Looking for a more unusual place to stay for your next trip? You’re not the only one. Quirky hideaways and cosy escapes are popping up across the country, with more holidaymakers craving a luxury cottage or villa that offers a truly unique feel. Here at Oliver’s Travels, we’ve selected some of our favourite UK luxury hideaways for you to check out, from fantasy-inspired homes to characterful lodges. Because why do ordinary?
1. Gaelic Castle
Sleeps: 4-8
Price from: £144pppn
Location: County Clare
Turn back time and escape to the medieval period at this authentic 15th-century Gaelic castle. Each of its six bedrooms is decked out with Irish linen sheets and cosy woollen blankets, while Liscannor stone flags cover the bathroom floors. Look up to spy traces of hazel branches, used to hold plaster over 500 years ago.
However, this unique tower house is not without modern comforts – you’ll find underfloor heating throughout, working with the limestone walls to keep you warm and toasty even in the harsher winter months.
2. The Bee Barn
Sleeps: 6
Price from: £39pppn
Location: Kent
Hoping for a holiday that won’t harm the planet? The Bee Barn offers just that, built using sustainable materials to a characterful bee shape. Complete with a living green roof, smart air quality sensors and infrared underfloor heating, this deceptively spacious spot allows you to explore the great Kent countryside. Then, head back to enjoy sunsets and starry skies from the suntrap deck.
If you’re keen to explore other eco-friendly stays, check out our Sustainable Villa Collection.
3. Folly Lodge West
Sleeps: 2
Price from: £65pppn
Location: Dorset
Made with cosy evenings in mind – the kind spent snuggled up by the fire with a cup of hot cocoa or glass of red – Folly Lodge West is a welcome romantic retreat for couples. Situated in the heart of Dorset, it’s the perfect bolthole base for exploring the Jurassic coastline.
Team your booking up with nearby Folly Lodge East and holiday with another couple, planning long days out together before enjoying your own nights in.
4. Boarzell
Sleeps: 13
Price from: £67pppn
Location: Sussex
Does it get any more quintessentially English than this? Ok, the swimming pool might be a stretch to describe it as ‘English’, but it’s a nice touch that we certainly appreciate! This gorgeous Jacobean manor allows you to live like lords and ladies during your visit, where you’ll saunter around beautiful hallways and chambers with stunning original wood carvings, intricate plasterwork, majestic fireplaces and antique furnishings.
If you can tear yourself away from the interior, then you can use this home as your base for exploring the wonderful nature of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Even the grand plot that the home sits on includes a sweeping driveway through thick woodland that leads up to the house. Quite the entrance!
5. Chevaliers Gatehouse
Sleeps: 4
Price from: £65pppn
Location: Midlands
From the moment you set eyes on Chevaliers Gatehouse and its towering turrets, you’ll know you’re in for a special stay. Located within grounds that were once walked by King Edward V and Charles I, this Elizabethan home is bursting with classic character.
In the gardens, you’ll find flower beds, fruit trees and a bubbling fountain, while the interiors are similarly worthy of royalty, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and contemporary features.
6. Silva Lodge
Sleeps: 4
Price from: £41pppn
Location: Dorset
Highly unusual in design, Silva Lodge gets its name from the Latin word for forest – apt considering how much there is to explore here. Nestled into the Portland stone cliffs and leading directly down to a cove, this is an ideal spot for those who love to surround themselves with nature.
It’s not without modern comforts though – the open-plan living space comes with a smart TV and bespoke fireplace, encouraging you to unwind after a busy day spent exploring the coast.
7. Watersmeet House
Sleeps: 8
Price from: Enquire for prices
Location: Devon
Now how’s that for a location?! Tucked in among thick forest and with a babbling brook on the home’s doorstep, this place is nothing short of idyllic. The house has a gorgeous open-plan kitchen and dining room where everyone in your party will surely congregate and enjoy cosy homemade meals, or, if you escaped to Devon to get out of the kitchen, head down to the lovely village of Lynmouth and all its boutiques, cafes and pubs on your doorstep. You won’t have to go far to enjoy a tipple, a stroll and a good meal!
8. Cameron North Lodge
Sleeps: 6-8
Price from: £135pppn
Location: Loch Lomond
Boasting a sleek, contemporary structure, Cameron North Lodge provides you with ultimate privacy through its exclusive beach access and ample facilities. However, guests will also have access to nearby Cameron House Hotel throughout their stay – we’d recommend trying out some of the restaurants and even the spa.
Avid golfers won’t want to miss the chance to try out the three local courses, including world-renowned Loch Lomond and championship standard Carrick. Looking for some R&R? Take a dip in the luxury hot tub, soaking up your natural surroundings.
9. Whitby Gatehouse
Sleeps: 4
Price from: £40pppn
Location: Yorkshire
Catch of the day? How about hideaway of the season? Whitby Gatehouse is just a 10-minute stroll from town, allowing you to sample all the fresh fish of Whitby throughout your stay. Head back home with your bounty and dine al fresco at the outdoor teak root table, extending summer dinners into sunset drinks.
When the night finally draws to a close, retire to the bedroom and its luxury linens – but not before you spot Whitby Abbey from the window.
10. Tuath na Mara
Sleeps: 7-9
Price from: £32pppn
Location: Ireland
Ok so this isn’t in the UK, but just a short hop over the Irish Sea instead. Tuath na Mara is destined for those who prioritise both design and location in any holiday home. The winner of several awards, including the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland’s “Best House” prize, this waterfront creation appears to be free-floating – similar to how you’ll feel after a relaxing stay here.
It’s separated out into two living areas, so you can get away with your favourite family while also going back to private spaces each night, enjoying panoramic views as the sun goes down.
So there you have it: Oliver’s Travels‘ top UK luxury hideaways list. However, every single one of our handpicked properties is bursting with unique details, whether you’re opting for a cosy cottage in Cornwall or a stunning chateau in the South of France. Check out our complete villas collection and give our concierge team a call to start your holiday planning.
Leave a Reply