'The Ultimate Den'

Being a mum of two gives me the chance to see life through the eyes of a child again. There is nothing my son loves more than making a den and his excitement is infectious. Whether he’s under the bed, in a tent in the garden or just sitting under a blanket with a torch my three-year-old is in his element.

Once we grow up can we still appreciate the joy of a den?

Travel is changing, the destination is not always the deciding factor when we book our next holiday. We are looking to enhance our experiences, find quirky - sometimes inspiring - accommodation. Something with a bit of childhood magic.

I’ve picked a few sensational destinations where you can find the ultimate, grown-up den.

A winter activity holiday is going to be jam-packed full of excitement during the day but with short daylight hours, why let the adventures set with the sun? Imagine watching the snow fall or see the awe-inspiring Northern lights while warm and cosy in a ‘Scandi-chic’ glass-roofed Igloo.

If the underwater world is your playground of choice the Maldives could make you the most glamorous castaway. Dine in a fully submerged restaurant or watch the fish beneath your feet through glass floors or partly submerged rooms. Later this year, the richest adventure seekers can stay in the first ever underwater bungalow. Enough to make your inner child scream with delight.

Ask any den expert under 10 and they will confidently tell you the best dens are always in the trees. South Africa is home to many boutique properties and lots of unique ones at that. One of my favourites offers five-star luxury stilted huts nestled in the forest canopy.

Once you tap into this sort of property it’s incredible what you can find. Something to suit every interest. Star gaze from a glass roofed pod in the Atacama Desert, stay in properties created within natural caves, built out of ice, a hobbit house or a yurt. Why stick with four walls when you can sit under a blanket with a torch!