Five Swedish rural retreats

Aurora Retreat, Swedish Lapland

This lovely old wooden vicarage and bakery, 100km north of the Arctic Circle, has been converted into a rustic guest-house with six simple rooms. The owners, Mikael and Maya, live here with their two children and are committed to sustainable practices and protecting the biodiversity of the region. They recycle all their water, conserve energy, use composting toilets and provide wholesome, mostly vegetarian and organic food.

Aurora Retreat, Folketshusvagen 37, Junosuando, Pajala, Norrbotten (00 46 9783 0061; auroraretreat.se). Doubles start at Skr790 (£66), room only.

Oaxen Krog, Stockholm Archipelago

The Prince Van Orangien is an elegant white houseboat moored next to an award-winning restaurant on Oaxen island in Stockholm's archipelago. Diners can book a cabin to sleep off the gourmet five-course menu – or slump into one of the boat's deckchairs for a snooze. The hotel is small and quirky, with wood-panelled cabins decked out with oak, ebony and Brazilian rosewood trimmings, Belgian slate and five types of marble.

Oaxen Krog, Oaxen, Morko, Sodertalje, Stockholm County (00 46 8 551 531 05; oaxenkrog. se). Double cabins (available 30 April-31 October) start at Skr1,400 (£117), room only.

Tiseno, Ostergotland

There is no traffic on the island of Tiseno in Lake Tisnaren, south-west of Stockholm – just peace and relative quiet (there are cows, sheep, horses and chickens). A ferry will fetch you from the mainland for your stay in the rambling 200-year-old farmhouse. It has four charming bedrooms and can sleep eight to 10 people, or for total privacy there is also a cabin sleeping four in bunks on another little island. You can swim, fish for crayfish and potter about in boats.

Tiseno Gard, Tiseno, Lake Tisnaren, Ostergotland (00 46 151 22054; tiseno.se). Weekly rental starts at Skr7,500 (£627), the tiny cottage Skr2,500 (£209).

Villa Sjotorp, Vastra Gotaland

Wrought-iron bedsteads, old wooden floors and no televisions: this cosy guesthouse, above, on the west coast has 14 charming rooms. There are also spectacular seaviews and a path leading down through the garden to a small beach. You can go sailing, fish or walk in the surrounding forests.

Villa Sjotorp, Ljungskile, Uddevalla, Vastra Gotaland (00 46 5222 0174; villasjotorp.se). Doubles start at Skr1,200 (£100), including breakfast.

Fabriken Furillen, Gotland

This designer hotel on an old limestone plant has six "hermit" cabins, as well as 17 rooms in the main building. The little huts have bleached wood, checked bed linen and simple furnishings. The hotel rooms combine comfort with industrial features.

Fabriken Furillen, Larbro, Gotland (00 46 498 22 30 40; furillen.nu). Doubles start at Skr1,950 (£163), including breakfast. Hermit cabins from Skr5,555 (£464) for five nights.