Slow Stays | Naturbyn, Sweden
I’ve had Naturbyn on my radar for several years, quietly plotting a Swedish adventure when I’d finally get the chance to stay in one of their floating cabins. When I booked flights to Gothenburg and tentatively began planning a West Sweden road trip for this past summer, it was right at the top of my list of places I wanted to stay. It’s not cheap, is completely off grid, and I wouldn’t recommend staying here if you can’t swim or get seasick - but it is by far my favourite place I have ever stayed.
As someone who loves wild swimming, I was in my element. The first thing I did once we’d shipped our belongings over to the cabin via canoe was to strip down to my bikini and descend the ladder into the lake. I honestly lost count of how many times I was up and down that ladder, swimming among the lily pads. The most memorable dips were an evening swim as the sun set behind the trees, and an early morning swim that was the best way possible to wake up. When I wasn’t in the water, I was lounging on the deck of the cabin, cooking dinner, stoking the fire or reading my book. Or taking the canoe out to explore the wider lake just around the bend. There was no electricity, no distractions - just the surrounding nature.
The cabin itself was less rustic than I was expecting. It’s completely off grid, anchored by a chain which allows the raft the freedom to spin around (giving you constantly changing views) and has several large glass windows that keep the interior feeling light and airy. There’s a very comfortable bed, a woodburning stove, a small fridge with ice blocks and a table with two chairs inside. Outside, you have two wooden benches and a fire pit complete with pots, pans, crockery and cutlery. You are also provided with a container filled with water fresh from the spring and your own canoe. There’s a compost toilet around the side of the cabin, and the lake is your bath.
In the evening, we lit a fire and cooked a simple dinner on the fire, huddling around the flames for warmth once the temperature dropped (only ever so slightly). After another venture out in the canoe to watch the sunset, we sat on the deck, dangling our feet into the water while sipping wine. Once dusk set in, the stars came out in abundance, providing us with a beautiful display. I’d been a bit nervous about nipping to the toilet in the middle of the night, but the stars guided my way. And then early in the morning, I set my alarm for sunrise, only to find instead an eerie mist creeping over the lake. If you stay here, I strongly advise waking for sunrise, as the sight of this soft, low-lying mist illuminated by the rising sun really was the icing on the cake of this magical getaway. I’m already plotting when I can return for another stay in this very special place.
