Holiday dreaming: rural UK minibreaks for a summer staycation

Wellhayes -The Barn, Lyme Regis

This ‘modern rustic’ property by award-winning designer James Verner is picturesque inside and out. Boasting its own swimming lake, the house is ideal for those looking for seclusion and tranquility (save for visits from friendly grazing cattle and sheep). Meanwhile, the barn’s proximity to the Jurassic Coast, West Dorset, East Devon and South Somerset makes it an easy launch pad for more active holidays.

Once done with the day’s adventures, stop by the local farm shop and pick up locally-sourced goods to cook at home in the aga or barbeque on the terrace. Then return to the master suite – complete with a woodburner and double-ended bathtub – and enjoy a spot of pampering before turning in for the night.

Stays from: £250 a night

Sleeps: Six (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms)

Camber Sands, East Sussex

While its decking and beachy interiors place this seaside hideaway in the ranks of ‘beach shack’, to call it thus would overlook its elegance and sheer magnitude. Perched on the edge of Camber Sands, the seaside 'mansion' features white-washed decking, chic bedrooms and artfully upcycled furnishings. But it's the spattering of little luxuries (free-standing bath tubs, an aga and lashings of antiques) that make a stay here feel uber glamorous.

Great for groups, the property boasts generously-sized tables and seating arrangements both indoors and out on the porch. You also have quaint and cobbled Rye on your doorstep offering a history-fuelled day trip and a chance to stock up on all the necessary supplies for a self-catered holiday.

The rugged golden beaches just beyond the property will be popular come summer, but a stay here gives you access to a private sandy road carrying you to and from the sands in seconds.

Stays from: £769 (but three night minimum stay)

Sleeps: 10 (5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms)

Cornish Eco Cabin, north Cornwall

The year at home has stripped away our fast-paced lives and made us reflect on what’s truly important. If, for you, this includes adopting a slower, more sustainable way of living, you may be looking for a holiday that embraces your new values. This Cornish Eco Cabin is essentially a step up from glamping. A stylish wooden home in the treetops, the property boasts a porch with swing seats and a fire pit, from where you can look out upon views of the north Cornish coast and embrace unrivalled tranquility.

Stays from: £269 a night

Sleeps: 6 (2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom)

Cumbria Cottage, Yorkshire Dales

Dating back to the 16h century, this cottage in the Yorkshire Dales is the epitome of a rural idyll with its wooden beams, flagstone floors and wood burning stove. But behind the walls is a thoroughly modern plumbing system – complete with a woodchip biomass boiler and the infrastructure to fill and heat its stunning outdoor bathtub – making a stay here match 21st-century standards of cosy. Look forward to a welcome hamper filled with local produce on arrival, and while there’s allure in snuggling up with a hot drink and a book, you’ll enjoy it all the more after a bracing walk in the national park or the nearby Lake District. Those after more heart-racing exercise could take a hike up Wild Boar Fell (accessible from the doorstep of the cottage), or go wild swimming in nearby Uldale Force.

Stays from: £128 - £232

Sleeps: Two adults and a child (one bedroom, two bathrooms)

Made of Wood, East Anglia

Few visions conjure the image of tranquil serenity quite like a log cabin perched on the edge of a lake. Made of Wood in Attleborough is a holiday home offering just that. From afar, the property looks olde-worlde: a humble cabin from which to embrace a simpler way of life with plenty of time for gazing out across the lily-dotted waters. But inside, this Scandi-inspired lodge is a state-of-the-art residence, boasting stylish modern furniture, understated decoration and a free-standing stone egg bath you’ll want to take home. Walkers can roam the nearby stretches of long sandy beaches or the forests surrounding the house. Culture vultures, meanwhile, may want to pay a visit to nearby Norwich where boutique shops, historic pubs, up-and-coming restaurants and under-the-radar cultural venues will jostle for your attention.

Stays from: £399

Sleeps: Two (one bedroom, one bathroom)

The Bronze Knight, Cheltenham

For a slice of grandeur – the kind that comes with its own private pool – melded with English country-garden charm, look to The Bronze Knight in Cheltenham. A Cotswold barn conversion steeped in character, this quirkily decorated home is part of a larger estate that boasts an on-site pantry and views of rolling hills punctuated by the occasional thatched roof. Once you’re done exploring the antiques and artworks lining the walls, amble through the surrounding countryside or visit local attractions including Neolithic heritage site Belas Knap (built around 3000 BC) or, if you have little ones in tow, the Cotswold Farm Park. And if you want to continue the sense of luxury outside your lodgings? Book a table at The Ivy Montpellier Brasserie Cheltenham, or relax at nearby Cowley Manor Spa.

Stays from: £1,665

Sleeps: 12 (five bedrooms, six bathrooms)

Sunrise Cabin, Skye

To make the most of your stay at Sunrise Cabin, you’ll want to spend the majority of your time in its king-size bed. But not asleep, mind, just admiring the unspoiled views of Loch Bracadale and the Cuillin mountains beyond the glass wall of your room. A walk from your lodgings to the nearby caves and ruins of Harlosh Point will leave you rosy-cheeked and invigorated, while the more adventurous could drive to Oronsay Path in Ullinish for a hike along the sea cliffs and to a nearby tidal island. A drive to Neist Point Lighthouse for sunset is a must, as is buying freshly caught lobster from the local fisherman. Those after even more gourmet fare, meanwhile, should book for dinner at local Michelin-starred restaurant Loch Bay, where the best of the island’s natural underwater larder can be enjoyed.

Stays from: £250

Sleeps: Two adults and a child (one bedroom, one bathroom)

Hammerhole, Graythwaite

You’ll be hard pushed to find a stay offering more immediate access to the pleasures of Lake Windermere than this stone-built, detached cottage perched on the water’s edge. It boasts its own private jetty and boat mooring, making it ideal for those with the facilities to get about by water. And while only brave and experienced cold-water swimmers might attempt swim in the lake, a dip in the estate’s heated private pool (a 10-minute drive from the property) is very much encouraged. The grounds also boast a table tennis room, fitness suite, a children’s play area and a 2.5-acre trout fishing lake, making it an ideal location for an active family holiday.

Stays from: £269

Sleeps: 10 guests (five bedrooms, four bathrooms)

The Early Risers, Devon

Exquisite contemporary interiors and breathtaking views of the Devon coastline will battle for your attention at The Early Risers, an architectural feat in rugged Woolacombe. From its central fireplace to its glass walls, monochrome artworks and generously stocked bar, this property would be wasted on all but those with a keen eye for original design. Outside it, the slower pace and sleepy allure of rural country life can be enjoyed in droves: from cream teas to thatched villages and golden stretches of windswept beaches.

Stays from: £189 (five-night minimum stay)

Sleeps: 10 (four bedrooms, five bathrooms)

Artist’s Lodge, Hay

Famed for its early summer festival, Hay is practically synonymous with literature – but the sleepy charms of the town make it an idyllic destination for a rural getaway at any time of year. And where better to revel in its tranquility than at the Artist’s Lodge, a characterful apartment filled with wooden beams, endearingly wonky floors and original pieces of art – many of which are for sale and by the owner of the property, whose gallery is on the ground floor. Once you're done browsing the local bookshops, venture further to the Black Mountains for a walk or cycle, or to the River Wye for canoeing. A pint in the Blue Boar is a must, as is an ice cream from the Shepherd’s Parlour if the weather’s not too chilly.

Stays from: £120 - £140

Sleeps: Two adults and a baby (one bedroom, one bathroom)

Big Blue, Portishead

Floor-to-ceiling bay windows looking out over the sea, a rustic open kitchen and light, bright interiors are just some of the things that make a stay at Big Blue in Portishead, North Somerset so appealing. (Standalone bathtubs, spacious bedrooms and unique architecture are a few more.) Ideal for the culture vulture, Big Blue is a rural base from which you could enjoy day trips to nearby Bath, Bristol or the pretty town of Taunton. Those who want to envelope themselves in the slower, local way of life could sample cheese in nearby Cheddar or a local cider on one of the many nearby pubs.

Stays from: £2,243

Sleeps: 12 (six bedrooms, seven bathrooms)

The Wax Seal, Bath

With its honey-coloured, higgledy-piggledy streets and olde-worlde attractions, Bath offers visitors a chance to step back in time and immerse themselves in a snapshot of a very different Britain: be it through the Roman spas or Georgian, leafy neighbourhoods. Within an example of the latter, you’ll find The Wax Seal, a Georgian townhouse boasting as much historical charm as the cobbled street it’s located upon. Read up on the intriguing history of the house through framed documents lining the hallway, then saunter up to the roof garden to feel like the world is your oyster. Refresh yourself in the outdoor pool at the nearby Thermae Bath Spa (if you can peel yourself away from the house’s own circular bathtub) and discover boutiques, bookshops and cafés hidden down nearby side streets.

Stays from: £662

Sleeps: six (three bedrooms, four bathrooms)

Flow & Meander, Cornwall

A modern home with floor-to-ceiling views of the peaceful Tamar Estuary in Cornwall, Flow & Meander is an ideal getaway particularly for those with access to a boat: its private pontoon offers an unrivalled launch pad from which to explore the Cornish coastline. Those who’d rather stick to the shore can explore the peninsula’s spattering of tiny fishing villages, such as Polperro, and wild-looking beaches. Those keen to sample the local culinary offering should pay a visit to The Old Bakery or enjoy exquisite, local seafood at The Bay. But with the house boasting an outdoor, covered table overlooking the estuary, you’ll be hard-pushed to find better dinner views.

Stays from: £641

Sleeps: eight (four bedrooms, four bathrooms)