HUNTER X KIP HIDEAWAYS
The Great Escape: Kip x Hunter on Finding Freedom in the Wild
HUNTER X KIP HIDEAWAYS
The Great Escape: Kip x Hunter on Finding Freedom in the Wild
In celebration of our Kip x Hunter competition, we’re exploring what it really means to escape the everyday. Whether it’s a spontaneous weekend in the wild or a slow week spent tucked away in a cabin, there’s something deeply grounding about stepping off the grid, swapping city noise for open skies, and routine for rhythm.
To capture that feeling, we caught up with the co-founder of Kip Hideaways, Sarah de vere Drummond, the curated collection of small, soulful places to stay across the UK, to talk about what makes a truly memorable countryside getaway, from wild swims and woodsmoke to the power of space and stillness.
When you think of a “great escape” to the countryside, what does that look like for you?
For me it’s when the motorway signs drop away, the roads get narrower, and you finally lose signal. There’s a little rush of freedom in that. I love arriving somewhere that feels tucked out of sight, a place where the view does most of the talking.
What are your must-pack essentials for a week away in nature?
Proper coffee, non-negotiable. A thick, cosy jumper that always ends up smelling of woodsmoke. And snacks for the drive because “ten minutes to go” in the countryside usually isn’t.
How did Kip Hideaways start?
I’ve always been drawn to small, thoughtful places that feel part of their surroundings. Years ago, I was forever texting friends links to cabins and cottages I’d found, saying, “this one’s special.” But there wasn’t a single site that focused on that kind of stay, the places that make you exhale the second you arrive. So I co-founded Kip to do exactly that: share only the really special hideaways I’d genuinely love to stay in myself.
What makes Kip Hideaways so unique?
For me, Kip has always been about the experience. We only list places that feel genuinely special, where the details have been thought through, but never over-styled, and where you arrive and immediately feel at home.
A lot of booking sites feel like scrolling through endless, samey options. With Kip, we wanted the opposite: a small, considered collection you can trust. If it’s on Kip, it’s because it has a story, a sense of place, and that feeling that your trip is going to be memorable before you’ve even unpacked.
How do you like to spend your time when you’re surrounded by countryside or coast?
Slow mornings, always. Then a long walk, often with no plan other than to see where the path goes. I love finding those unexpected corners, a cove you didn’t know existed or a field full of wildflowers. If there’s water, I’ll usually dip at least my feet in, even if it’s freezing.
Outdoor style: function or fashion?
I keep it simple: jeans, layers, and boots that can handle a muddy track but still look fine at the pub. I don’t like feeling kitted out; I just want to be comfortable and ready for whatever the day throws at me.
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