Wilderness Reserve: Digital detox in style at this stunning Suffolk country retreat

The ‘digital detox’ is something many of us plan, but few actually manage.

A few days off from smartphones and screens to rebalance, take a step back and connect with nature.

The problem is, it’s easier said than done. We feel cut off without smartphones, the world is at our fingertips and everyone is ‘always on’.

In sleepy Suffolk, however, there’s a stunning hideaway where you can’t fail to disconnect.

Wilderness Reserve is a cluster of manor houses, converted barns and farmhouses set over 5,000 acres of the Sibton Park private estate, just two hours from London.

When Yahoo Style visited for a two-night stay in November, we spent a luxurious weekend in ‘The Walled Garden’, a jaw-dropping eight-bedroom conversion which was formerly Victorian bothies for the estate’s gardeners.

The ‘premium’ feel to the weekend started from the moment we arrived at nearby Darsham train station, between Ipswich and Lowestoft.

Staff from Wilderness picked us up in a vintage Rolls Royce, complete with its own drinks cabinet in the back. A classy touch which would be reflected in the rest of our stay.

On the evening drive through the sprawling grounds, you’ll be dazzled by the quality of stargazing.

Thanks to its lack of urban light pollution, Suffolk boasts crystal clear skies where stars truly sparkle. It’s a revelation for those wanting an escape from suffocating urban air.

But it’s the accommodation which is the real star of Sibton. Each uniquely property has been painstakingly crafted and lovingly furnished. The decor in every farmhouse and cottage is understated but luxurious.

And yes – if you really can’t resist your emails or a social media check-in, most have WiFi.

There are two country houses and several more farmhouses and cottages dotted around the estate, each with its own charm. Sibton Park itself is the grand 12-bedroom house dating back to 1827, while the Walled Garden, with its eight stunning bedrooms, features elegant glasshouse sitting areas and a sumptuous French limestone fireplace.

Elsewhere, there’s a converted cartshed which now has four bedrooms, the gate lodges and its ‘pepper pot’ follies now a one-bedroom underground retreat, and even a six-bedroom Tudor farmhouse with its own moat and hot tub.

The quirkiest property sleeps only two people – and it’s the ultimate digital detox. The thatched ’Hex Cottage’, in a meadow overlooking Sibton Park, has no electricity whatsoever. Think wood-burning stoves and cosy fires, where every meal simply has to be a candlelit dinner.

There are plans for more cute cottages in the next five years – including at least three more with no power.

Will Kitchener, from Wilderness, told Yahoo: ‘People want a rebalance in their lives, and Sibton Park is the little slice of England where you can relax in privacy.’

All the houses are identically-stocked. Wilderness provide the basics, but do it in style with Nespresso coffee, Neal Yard’s products, and Pashley bikes for a quick jaunt around the grounds.

A gorgeous oval outdoor pool, boating lake, secluded woodland and a tennis court are also on-site and looked perfect for the summer months.

Any group would have a wonderful rural getaway on the grounds of Sibton Park. Properties range in bedrooms from one up to six, to even bigger if you can afford the two large country houses.

Wilderness Reserve is a beautiful Suffolk bolthole where it’s impossible not to unwind. You will feel cut off, but trust us, you’ll love it.

MORE INFO: Wilderness Reserve website