The Best Cabins and Cottages in the Catskills, New York

It doesn’t get much more stylish than this: a 24-room getaway straight out of the pages of Architectural Digest, with sharp angles, minimalist wood surfaces and big windows overlooking the mountains. Book into your own private cabin – suspended above the leaf-littered forest floor, hugged by trees – and you’ll get all the wilderness magic without having to sacrifice creature comforts. Once you’ve had enough solitude, enjoy a sun-drenched brunch in the neighbouring restaurant or relax in a hot tub in the pristine spa.

Design geeks will love the vibe at this mid-century modern cabin: set over three storys, with big windows, sleek black exterior and an unmistakable triangle roof. It’s one-of-a-kind, built in the 1960s, with lake views and a quarter-acre (o.1ha) of land to call yours. It’s been fully restored to make a stylish open-concept stay for up to six guests (plus dog). Inside is just as stylish as out, with an eye-catching orange wood-burner in the lounge as the Instagram-worthy cherry on the cake.

If you’re traveling with family, this three-bedroom pad in Saugerties, sleeping six, has all the essentials, including a washer/dryer, smart TV and baby crib. The 20 acres (8ha) of land take in meadows and a big lawn – cue daily games of football – as well as a charcoal grill barbecue. The place is chic, with an open-plan kitchen and diner, mid-century-modern stylings and sleek tiling in bedrooms. After dark, pull up a chair on the spacious deck and stargaze.

Coddled against a lush wooded backdrop, this private-feel stay in Jeffersonville has the latest smart furniture, from the marble-topped dining table to furry throws and a button-back sofa. Sleeping six people in three bedrooms, it’s a great choice for friends who like communal cocktail-making sessions (in the open-plan kitchen) and movie nights (there’s a projector). There’s a fire pit for that gooey American campsite ritual, toasting s’mores.

Loved-up couples looking for a country escape such as this studio, in a lake house. Start your mornings on the picturesque dock, watching ducks glide by as you sip your coffee. Head out for a cheek-reddening walk, then return to cook up a romantic feast using Le Creuset cookware, which you’ll devour on rattan stools while draining a bottle of New York wine. Keen to explore? You’re just five minutes from the little mountain towns of Roscoe and Livingston Manor.

In a thicket of towering trees is this little lodge, a real taste of the rural mountain life with its pale-wood and stone vibe. Not that you’ll be roughing it, exactly; the deal includes cable TV, a gas barbecue and a collection of books, as well as a hearth for traditional log-popping fires, rocking chairs and checked blankets. Take a wander down to Frog Hollow Brook to gaze at the meandering waters and banks surrounded by pine and hemlock trees, all to yourself (except for the wildlife).

How does a frothing hot tub overlooking the mountains sound? That’s one big draw of a stay at this Fleischmanns cottage, sleeping four in two bedrooms. Another is the neighbouring outdoor fire pit, where you switch off, mesmerised by the flicker of flames as you soak. The cozy interiors are very attractive too; the stylish contemporary kitchen, metro-tiled bathroom and bean bag chair in the lounge all induce instant relaxation. Head to the loft to peruse the record collection and find tunes to soundtrack your stay.