better place to escape the everyday than here Nutchel’s forest camp, whether in summer or winter.

Nutchel Les Ardennes, cabins from EUR 180 for two nights.