The rise of the sleep retreat (and why our rooms are perfect for a sensational rest)

Caution: our rooms may make you drowsy

Imagine booking an escape that isn’t about sightseeing, adrenaline, or even socialising. It’s about one thing: giving yourself permission to sleep - deeply, luxuriously, without guilt. Welcome to the age of the Sleep Retreat UK. 

In a world of burnout, there’s a quiet revolution happening: people are booking not for what they’ll do, but for how deeply they can sleep. Maybe you are one of these new breeds of staycayers who pays to rest (frankly we don’t blame you - as hoteliers we never get enough sleep!)? Well, you’re not alone; sleep tourism is growing fast, with 38% of Britons saying they rarely get enough sleep to function well during the day. 

At Outbuildings, sleep is one of the things we do best. Although our boutique farm hotel is not officially a ‘sleep retreat’, all our rooms, cabins and huts have been designed with sleep-enhancing elements so you can drift in and out of your sleepscape, without an alarm clock and awaken only when your body insists. We also have a VIP package created just for deep rest: The Winter Lie-In.

Here are our not-so-secret ingredients that make our rooms ideal for a sneaky sleep retreat this year:

1. Our organic, hand‑crafted mattresses are made by Naturalmat

One of the core pillars of a restorative sleep is the quality of the mattress. We only use the very best down here on the farm - thanks to our partnership with a local supplier and sustainable mattress pioneer: Naturalmat (the first B Corp certified bed and mattress company in the UK).

Naturalmat are based on the banks of the River Exe in Devon, not too far from us, and handcraft their mattresses from natural and organic materials, such as coconut coir, wool, mohair, natural latex, and carefully selected fibre layers. Because they combine natural fibre cores with breathable wool, the mattresses are self‑ventilating, preventing overheating and promoting air circulation. 

Naturalmat’s mattresses are made in their Devon workshop by a team of local craftspeople and when you sink into one of our beds topped by a Naturalmat mattress, you can feel the difference instantly. The mattresses are not just plush, but intentionally designed for deep, healthy sleep. 

2. Enjoy total darkness thanks to our handmade heavy, thick curtains

Light is one of sleep’s arch‑nemeses. Even dawn glow or moonlight can disrupt REM cycles. A true sleep retreat must block it all. 

That’s why almost all of our rooms use thick, heavy curtains (handmade by Karen and Becky here on the farm). Whichever room you stay in - The Coop, The Shelter, The Pen or one of our other showstoppers - you are shielded from most ambient light by floor-to-ceiling curtains. They cocoon you inside with no light leakage (unless you want to draw back the curtains and see the sun rise, that is).

3. Wind down on a non‑working farm in the countryside

Noise at night is another sleep killer. But we have a natural advantage: yes, we are a farm hotel but we are set on a non-working farm so - once you're tucked up inside one of our rooms - you can enjoy the ease of a rural location at night.

You may, of course, hear organic sounds that surround us 24/7: the birdsong, the wind in the trees, or distant field ambience. But they become part of the lull, not disruptive to your relaxation.

4. We only use premium bedding, for tactile luxury

Beyond the mattress, every layer above it must deliver softness, breathability, and a touch of indulgence. In our rooms we dress our beds with British Wool duvets from Devon Duvets. 

These award-winning duvets are individually hand-crafted from start to finish in the company’s Devon workshops, and specifically designed to help you sleep peacefully. The wool is 100% British, sourced from farms in Devon and the South West from farmers who love their flocks. So you can sleep easy - no need to count sheep.

Added to this is the bed linen we use. Our sheets and pillowcases are made by Tielle, masters of crafting bedding for the world’s most prestigious hotels. Made with 100% ethically-sourced cotton, you enjoy five-star silkiness and a luxury thread count as you slip between the sheets. Staying awake is almost impossible.

Happy slumbers,

The Outbuildings Team

The Whitehead Family, Outbuildings Dorset