TOP SEVEN BUDGET HOLIDAY COTTAGES
Idyllic countryside retreats don’t need to break the bank. Ben Lerwill picks seven of the best, all for under £60 a night
01 CEFN COCH ISAF, GWYNEDD
Stone-clad and oak-beamed, this charming hideaway is a few miles from the village of Tremadog (Lawrence of Arabia’s birthplace) in North Wales. There is woodland to wander, not to mention the majesty of Snowdonia National Park, while the Welsh Highland
02 OWL COTTAGE, NORTH YORKSHIRE
Charming name, charming holiday home. Owl Cottage is a smart, semi-detached barn conversion on a working farm, close to Dalby Forest and the North York Moors. Perks include a king-size bed, a farmhouse style kitchen and a bike store. The market town of Malton, billed as Yorkshire’s food capital, is also nearby. From £419 per week; sleeps three. cottages.com
03 ACORN COTTAGE, HEREFORDSHIRE
A short way from the Shropshire Hills is this converted 16th-century cottage, which makes up in style for what it lacks in size. Bircher Common – great for walks – is virtually on the doorstep, while the property itself has a patio for when the weather’s kind, and a wood-burner for when it’s not. From £405 for a week; sleeps two. hoseasons.co.uk
04 ST ABBS THE FLAG HOUSE, BERWICKSHIRE
Sea views don’t come much finer than those on o er from this former lighthouse building, perched on a high cliff side. The cottage itself is small and functional, and there are 20 steps up to the door, but the location is the stuff of dreams – and the Berwickshire Coastal Path is irresistibly close by. From £339 per week; sleeps two. hoseasons.co.uk
06 SHEPHERD’S RETREAT, COUNTY TYRONE
Northern Ireland’s Sperrin Mountains provide the sweeping setting for this beautifully located bungalow, on a sheep farm in County Tyrone. The cottage itself is neat and cosy, with an open fire, but the surroundings are the real joy: the Sperrin range holds some great hikes, and guests are also welcome to walk across the farm. From £382 for a week; sleeps four. sykescottages.co.uk
05 LITTLE LOCHLAIR, ANGUS
A small but perfectly formed base for exploring the hills of the Angus Glens– where walkers will find no less than 10 Munros – Little Lochlair sits in the village of Kirkbuddo in North East Scotland, surrounded by wide countryside but within easy distance of both Dundee and the North Sea coast. From £366 for a week; sleeps two. sykescottages.co.uk
07 THE LOFT, DERBYSHIRE
On the rural outskirts of Buxton and within shouting distance of the dales of the Peak District National Park, you’ll find this enchanting little barn conversion, one of several on the same farm. Thick walls, an open-plan living interior and an electric fire make it a toasty hideaway after a day exploring the hills. From £302 for a week; sleeps two. sykescottages.co.uk