Shacks Review: The Perfect Off Grid Dog Friendly Escape in Snowdonia

Transparency: We were gifted this break with Shacks, but all thoughts, observations, and comments are entirely our own based on our genuine experience.

Bella enjoying the view from the cabin - credit: smart bark

In this review, George, Carly and Bella the miniature Poodle put Shacks' luxury off-grid cabins to the test in Snowdonia - and discover whether disconnection really is the ultimate luxury.

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If you haven't come across Shacks yet, they offer a unique off-grid holiday experience with hand-designed cabins in secluded beauty spots across Cheshire and North Wales.

Founded by designer Harry and backed by the team behind Sykes cottages, they're focused on offering next-level off-grid living with luxury features like outdoor baths and fire pits and better still, your dog can come along for the adventure.

Our Verdict : If you work demanding jobs, love your dog, and can't remember the last time you properly switched off, Shacks dog-friendly collection of cabins is worth serious consideration. These luxury off-grid cabins deliver on everything they promise: genuine escape, thoughtful design, and the rare gift of genuine disconnection.

Perfect For:

+ Those needing a proper escape from demanding jobs

+ Couples seeking genuine digital detox and disconnect

+ People who love being outdoors and long dog walks

+ City dwellers looking for adventure

+ Anyone craving genuinely secluded space away from crowds

+ Dog owners who want their dog to be part of the experience, not an afterthought

Skip This If:

- You need a four-poster bed, swimming pool, or valet car parking (this is luxury, but it's off-grid luxury)

- You want to cook ambitious meals (two-ring hob = simple food only)

- Your dog is large (40kg+) and needs lots of space

- You have a dog with strong prey drive (sheep in surrounding fields)

- You need constant WiFi connection

Read on for our review or click here to browse Shacks' hand-designed cabins and book your own off-grid escape.

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Dog-friendly Shacks Review

Introduction to Shacks

George and Carly work full-time in London. The kind of full-time where 'full' barely covers it. Back-to-back meetings, tight deadlines, the constant low hum of emails even at 7pm. Throw in a dog who needs walking, a gym routine that's more about survival than luxury, and you reach a point where you realise you haven't actually stopped in months.

When Shacks asked Smart Bark if we'd review their dog-friendly cabin collection, George, Carly and Bella were the obvious choice. As new Smart Bark testers (they've already put dog harnesses through rigorous testing), they understand the exact tension busy professionals face: how to give your dog a proper life when your own life barely stops. That made them perfectly positioned to test whether a luxury off-grid escape could actually deliver the reset they desperately needed.

Shacks are not your typical holiday park. Not a cottage with a grudging pets allowed policy tucked away in the terms and conditions. Instead, Shacks is a collection of off-grid cabins where dogs aren't just welcome as an afterthought; they're woven into the entire experience from the design phase onwards.

Alula Shack in Snowdonia - credit: shacks

Alula is a beautifully designed off-grid shack tucked into the Welsh hills in Snowdonia National Park. The promise was straightforward: a break for people who rarely take them.

A peaceful escape where George and Carly could actually relax, enjoy some walking, where Bella could be properly off-lead, and where they could all collectively remember what it felt like to not be busy for once.

Shacks itself is built on a specific idea. Time in nature has been shown to reduce stress and support wellbeing for both humans and dogs. Long walks, new scents, fresh air, and the absence of overstimulation create a calmer rhythm.

dog-friendly, enclosed area around Alula shack - credit: shacks

The accommodation is designed around that principle. Off-grid living becomes part of the restoration, not a compromise.

Here's what their weekend at the Alula cabin in Snowdonia National Park actually looked like.

 

What's It Like Staying at Alula by George, Carly & Bella?

We'd been looking forward to this break for weeks, desperately. After months of relentless work, we needed to truly switch off and enjoy some walks in nature. Shacks made arriving seamless: great communication meant we drove straight from London to the car park on Friday with zero stress.

We'd driven 195 miles from London flawlessly. The final 100 metres? That's where we lost the plot. A dodgy path decision, bags in both hands, one miniature Poodle, and a dog bed later, we'd somehow turned a short uphill walk into an unexpected 200-metre expedition.

Spring at Alula shack - credit: smart bark

Once inside though, the scenic route became completely irrelevant. Exceptionally clean. Exceptionally cool.

The handwritten welcome letter for Bella set the tone immediately. This wasn't just about ticking a box marked pet-friendly. Someone had genuinely thought about what would make a stay special.

The little touches mattered. A polaroid camera. Welsh cakes, some basics like tea bags, coffee, salt, pepper, oil plus a telescope. The sense of arrival felt properly considered.

Shacks welcome letter - credit: smart bark

The interior cabin design is clever and restrained. A king-sized bed positioned perfectly to frame the enormous windows. Storage hidden under the bed.

Chairs that double as storage for backpacks. Every inch has a purpose. There's even a clever concertina design on the plate rack so it collapses when you need worktop space. Nothing wasted.

For Bella, there was plenty of room to move. However, if you're bringing a large dog (40kg plus), you might find the space more of a squeeze. The cabin is intentionally intimate, not palatial.

Bella inside Alula shack - credit: smart bark

The views are the real showstopper. 360° of Welsh hills, fields and trees. A couple of farmhouses in the far distance. No neighbours. Just landscape stretching out.

We woke the next morning to find sheep grazing right outside our window! That sense of being completely immersed doesn't fade.

The amazing views - credit: smart bark

There's a fan by the bed for warmer days, which we appreciated as the May sun streamed through those enormous windows.

The kitchen is honestly tiny, which is fine if you know what you're getting. A two-ring gas hob heats up fast. Well-stocked with everything you'd need for straightforward cooking: pasta dishes, omelettes, simple things.

Although anyone attempting a Sunday roast would be fighting a losing battle, and they'd probably regret it.

The kitchen area in Alula shack - credit: smart bark

The fridge is adequate, complete with a freezer compartment (ice for your G&T, essentially). If you're feeding fresh or raw dog food, the fridge should hold enough for a couple of days.

The cupboards hold a range of plates, cutlery, utensils, even a garlic peeler. We decided to cook a simple pasta dish one evening and it worked perfectly for our needs. A toaster would be a nice addition, but that's a minor quibble.

The lighting is thoughtful. Bedside lights, main lighting plus an outdoor light. In the evenings there are books on stargazing, maps, Scrabble and games. No digital entertainment by default.

That said, we did have a phone signal (which surprised us pleasantly), and we used it once to look up a trek up Snowdon and book a table at a local restaurant.

Digital detox - credit: smart bark

The rest of the time we chose to switch off. Wonderful.

And then there's the telescope. An optional extra you can book, and genuinely worth it if you're the kind of person who loves exploring things. We absolutely loved it.

The outdoor space is where Shacks has really nailed it. A fire pit that's easy to light and keep burning, stocked with logs and natural fire lighters.

Sunset and firepit - credit: smart bark

You can sit round it in the evenings with a real sense of escape. A table and chairs in the enclosed garden area, which we relocated to the fire pit one evening for dinner. The ground's uneven, so you'll need to shuffle chairs around to find a level surface (nobody wants to tip backwards mid-meal).

Oh, and there's one more thing we didn't get round to, an outdoor bath (hot tub-style) waiting for those wanting to bathe under stars.

Honest confession: we didn't use it. We were too mesmerised by the fire pit, too tired after Snowdon, and frankly, too comfortable where we were sitting.

Are Shacks Cabins Good for Dogs?

Bella's welcome pack demonstrated some genuine thought. Training treats, a long-lasting natural chew (perfect for settling a pup after a long journey), two bowls, a blanket, poo bags and even a doggy tea bag.

Dog welcome pack - credit: smart bark

The natural chews were particularly clever because they gave Bella something properly engaging to work through while settling into a new space.

Someone had genuinely thought about what would make a dog's arrival special and calming. This is the difference between tolerating dogs and actively designing for them.

The enclosed garden area is crucial. An off-lead space where Bella could wander, sniff and explore without a lead attached. She settled in immediately, happy and playing.

Offlead space - credit: smart bark

After a trek up Snowdon on the second day, she was so exhausted she slept through our evening and loved chilling on the bed with her head resting on the window, watching the world outside.

That moment where you watch your dog completely relax in a new space is worth a lot.

Admiring the view or watching the sheep? - credit: smart bark

There is one thing to note. The gate has a small gap underneath. Bella, being a tiny Poodle, managed to flatten herself and wiggle under. We simply placed a log there and that solved it.

If you have a small, determined dog, this gap is worth knowing about before arrival. It's an easy fix, but worth flagging for future guests.

There are sheep in the surrounding fields, visible from the cabin. Bella became increasingly interested in them as the weekend went on, with a bit of barking.

If you have a dog with strong prey drive, or one that struggles around livestock, this is worth considering. For Bella it was manageable, but it's part of the picture. The sheep stay outside the enclosed garden, so off-lead time inside is safe.

This corner of Wales is genuinely brilliant for exploring, from gentle riverside walks to proper mountain adventures. We decided to go ambitious: Snowdon, an hour's drive away.

Tackling Snowdon - credit: smart bark

If you and your dog fancy a challenge, it's absolutely worth it. The paths are well-maintained and clearly dog-suitable, judging by the number of other dogs we passed on the way up, you won't be alone.

Inside the cabin, keeping things clean after walks was straightforward. Hard surfaces where they need to be. Muddy paws welcome.

The cabin is designed for actual life with a dog, not like some Airbnb’s where everything's off-limits.

Entrance at Alula shack - credit: smart bark

This practical approach makes a real difference to how relaxed you feel about letting your dog be a dog.

For those who'd rather eat out, the local village of Llandrillo is just 25 minutes away.

We ate at the dog-friendly Berwyn restaurant, and honestly, the experience of someone else cooking while we actually relaxed was its own kind of luxury.

Fresh food, no dishes, no planning. Bella was welcomed like a regular, and we got an evening off from self-catering. We can thoroughly recommend it.

What Is It Really Like Staying Off Grid?

Being off-grid sounds romantic in theory. In practice, Shacks holiday cabins simply work.

Solar panels in a nearby field, power everything. We had no electricity issues whatsoever. No compromises on comfort. You simply don't notice the off-grid setup, which is rather the point.

The composting toilet was what made us most anxious before arrival. Would it smell? How does it actually work? The instructions on the lid take a few minutes to work out.

We'd have appreciated more detail on the website to set expectations, so new guests know what they're getting. It's genuinely different from what you're used to.

Bathroom with compostable toilet - credit: smart bark

We were pleasantly surprised. No smell. None. It actually works brilliantly.

The eco-credentials are continued through the bathroom. Hand soap, gels and shampoos are all genuinely eco-friendly. Bumbee toilet rolls (100% bamboo, sustainably made).

The shower was as luxurious as any you’d find in a premium hotel and dressing gowns are provided.

The whole experience of being off-grid somehow added to the luxury rather than detracting from it. No scrolling. No checking notifications. No social media. Just time to think and breathe.

It's genuinely restorative. There's something resetting about stepping away from connection. The only thing that broke the spell slightly was the radio provided, which felt a bit at odds with the overall quiet, restful feeling.

Weather in late May meant we didn't test the wood burner, but logs and wellies are stocked nearby should you need them.

One small point but worth mentioning. If you're planning a winter break, an earlier check-in time would genuinely help (currently 3pm), particularly if you want to settle in before dark.

Verdict

Would we return? Absolutely. This is the kind of genuinely memorable experience that busy people rarely take time for, but genuinely need.

For couples juggling full-time jobs with dog ownership. For anyone burnt out and in actual need of disconnect. For people who love the gym and running but forget to breathe. Shacks delivers.

It's not comparable to a hotel, and that's the point. Yes, it costs more per night than a basic mid-range hotel room. But you're not paying for a room. You're paying for the whole experience.

The views. The thoughtful design. The fire pit evenings where nobody's checking their phone. The silence. The sense of being completely immersed in landscape.

Plus the knowledge that your dog isn't just tagging along, they're genuinely part of the luxury. Happy, safe, settled, and probably the most relaxed they've been all year.

Adventures in North Wales - credit: smart bark

What stands out most is that Shacks has looked at this from a dog's perspective. The welcome pack. The off-lead space. The durable interiors. The nearby walks. It's the shift from allowing dogs to actively designing for them that makes this genuinely different.

In 2025 alone, Shacks hosted over 768 dogs across their stays. That's not accidental. That's a deliberate design choice baked into everything.

We left, sadly, wanting to return. Bella definitely would. And that's the real verdict.

Loving our mini-break at Shacks - credit: smart bark

Browse Shacks' hand-designed cabins and book your own off-grid escape

View Shacks

Related Articles

If Shacks doesn't appeal to you, take a look at some of our other in-depth reviews of dog-friendly accommodation:

• Lovat Parks Green Hill Farm Holiday Village Review - Our review of a dog-friendly holiday park in the New Forest, featuring dog amenities, nearby walks, and honest verdict on whether it's worth booking.

• How to Choose the Best Dog-Friendly Cottage - A guide to finding the right accommodation for you and your dog, from garden security to local amenities.

• Taking Your Dog to France on Le Shuttle - For those looking to extend their dog-friendly adventures beyond the UK.

  
  

Preparing for your trip:

• Best Dog Travel Accessories - Everything you need to pack for a dog-friendly break, tested with real dogs in real situations.

• Dog Car Sickness: Causes and Solutions - If your dog struggles with long drives, this guide covers prevention and remedies.

Happy holidays from the Smart Bark Team – and happy off-grid adventures to anyone booking with Shacks!