Beaches and rockpools, cream teas and hanging planters overflowing with blooms; wild swimming, cocktails and nights so late the sun trips over the horizon before we’ve even dared to leave the conversation to slide under the covers. Dancing. Fish and chips. Kaleidoscopic festival flags and the reverberating beat of bass slowly humming in the distance. Laughter, sunsets, coffee dates and sandals. Ice lollies and the thick scent of sun cream. Filling the car so high with children and luggage that there’s no space to see out of the rear-view mirror. Warm nights and paddling pools. Clear skies and sparkling stars.
With foreign travel limited, the UK is seeing a revival of love; a rediscovery of its marvels and hidden spots, exploration within hometowns and holidays taken no further than the next county over. As affection for the staycation settles in, it’s time to rally the troops and secure your dates for next year. From homes hanging over the sands of some of Cornwall’s most popular beaches to cottages hidden on the shores of Scottish lochs, below you will find some of our most sought-after properties, still with some availability in summer 2022.
Ivy Cove
Settled at the top of a sweeping field which tumbles down to the sea, this south Devon home is summer holidays, Famous Five style. In one direction, the South West Coast Path rambles to pretty Mothecombe beach, while in the other, the boating village of Noss Mayo tempts pub lunches and hunting for treasures in the harbour at low tide. Inside Ivy Cove the living is easy with a roaring fire and sumptuous sofas, while the sea-view hot tub washes off any aches and pains from your South Hams adventures.
Sleeps: Up to four
Looking for a larger self-catering stay in Devon? Try Elderwood Manor.
Alba Beach House
If there could ever be a dream location for a UK summer holiday by the sea, Alba Beach House is it. A balcony overhanging Porthmeor Beach invites sundowners with the most enviable view in the whole of Cornwall, while famous St Ives magic pours through every window. The finest way to spend a day here? Stretch into the morning with a sunrise dip, followed by barbecued bacon rolls and steaming hot coffee before beach games, surfing and skipping between the town's higgledy-piggledy taverns.
Sleeps: Up to eight
Prefer a private garden to the beach? Book a stay at The Summer Folly.
Kohtalo
Celebrating the very best of coast and country, Kohtalo grazes the edge of Exmoor National Park, but is just 15 minutes from Ilfacombe. Touring pretty coastal villages is a must when staying here (Lynton and Lynmouth in particular), while gorge-like valleys and barren hilltops await discovery on the moors. Back at your luxury self-catering abode, a hot tub and outdoor living room offer idyllic evenings with friends and family.
Sleeps: Up to eight
Mountain lover rather than coastal rambler? Head to The Pandy House in Snowdonia National Park.
Little Eden
Tucked behind trees and with private access to Loch Lomond, Little Eden is a small slice of magic within an hour of bustling Glasgow. A hiker’s paradise, lace up those trusty walking boots and head up into the hills or, for more sedate days, float across the loch’s shimmering water by kayak. When night falls, spread out blankets on the private beach, lay back and watch Scotland’s fiery sunsets reflect in the water ahead.
Sleeps: Up to four
Scotland too far from home? Take the whole gang to the Cotswolds at Gulliver's Hall.
The Brandy Thief
Once a hideout for smugglers, now a serene escape in the pretty North Devon village of Lee, The Brandy Thief was made with family holidays in mind. Children’s imaginations will thrive here, tearing around the house playing pirates, peering out to sea from the sash windows and crabbing in the rockpools of the beach just outside. Further afield, some of the county’s most acclaimed surf spots await, along with the South West Coast Path and pubs aplenty.
Sleeps: Up to six
Looking for a similar-sized cottage in the Home Counties? Browse Maison Blanche.
Damselfly
A quiet bolthole quietly settled on the banks of the River Warleggan, this cabin-in-the-woods is a nature-lovers paradise where dragonflies gently flit by the windows and otter cubs tangle in the babbling waters. Far from Cornwall’s busier corners, break away from the tourist trail and reside in this romantic slice of Eden, saved only for those in search of peace. Close by, Fowey and Charlestown are fit-to-burst with fishing-village charm should one wish to venture away, but the real alchemy of Damselfly lies in the being still and being together without a single care in the world.
Sleeps: Up to two
Need to be closer to London? The Sorting Office sits on the fringes of the New Forest National Park.
