Anyone who has spent a long weekend cooped up in a caravan bickering with their family might question the desirability of holidaying in a confined space, but a new trend in the UK aims to make a virtue of just that. In meadows and woodland clearings across the country, small wooden cabins, some not much bigger than garden sheds, are springing up to offer stressed city dwellers a way of reconnecting with nature.

The tiny homes movement began in America in the 1990s and champions the idea of “pared-down” living as a means of escaping from consumerism and the shackles of mortgages, and leading more fulfilled lives. It has also been touted as an affordable solution to the housing crisis. But now tourism is waking up to the potential of tiny homes to give people a taste of the simple life without having to commit to a permanent lifestyle change.

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On a peaceful smallholding on the Isle of Wight, Helen Cunningham is putting the finishing touches to three wooden cabins which she will rent out under the banner Tiny Homes Holidays. The cabins are designed to sleep four people and will have king-size beds, a kitchen, shower room and toilet, and dining area – all shoehorned into a space no bigger than 6x4 metres.

“We’ve been fans of micro-living for some time, having downshifted from a four-storey London townhouse to a small two-bedroom house on the Isle of Wight,” says Cunningham. “We just wanted to see if we could offer something with the same ethos for holidays that might spark people’s imaginations.”

Cunningham insists that the compact nature of the houses is part of their charm. “Being cosied up together is a great way to reconnect with your friends and family,” she says. “And I think people genuinely do have an interest in responsible tourism and like the idea of having a low footprint on holiday.”

She says the cabins will feel uncluttered and airy with lots of space-saving tricks, such as multi-purpose furniture and a mezzanine sleeping area. Eco-friendly measures include solar power, composting lavatories and water recycling, while guests will be able to try their hands at gardening, yoga and workshops in everything from creatively reusing clothes to breadmaking. A two-night stay will start from £185.

Builder Mark Burton was one of the first to spot the potential of micro homes and launched Tiny House UK six years ago, selling handcrafted wooden two-storey cabins. He originally saw them as an affordable way for students and young people to get on the property ladder, but says that 50% of his business now comes from clients wanting to offer holiday accommodation, from farmers looking to diversify to homeowners wanting to make a bit of extra money by renting out a space in the garden on Airbnb. His recent commissions include a 2.4x4.5-metre cottage on the Fresh Winds campsite in East Sussex and an off-grid cabin on a remote croft in Clashnessie Bay in Scotland.

The idea of a cabin in the woods to escape to at weekends is one that is well entrenched in parts of North America, Scandinavia and eastern Europe, but has never really caught on in the UK, largely due to a lack of affordable land. Tom Dixon of Canopy and Stars, which specialises in quirky accommodation from yurts to treehouses and cabins, believes this explains why “glamping” holidays have taken off in this country more than any other.

“We’re a very populated country and land is expensive, but I think that people still want that weekend escape and that’s why we are seeing people booking multiple weekends with us. Last year we had someone book with us eight times in a single year.”

Cabins are by far the most popular option in the Canopy and Stars collection and the company has doubled the number of cabins featured on its website since 2015. Prices range from around £80 a night for the simple Caban Cader, sleeping four, on a farm in Powys, up to £155 a night for Idaho Cabin, a romantic couples retreat in Sussex. Canopy and Stars also has a consultancy business, Timber!, to help would-be cabin owners realise their dreams.

The founder of Go Glamping website, Garri Rayner, reports a similar story. He has taken on 30 new glamping clients in the last month, most of whom are offering cabins or shepherd’s huts.

The love affair with cabins shows no sign of waning with televisions shows such as George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces and websites such as Cabinporn.com.

“The log cabin in the woods is a dream for a lot of people,” says Dixon. “It’s a chance to reconnect with what’s important, to switch off, to enjoy each other’s company, to play and to rejuvenate. It’s such a positive thing. And the built structure is only a part of the experience. What’s outside is just as important. We’re promoting a holiday in nature. It’s a much more holistic experience than simply booking a hotel room.”