Man cave locations: Where men go when you can't find them

Where do men go to achieve that much-needed 'me time'?.

A study of 2,000 men found that the most popular places to escape and gather their thoughts include the car, the study and the spare room.

The report also found as many as three out of four men admit they head to their secret location to escape daily routines and enjoy a bit of 'man time'.  

A quest for peace and quiet, needing a sneaky nap or trying to avoid an argument were the some of the biggest reasons for men needing a retreat.

The research, commissioned by shelving firm BiGDUG, also found the average bloke disappears for a break eight times a month, with each trip typically lasting an hour.

A spokesman for BiGDUG said: 'There's a clear trend for men nipping away to places to get a bit of time alone away from the routine.

'Clearly that space is valued and they get up to quite a mixture, from working in the shed to watching sport or simply just having time to think.

'As in every relationship, having your own space is important and as long as men are supporting their wives and girlfriends and seeing she gets her time too, then time spent in the garage, study or wherever most comfortable is a good thing.'

When quizzed on what they specifically get up to when on their own, most men said they just think and 'potter about', with nearly half saying they didn't get enough time alone in an average day.

The alone time can be addictive - with some blokes even going so far as to deliberately lie to their partner about where they are going, opting to go to their favourite place and letting the other half believe they were somewhere else.

The BiGDUG spokesman added: 'The idea of mischievous men sneaking away for a bit of time away from the mother in law or partner's friends perhaps might not be well received by wives and girlfriends.

'But as long as men are pulling their weight and receptive to their partner's needs then coming back refreshed and happier can only be a good thing.'