« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 … 9 Next »

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