Built for Getting Lost: How Hiide Crafts Comfort in Portugal's Unspoiled Wilderness

Vagabond Haven
Sep 4
8 min read

An interview with Marcus Southon, co-founder of Hiide Cabins

Picture this - you are driving down a dirt road that is seemingly leading to nowhere. Then suddenly through the cork trees, perched on a hill, is a rectangular wooden cabin in dark wood. You haven’t seen another building or person for a while, so you know you’re alone here. Park up, put your luggage in the trolley and walk up to the cabin. From the terrace you

get a view down the cork valley, it’s evening so the light is starting to change orange. By the time you step through the door and see how well equipped the cabin is, you know it’s the perfect place to fully disconnect for a few days. Every item has a use and the design is modern and minimalist. As the sun sets, you finish your BBQ and can feel your shoulders drop. This is what it means to slow down and appreciate some time just for you in one of Hiide's off-grid cabins.

Trot, one of the first two cabins, is located near Valada - about an hour from Lisbon. Nestled on the Tagus River, it greets you with wide-open water views and a private island where horses roam and birds skim the surface.

Marcus, can you tell us how you, Andrew, and David came up with the idea for Hiide? What inspired you to create off-grid cabins in Portugal?

Hiide Cabins started when we first moved to Portugal. We spent all our spare time exploring different corners of the country and began noticing how beautiful and remote it was. Especially the nature of Portugal, that feels so wild and untouched. Often camping is the only way to experience these special places and sleep out under the stars. But we saw an opportunity to bring the comfort of a modular cabin to guests who love nature but didn’t necessarily want to camp. People want more nature in their lives and Portugal felt like the perfect place to offer people that.

How did your past corporate jobs influence the way you designed Hiide?

We all knew the toll that living in a high-pace environment can have on you. Anxiety, stress, overthinking, forgetting the simple pleasures of life. We created Hiide as a deliberate escape from this always-on lifestyle. Slowing down in life, even just for the weekend, is perhaps something we have all forgotten how to do.

Hiide’s motto is “Built for getting lost.” What does that mean to you, and how do you hope guests experience it?

Off-grid cabins have the advantage of being flexible enough to put in remote and beautiful locations, away from crowds and the tourist trail. We wanted people to be intentional about ‘getting lost’ from their normal routines and being somewhere they are totally isolated.

Everything you need, nothing you don’t — a full kitchen in a tiny footprint.

Can you explain what “slowing down” really means at Hiide? How do your cabins help people disconnect from everyday life?

Slowing down is more than just taking on less activities, it's a mindset shift to being more present in what you’re doing right now. In our modern lives, we are often caught in between thinking about the past or making plans for the future. Slowing down at a Hiide means putting all that aside and spending quality time with yourself or a loved one.

Your cabins are off-grid and in remote corners of Portugal - how did you find these first two locations, and what made them the right choice? What are the key criteria you consider when selecting a new site for a cabin?

Portugal is not short of land or nature, but we really wanted the first two locations to be the greatest level of remote and peaceful. We talked to a lot of landowners, drove a lot of dirt roads and suffered a few scratches along the way. The obvious criteria is away from manmade structures and noise while still maintaining access for a hire car. But the main one is how immersed in nature the location makes you feel. Do you feel comfortably lost?

Is it easy to find locations in Portugal? What are the challenges?

There is a lot of land in Portugal, but finding the right locations can be difficult. Some of the most beautiful spots are hidden deep in nature and can be too inaccessible for your average guest without a 4x4. So it is often a balance of nature, beauty and accessibility.

Pillow-to-river: wake to water and the quiet outside.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced when starting Hiide, and how did you overcome them?

Selling directly to guests outside of Airbnb and the main booking platforms. We really wanted to build a personal relationship with our guests in the hope they would become fans of Hiide, our cabins and what we stand for. Today more than ever, with direct booking tools and social media, it is possible to reach your customers. But there is a lot of noise to compete with, so yes that is a big challenge to get your message through and to the right people.

What role does nature play in shaping the overall Hiide experience for guests?

It’s everything, it’s the main character. Being immersed in nature is why the cabins feel so special. Nature has the ability to completely disconnect you from modern anxiety and overthinking. It opens you up and makes you appreciate small things. Portugal’s wide open landscapes can make anyone relaxed.

If a guest could only do one thing during their stay to truly “slow down,” what would you suggest?

Take a long evening to prepare and cook a BBQ. Watching the colours change in the evening into sunset is enough to slow anyone down.

How do you imagine a typical day at Hiide for your guests? Do you have suggestions for making the most of the “slow down” experience?

Slowing down can mean different things to different people. Some people want a chance to completely switch off, grab their book and sit on the terrace. Others want to get out there and explore the surrounding area with our hiking, biking and kayaking trails. Slowing down should be about breaking you out of your normal routines and thinking patterns.

Powered by the sun, Hiide's cabins are truly off-grid and self sufficient.

Are there any unique local experiences or activities near the cabins that you hope guests will explore?

Plenty. For example we have a touring Kayak at one of our cabins that gives you immediate access to explore the river and a private island. We curate the best things to do in and around our cabins. We partner with local businesses and individuals. The best part is every cabin is different and has its own unique set of experiences.

What’s your favorite feature of the cabins so far, and why?

It’s hard not to be completely in love with the view from the bed windows. They are panoramic and take up a whole corner of the cabin. At night you can lie in bed and watch the stars. In the morning, you can sit in bed with a coffee and watch the sun come up.

What are some of the small touches or details in the cabins that you think really make a difference for the guests?

We found that a guestbook has been a really awesome addition. Guests take a polaroid selfie and leave a message. When new guests arrive they read other people’s messages and feel a shared connection with the cabin, the nature and the feeling it leaves behind.

You recently partnered with Vagabond Haven for your cabins. What made you choose us as a supplier, and how has the collaboration helped you get Hiide up and running?

Vagabond Haven are the perfect partners. You really couldn’t ask for a more helpful, professional and informative supplier. It goes without saying that the end-end experience of designing, ordering and manufacturing the cabin is seamless. But I think the most valuable quality of Vagabond is their experience with tiny homes. They have seen every scenario in most countries and can guide you with advice, recommendations and issue fixes. At the end of the day, you are spending a lot of money on a cabin you probably won’t see until it arrives. So you have to put a lot of trust in your supplier and Vagabond has earned that trust hundreds of times over.

From wood-stove warmth to waterside calm — all in one glance.

How does being off-grid change the way guests experience nature compared to a regular holiday rental?

One of the biggest reasons our guests love staying in the cabins, is they can be in the middle of nature, without neighbours or nearby buildings. This would not be possible without the off-grid element of the cabins.

If someone asked you why they should choose Hiide over a traditional hotel or Airbnb, what would you say?

A Hiide cabin allows you to sleep under the stars, away from noise and tourists. A private corner of the world, all to yourself. What Airbnb or Hotel can offer something like that.

You’ve been operating for a couple of months now - what early feedback have you gotten from your first guests? Anything that surprised you?

We have been really overwhelmed by the beautiful feedback guests have been leaving for us. So many people have said it is like no other place they have stayed. The most surprising thing was how quick they were to spread the word on our behalf, whether posting on social media or just telling their friends and family about Hiide.

Can you share a memorable story or guest experience from one of your cabins that truly captures what Hiide is all about?

Recently two guests from Lisbon stayed for their 5th year anniversary. They sent us the most beautiful message about how much it meant so much to spend such dedicated and undistracted time with each other. It gave them a chance to reflect on the last 5 years and really bond even closer about the journey they have been on. I don’t believe an experience like that happens outside of a cabin in nature.

Morning in the valley - views from a Hiide cabin.

Are there any guest experiences or feedback that made you rethink something about the cabins?

Absolutely, given the off-grid and remote elements of the cabins, we’ve had times when something has been missing or a guest hasn’t followed the Cabin instruction manual. We believe (with guests) it’s about setting the right expectations from the beginning. Remember you’re going into the middle of nature, every now and then might be an insect that gets trapped inside the cabin haha.

For someone visiting Hiide for the first time, what do you hope they take away from the experience? How do you want guests to feel after leaving Hiide?

Slow - like time stretched out and they could really appreciate life and the simple things.

How do you envision Hiide growing in the next couple of years? Will there be more cabins, more locations, or other surprises? And what is the long term vision?

Follow our story @hiide.cabins on Instagram. More locations, more cabins, more hidden spots that show off the beauty of Portugal.

How do you see off-grid cabins like Hiide shaping the future of nature-based tourism and responsible travel?

People are craving nature more than ever. They don’t want to be crammed into boxes surrounded by other people. They want unique experiences that have a meaningful effect on their wellbeing. Cabins and nature tourism in general will be an antidote to a modern world of notifications and distraction.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone dreaming of starting a business like Hiide, what would it be?

Do it, start small. Opening a hotel is a huge undertaking - lots of money, staff and uncertainty. But opening one cabin on a remote piece of land - well, that is very achievable.