The Snug, Cartmel, Cumbria
Terraced holiday cottage in the middle of Cartmel that offers stylish self catering holiday accommodation for two guests.
Sleeps 2,
Bedrooms 1,
Bathrooms 1
Holiday Cottages
Check out our range of traditional cottages and rustic holiday properties - all have been hand-picked and are highly-rated.
Mount Pleasant Cottage, Lindale, Cumbria
Set in an elavated position above Lindale, this attractive holiday cottage is a great base for exploring the Lake District and Cumbrian coast.
Sleeps 3,
Bedrooms 2,
Bathrooms 1
Maggie Puddle Cottage, Cartmel, Cumbria
Lovely holiday cottage for six in the centre of Cartmel and within close proximity to the picturesque coastal resort of Grange over Sands.
Sleeps 6,
Bedrooms 4,
Bathrooms 3
Inglenook Cottage, Lindale, Cumbria
Nineteenth century stone cottage for four in the village of Lindale, some two miles from the pretty Cumbrian coastal resort of Grange-over-Sands.
Sleeps 4,
Bedrooms 3,
Bathrooms 1
Hillberry, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria
Well-presented semi-detached holiday cottage that provides a great base from which to explore Grange over Sands and the Lake District.
Sleeps 8,
Bedrooms 4,
Bathrooms 3
Herdwick Cottage, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria
Set in the village of Cark, this charming former mill worker’s cottage sleeps three and is brimming with character inside and out.
Sleeps 3,
Bedrooms 2,
Bathrooms 1
Coach House Bungalow, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria
Well-appointed holiday property for two that’s well placed for exploring Grange over Sands as well as the dramatic splendour of the Lake District.
Sleeps 2,
Bedrooms 1,
Bathrooms 1
Chestnut Cottage, Grange-over-Sands, Cumbria
Located on the fringes of Grange-over-Sands, this former fisherman’s cottage sleeps two, includes a private hot tub and offers lovely seaside views.
Sleeps 2,
Bedrooms 1,
Bathrooms 1
Violets Wonderland Cottage, Llandudno, Conwy
Quirky and historical 300 year-old holiday cottage for four guests that’s a short walk from Llandudno Pier and numerous other local attractions.
Sleeps 4,
Bedrooms 2,
Bathrooms 2
Rose Cottage, Manaccan, Cornwall
Chocolate box holiday cottage that dates from the 16th century that’s replete with character features both inside and out.
Sleeps 6,
Bedrooms 3,
Bathrooms 1
Ty Cornel Bach, Llandudno, Conwy
Detached holiday cottages for two guests that’s superbly-appointed in the middle of premier North Wales coastal resort, Llandudno.
Sleeps 2,
Bedrooms 1,
Bathrooms 1
Tramway Cottage, Llandudno, Conwy
Mid-terrace self catering holiday cottage in Llandudno that affords submlime views out towards the beach and promenade.
Sleeps 4,
Bedrooms 2,
Bathrooms 1
Craiglwyd Bach, Llandudno, Conwy
Grade II listed holiday cottage that dates from the eighteenth century and is located in Penrhynside, near the coastal resort of Llandudno.
Sleeps 2,
Bedrooms 1,
Bathrooms 1
14 Tudno Street, Llandudno, Conwy
Within walking distance of Llandudno’s Victorian promenade, this modern, well-presented cottage sleeps up to four guests.
Sleeps 4,
Bedrooms 2,
Bathrooms 1
4 Anglesey Road, Llandudno, Conwy
Set on the Great Orme headland, this well-appointed holiday cottage offers fantastic coastal views and sleeps four guests.
Sleeps 4,
Bedrooms 2,
Bathrooms 1
11 Seabreeze, Llandudno, Conwy
Modern holiday cottage set in a cul-de-sac in Llandudno – it sleeps up to eight and offers easy access to the lovely North Wales coast.
Sleeps 8,
Bedrooms 4,
Bathrooms 2
Saffron House, Fowey Cornwall
Set in the heart of Fowey, Saffron House offers stylish and spacious self catering holiday accommodation for up to four guests.
Sleeps 6,
Bedrooms 3,
Bathrooms 1
The Shippen, Fowey, Cornwall
Delightful two bedroom holiday cottage for four guests that’s set above a picturesque wooded valley near the seaside village of Fowey.
Sleeps 4,
Bedrooms 2,
Bathrooms 1
The Shell Seekers, Fowey, Cornwall
Cosy self catering holiday retreat in Fowey – it sleeps four guests and offers fantastic views of the beautiful Cornish surroundings.
Sleeps 4,
Bedrooms 2,
Bathrooms 1
The Sea Swallow, Fowey, Cornwall
This delightful former fisherman’s cottage can accommodate up to four guests and is within walking distance of Fowey town centre.
Sleeps 4,
Bedrooms 2,
Bathrooms 1
Holiday Cottages
The term ‘cottage’ is often used as a catch-all word used to describe a variety of holiday abodes, be they self catering apartments, bothies or bungalows. Technically-speaking though, a cottage is a small property that provides self catering accommodation.
Most Popular Types of Holiday Cottages
Although there are plenty of excellent modern dwellings, traditional holiday cottages are among the most sought-after holiday rentals, purely because of their charm and character. Dating back hundreds of years, many once served as modest homes for farm and mill-workers, weavers, fisherman and even the clergy.
Set mainly in rural or semi-rural settings, UK holiday cottages come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from thatched buildings to terraced coastal holiday properties.
Regional Variations
They'll often exhibit distinctive architectural styles that are closely associated to a specific region. For instance, cottages in the Yorkshire Dales are known for their distinctive limestone builds, while Cotswolds cottages often feature honey-coloured Oolite stone and thatched roofs.
Travel to the West Midlands and you’ll likely come across half-timbered cottages, many of which can be found in the ‘black and white’ villages of Shropshire and Worcestershire.
Then you’ve got the terraced fishermen’s cottages of Cornwall, Devon and Pembrokeshire – whitewashed or multi-coloured and huddled together in places like Polperro, Tenby and Port Isaac.
Bothy properties also fall under the ‘cottage’ category – found in northern locations such as Dartmoor and Scotland, these tiny stone-built properties were once used as shelters for farm and estate workers. Many now serve as self catering holiday properties.
What Can I Expect from a Holiday Cottage?
‘Cosiness’ for starters – traditional cottages were intended as modest dwellings for their original occupants so don’t expect a huge amount of space – indeed some still include two-up, two-down configurations.
Most modern abodes are small too with a lot of owners opting to apply the term ‘cottage’ to describe all manner of diminutive properties including bungalows, apartments and chalets. We’ve even seen holiday lodges described as cottages.
But as is the case with the best holiday barn conversions and thatched cottage properties, period holiday cottages usually retain most of their original features.
As a result, they tend to exude charm both inside and out, offering a truly memorable short-break holiday experience. So you can also expect a generous dollop of ‘quaintness’.
What Makes a Good Holiday Cottage?
Like any quality self catering property, a good holiday cottage will be furnished to a high standard and include at least some modern conveniences.
And for traditional cottages, the most popular ones are those that strike the right balance between classic and contemporary – while it’s nice to stay at a charming holiday cottage that’s brimming with character features, your stay isn’t going to be a happy one unless it’s suitably equipped.
Provided you stick with trusted and established providers like those listed on our site, you should be fine. All of their self catering cottages and holiday properties are inspected on a regular basis and must meet specific guidelines before they’re made available to rent.Remember to check the user reviews as well though – they can prove extremely insightful.
UK Holiday Cottages – Common Features
- Small in Size
- Thatched Roofing
- Timber-Framing
- Rural/Semi-Rural Location
- Exposed Wall/Ceiling Beams
- Exposed Stonework
- Open-Fire/Wood-Burner/Inglenook Fireplace
- Low Ceilings