“When we’re in nature with children, we activate curiosity, imagination and attachment all at once.” Tanith Carey, child development expert, counsellor and author, explains why families are craving off-grid escapes in 2026.
Tanith Carey, author and child development expert
This Easter, as families begin planning their spring escapes – and with The Magic Faraway Tree coming to the big screen on 27 March – we’re reminded of the growing desire to step away from screens and into shared adventure.
Across our collection, interest in off-grid, low-tech villas is rising. And according to child development expert Tanith Carey, this instinct makes genuine developmental sense.
“When we parents are in nature with children, on a neuroscience level, we are activating three of their brain systems at once: curiosity, imagination, and attachment. It’s this combination which creates family memories that last a lifetime.”
In a world of fast-paced stimulation, nature encourages something radically different: presence, imagination, and unstructured play. And children, it seems, are ready for it.
The magic of going beyond the ordinary
There’s something symbolic about Enid Bylton’s The Magic Faraway Tree returning now in the age of Wi-Fi. Director Ben Gregor has described the adaptation as a response to modern childhood – including children’s “retreat into screens” – while celebrating the joy of being outdoors and together. The film itself declares this context: the teaser trailer features a young Joe on a train to his new house in the countryside. As the camera shifts from a blanket of green trees to him and his siblings, flicking through books bored and grumpy as teens, he asks pointedly, “Will there be Wi-Fi?”
Their return to nature seems to come with a greater sense of freedom, adventure and, of course, the magic of the faraway tree.
But will it be the same for your children? Tanith says that time in nature doesn’t just entertain children; it makes them more resilient – but perhaps most importantly, she reminds us:
“Children love holidays in nature not just because they are going somewhere new and exciting, but because they get more of your undivided attention.”
And in truth, that might be the greatest luxury of all.
Our favourite off-grid homes, and what to do when you get there
In light of our partnership with The Magic Faraway Tree, we thought we’d pick our favourite homes that celebrate the heart of the film. Places that offer more than beautiful bedrooms and generous pools, but encourage shared imagination. Read on for our top holiday homes for off-grid living, along with Tanith’s expert tips.
It doesn’t get more off-grid than your own private island.
Treasure Island is a rare kind of escape: an entire Greek island estate reached only by boat from the Attica coast. No neighbours, no passing boats dropping anchor for lunch, no background noise but the sea itself. Here you get the quiet thrill of knowing the horizon belongs only to you.
Part of our Sustainable Collection due to its low environmental impact and complete seclusion, this is barefoot freedom at its most extraordinary, where “switching off” is inevitable.
From £65,611 per week | Sleeps 20
Off-screen idea: Create a family treasure hunt: draw a map over breakfast, hide clues along the shoreline, and end the day telling stories, each person adding a new chapter.
Tanith’s tip: “Frame screen-free family time as a reward, not a punishment: talk about how lucky you all are to be putting away screens so you can enjoy the real world together. Even if your child is old enough to have a phone, remember that they will always prefer undivided connection with a parent, if you are attuned and non-critical. Worried they still won’t want to give it up? Bear in mind they are far more likely to accept limits when everyone in the family is doing the same.”
Through ancient stone walls and deer-grazed lawns, Château des Rameaux rises from the hillside like a story half-remembered from childhood.
With over 800 years of heritage tied to Crusaders and the De Lusignan dynasty, this is a home that invites imagination. Yet beyond its noble past lies something beautifully simple: space to roam, to build dens in the woodland, and watch mist lift from the Dordogne River while hot air balloons drift silently overhead. Cue storybook magic.
From £5,475 per week | Sleeps 15
Off-screen idea: Spend an afternoon building a woodland den from fallen branches. Visit it daily. Add to it. Let it become your own Faraway Tree headquarters.
Tanith’s tip: “Give them freedom: Look for spaces where children can run freely, bump into things and make noise without being told off. As their stress levels drop, so will yours.”
Set among rolling vineyards and silver-green olive groves, Casale Eleganza is a beautifully restored Tuscan farmhouse.
A short drive from San Gimignano yet blissfully removed from the rush, this countryside retreat invites long dinners, slow mornings by the pool, and afternoons that stretch lazily without the need for plans. Off-grid living is woven into the very landscape: kitchen gardens, the earthy scent of sun-warmed soil. It’s the kind of place where children rediscover mud pies and imaginary creatures beneath olive trees, and where adults realise how little they miss the tinny ping of a notification.
From £11,232 per week | Sleeps 10
Off-screen idea: Teach children how to ride and care for horses in the Tuscan countryside, letting them build confidence in the saddle before celebrating with gelato in San Gimignano.
Tanith’s tip: “Bring nature to life by modelling imagination. With younger children, you might pretend a pebble you find is a dragon’s egg or a leaf floating on water is a fairy boat. Start the ball rolling with your own ideas. Then let them take the lead and come up with their own stories about what they see in the natural world.”
Perched high above the medieval town of Motovun, this restored 17th-century organic estate is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and truffle-rich woodland.
With six hectares to explore, children are free to wander within nature’s boundaries, returning daily to favourite hidden corners as the light dims across the Mirna Valley.
From £5,152 per week | Sleeps 10
Off-screen idea: Let children hunt for Istrian truffles with a local guide and dog in the surrounding woodlands, learning to follow scents and dig carefully, then celebrate their treasures back at the farmhouse kitchen with freshly picked tomatoes, herbs and fruit from the villa’s vegetable garden and trees, gathered after wandering through the olive groves and vineyards.
Tanith’s tip: “Find special places: If you’re on holiday in a place with lots of access to nature, choose a place nearby you can return to each day, so your child develops a relationship with it. For example, you could find a particularly interesting tree and give it a name. Perhaps it could become your ‘own magic faraway tree’? Pay it a daily visit to see what the squirrels or birds are up to there or imagine together what happens in the highest branches.”
Nestled in a secluded valley near the Picos de Europa, Casa Rio Zardón offers a different kind of luxury, defined by stillness. Nestled in a valley near the Picos de Europa, this wonderful rural house enjoys a secluded position, the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful break with family and friends, while also serving as a great base to explore the beautiful Asturian countryside.
From £5,940 per week | Sleeps 10
Off-screen idea: Teach children how to skim stones or build miniature river dams. Let them experiment, fail, and try, try again.
Tanith’s tip: “Time spent in nature also builds resilience in kids. Whatever activity they’re doing – whether it’s building a den, or making a sand sculpture, it helps create a can-do attitude that carries over into other areas of their lives.”
Beneath the protective gaze of the Southern Brenta Dolomites, Baita Michela offers a rare kind of stillness. In the heart of Val Algone, days unfold backdropped by forest and meadows. Built with care where a traditional mountain dwelling once stood, this charming Alpine cabin is all thoughtful craftsmanship and rustic mountain character.
From £3,246 per week | Sleeps 6
Off-screen idea: Invite children to create their own “Magic Faraway Tree” adventure in the surrounding forest, choosing a different woodland trail each day as if it leads to a new enchanted land of waterfalls, wildlife and mountain tales.
Tanith’s tip: “Link nature to their storybooks: Connect what you’ve seen in nature to stories they already love, such as Owl Babies, Stick Man, My Side of the Mountain or The Magic Faraway Tree books. As you read, imagine stepping inside the pages with them or spotting things in the book you saw in the real world that day.”
Making off-grid holidays work
If you’re wondering whether children will resist the change, Tanith offers reassurance.
“In 2026, children’s brains are adapting to fast-paced digital stimulation. Notice what happens for you too when you’re more relaxed and emotionally available. As your stress levels go down, you’re likely to notice that theirs do too.”
The key, she says, is unity. When the whole family commits – not just the children – the experience becomes a shared adventure rather than a restriction.
The power of switching off
As Easter approaches, we’re reminded that holidays don’t have to be louder, faster, or more connected to be memorable.
Sometimes the most powerful moments happen climbing a tree, getting muddy, inventing stories, and realising that imagination has always been waiting, just beyond the reach of Wi-Fi.
Oliver’s Travels is the proud partner of The Magic Faraway Tree, coming to cinemas on 27th March. For related stays, explore our Magic Faraway Tree page for inspired escapes, from rural retreats to storybook stays in châteaux and castles. And because we’re anything but ordinary, we’ll make sure that no matter where you go, there’ll always be a little magic of your own.
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