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The warm weather is taunting us and we’ve never been more ready for a holiday.
While we’re tentatively starting to look at international travel again, for the time being we’ll be looking to our back doorstep instead which means socially-distant staycations are the way forward this summer.
Lucky for us, the UK is home to more than enough beautiful boltholes.
From a remote corner of the Isle of Skye, to your own private beach near Land’s End, here are the best secluded cottages to consider for this year’s summer holiday.
A glamping pod in the Scottish Highlands
With 160 acres of pine forest between you and another human being, this pod on the shores of Loch Rusky is about as remote as you can get. Wild deer offset the romantic setting and inside, a king size bed is wrapped in white linen complete with Scottish wool blankets and soft sheepskins line the floor.
Sleeps: 2
From £135 per night, kiphideaways.com
A cottage on a private island in Newquay
Perched on its own island above Towan Beach, only accessible by rope bridge, you’ll be lulled to sleep by the waves below this chic cottage. It also offers a 25 per cent discount if there’s just two people staying.
Sleeps: 6
From £1,306 for a long weekend or midweek break, boutique-retreats.co.uk
A remote beachside cottage on the New Forest coast
Sitting pretty on the Hampshire coastline, this cottage is surrounded by enchanting woodland trees and overlooks the sparkling Solent waters. When the tide rises, public footpaths are covered and you’re left with the water all to yourself.
Sleeps: 6 + 3 kids
From £265 per night, coolstays.com
A coastguard’s cottage on the Devonshire coast
Perched on Devon’s most southerly tip, guests here will be welcomed by a sea breeze. Complete with a snug, three seaside bedrooms and a delightful garden that tumbles down a coastal path towards the calming waves, it’s the ideal base for a week on the coast.
Sleeps: 5
From £175 per night, sawdays.co.uk
A luxury cottage on five miles of private beach in Kent
Easy to get to from London, The Butlery is tucked away within a gated estate in Sandwich Bay and boasts more than five miles of private beach. The home is modern, with a rainfall shower and colourful interiors – including a blue velvet-clad love seat.
Sleeps: 4
From £850 per week, uniquehomestays.com
A cosy barn in the Cornish countryside
A wildly romantic hideaway for two, the ‘Little Barn’ was once a tumbled down stone farm store and now a stunning lover’s bolthole. Tucked away on Cornwall’s north coast, the barn is close to some of the county’s famed beaches and is perfectly placed to soak up the rural countryside.
Sleeps: 2
Three nights from £996, cornishgems.com
A Japanese-style onsen dome in the Welsh countryside
Described as a ‘chic hybrid of Welsh farm and Japanese forest retreat’ fforest is a 200 acre farm in Wales, set to reopen in July, with eight different accommodation options. Our favourite is the onsen dome, with its Japanese-style bath house, outdoor kitchen and dining area and a plush king-size bed. It’s probably best to go with your SO if you’re planning on bathing true onsen-style.
Sleeps: 4
Three nights from £1,000, coldatnight.co.uk
A 17th century farmhouse near Loweswater, Cumbria
With a stunning lakeside location, this 17th century farmhouse is full of character and lived-in charm. Away from the normal Cumbrian crowds, explore the ancient woodlands or go cycling, boating and sight-seeing through the district during the day and spend time watching films or playing board games in the spacious living area come nightfall.
Sleeps: 8
Seven nights from £735, sallyscottages.co.uk
A cosy stone cottage in the Brecon Beacons
Nestled in the Black Mountains, within the Brecon Beacons National Park and surrounded on all sides by open countryside, the House on the Hills has three bedrooms in the main house and two in the converted barn. Spend evenings soaking in the hot tub after a day exploring the dramatic Llanthony Valley.
Sleeps: 10
Seven nights from £1,819, qualitycottages.co.uk
A restored mill near Dartmouth
A 400-year-old restored mill filled with old-world charm is the perfect place to spend a week with your closest nine pals. Sitting pretty in the Devonshire countryside, the property is just a stroll away from Blackpool Sands and inside, expect modern fixtures with a rustic touch, open fires, white-washed beams and outside you’ll find a wood-fired hot tub.
Sleeps: 10
Seven nights from £5,995, uniquehomestays.com
A quaint cottage on a Cornish farm
After being away from family and friends for two months, all we’d like to do is have a weekend (or week) reconnecting in person. This cosy granite and slate-walled cottage boast three bedrooms on the ground floor and open plan living on the first. Beaches and coastal walks are nearby to soak up that much-needed sea air.
Sleeps: 6
From £99 per night, kiphideaways.com
A Shepherd’s cottage on the island of Eilean Shona, Scotland
Newly opened and about as far away from other people as you can get, this romantic bolthole is one of the only dwellings on the island of Eilean Shona in the west of Scotland. Inside, you’ll find modern décor with a roll top bath, furnishings sourced from Marrakech and rooms awash with natural light.
Sleeps: 2
From £900 for seven nights including return transfers to the mainland, eileanshona.com
A restored farmhouse on a Cornish beach
Positioned just above the wide sandy sweep of Sennen Cove, with Land’s End nearby, this farmhouse has been transformed into a modern and cosy home. Spend your days on the beach and nights soaking in the in-room roll-top bath.
Sleeps: 8
From £899 per week, coolstays.com
A restored 19th century hunting lodge in the Herefordshire woodland
Dating back nearly 200 years, to 1835, Mrs Higg’s cottage was occupied by Higgs until about 60 years ago after which the forest reclaimed it. A bit of gentle landscaping later and it’s now a lovely cosy cottage sitting on 3,000 acres of woodland, primed to explore.
Sleeps: 4
From £155 per night, qualityunearthed.co.uk
A remote hideaway on the Isle of Skye
Tucked away on a remote corner of the beautifully rugged Isle of Skye, this cottage is perfect for escaping the everyday. With room for six adults and two children, it’s a stylish place to reconnect with loved ones.
Sleeps: 8
From £1,400 per week, coolstays.com
