There is something about Poacher’s Cabin from Canopy & Stars that reminds me of an earthy burrow hidden amongst the trees.

A winding entrance feels like you’re crossing an invisible boundary into a secret wild world. You can see why owner Kate Humble fell in love with it.

The tiny cabin in the woods is off-grid and off the beaten track. Water for the kitchen comes from the lake right outside. Flickering candles in recycled glass yoghurt pots and a wood burning stove are your only light and heat.

It’s a place to enjoy the essentials. Listen to the woodpecker and cuckoo. Watch the wildlife around you. Swim or paddle in the still, chilly water and warm up by the fire afterwards.

For a few rainy May days we stoked the fire, read books, sat on the porch and watched the ripples on the lake. In sunnier, drier moments we split logs, lit a campfire and lounged in the hammocks.

The cottage is a beautifully crafted nature hideout with everything you’ll need from binoculars to field guides. The interior woodwork, locally hand-cut and reclaimed, adds to the rooted feeling. A cottage in the woods, of the woods.

Overlooking the lake hollow, your eyes are always drawn back to the water and the surrounding trees. In heavy rain or dappled sunlight, there is always movement to break the stillness. A swoop, dive, splash or hop.

The habits and rhythms of Périgord-Limousin wildlife became ours too. We broke the water with breathless splashes. Ran back to the crackling stove, mugs of hot tea in wet hands. Back to the cosy warmth of the burrow.

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