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Rolling fields, patchwork woodland and a gently meandering river. Distant mountains. A winding path leading down to a nearby beach. And a little thatched cottage with a garden bursting with flowers.

It is easy to picture the perfect holiday cottage, much harder to find one in real life. Perhaps your ideal escape is by the sea, surrounded by mountains or tucked away on a romantic island. You might be looking for a games room, heated pool or walking trails from the door. Or perhaps just a cosy corner in which to curl up with a glass of wine and a good book.

Whatever you’re after, wherever you’re looking for it, we’ve selected 30 standout properties across the UK that still have availability this summer.

Unless otherwise stated, prices are the starting price for a week’s rent between May and September 2026, based on availability at the time of writing. Shorter stays may be available.

Cottages under £1,000

Woodlands Cottage, Herefordshire

Views of the Brecon Beacons and access to the four-acre grounds of Docklow Manor, as well as a private enclosed garden, are among the highlights of this modestly priced base near the market town of Leominster. Services at Woodlands Cottage include a home-cooked dinner delivery service and a local pub within walking distance.

Manor Cottages offers Woodlands Cottage from £602; sleeps four.

5 and 6 Porth Farm Cottages, Cornwall

These two adjacent cottages near Newquay, sleeping four and six respectively, are ideal for groups and families. With shared use of a communal garden, they come with views over the Vale of Lanherne and towards the sea. Interiors are rustic with wood floors, exposed stone walls and beamed ceilings.

Sawday’s offers 5 and 6 Porth Farm cottages from £750 for four, or from £950 for six.

Bolesworth Bothy, Cheshire

A brick-built hideaway with views of Beeston Castle, Bolesworth Bothy features a super-king bed, log-burner, hot tub and convivial kitchen with comfy, banquette seating. A great base for walkers, this cosy bolthole can be booked for flexible, cheaper periods throughout the summer months.

Bolesworth Castle offers Bolesworth Bothy from £952; sleeps two.

West Cottage – Tarvit, Fife

This one-storey cottage in the grounds of Hill of Tarvit was formerly a home for estate workers. Today, guests can access the Edwardian mansion and its estate, owned by the National Trust for Scotland, outside regular opening hours. It’s a good value base for exploring St Andrews and the seaside enclaves of East Neuk, too.

Sykes Cottages offers West Cottage from £968; sleeps five.

Barlow Brook Cottage, Derbyshire

Airy, open-plan interiors create a soothing and relaxed atmosphere in this cosy Peak District retreat. That sense of serenity also flows into its shared, two-acre garden, complete with shady sitting areas by a quiet brook. As well as a good choice of local pubs, the cottage is also within easy reach of Chatsworth House, Hardwick Hall and the independent shops in Bakewell.

Holiday Cottages offers Barlow Brook Cottage from £954; sleeps two.

Coastal cottages

Bay View Cottage, Yorkshire

With views over Robin Hood’s Bay from the high cliffs near Whitby, this small stone cottage provides sea vistas by day and starry skies by night. Inside, a mezzanine floor provides a snug sleeping area with a king-size bed and there’s an open-plan living room below. French windows lead out onto the decked terrace and fire pit.

Crabtree & Crabtree offers Bay View Cottage from £1,161; sleeps two.

The Quay, Devon

This waterside house on the Exe Estuary at Lympstone has unimpeded views from a private terrace across the harbour. Cool interiors come in whites and soft greys, and its proximity to a rail station makes it a great contender for a car-free coastal holiday.

Helpful Holidays offers The Quay from £1,198; sleeps four.

Carrick-a-Rede Cottage, County Antrim

This former fisherman’s cottage enjoys a prime hillside location overlooking the Atlantic: it’s near the 200-year old Carrick-a-Rede pedestrian rope bridge and just a 30-minute drive from the Giant’s Causeway. Interiors are simple but cosy and there’s some outdoor sitting space for making the most of the fabulous sea views.

The National Trust offers Carrick-a-Rede Cottage from £1,205; sleeps four.

Tioram Cottage, Argyll

Tioram is the largest of a collection of eight cottages on the small Scottish isle of Eilean Shon. A transfer boat drops guests at the island pontoon, a ten-minute walk from the stone-built property, which has an idyllic location on the shores of Loch Moidart. It has a private bay area and campfire pit, too.

Eilean Shona offers Tioram Cottage from £3,000; sleeps eight.

The Sea Shed, Pembrokeshire

Agility is required at this tiny hideaway, where a king-size bed on a mezzanine is accessed by ladder. Living is pared down to a small kitchenette, open-plan bath and outdoor shower, plus a decked sitting area and sauna. Its location close to Manorbier Beach makes it a fine choice for a summer seaside holiday.

Canopy and Stars offers The Sea Shed from £962; sleeps two.

Country cottages

Ferny Retreat, Herefordshire

Access to a heated indoor pool is included in the price of this stylish barn conversion Herefordshire. The first floor accommodation has a super-king size bed and a private balcony overlooking wooded fields. Guests can also book a spa treatment for an additional fee.

Bolthole Retreats offers Ferny Retreat from £939; sleeps two.

The Coppice, Shropshire

This historic country hideaway in the Shropshire Hills, near Ludlow, offers an escape to a slower pace of life. Soak in the hot tub after a day of country walks or touring the local sights, before gathering around the fire-pit by night.

Boutique Retreats offers The Coppice from £1,597; sleeps four.

Tincture, Powys

Surrounded by the Cambrian Mountains, this off-grid 17th-century farmhouse accessed along a bridleway track is not for the faint-hearted. Transfer luggage by wheelbarrow from the road to find luxurious rustic interiors fuelled by solar panels and Rayburn.

Unique Homestays offers Tincture from £2,450; sleeps four.

The Gogs, West Sussex

Formerly the gateway to the Petworth estate, these adjacent, mid-1700s lodges in lovely countryside have been converted to accommodate two people (or four in an additional bothy). One lodge, Magog, houses the kitchen and master bedroom, while the other, Gog, provides a grand living space with a domed ceiling and grand piano.

Luxury Boltholes offers The Gogs from £2,642; sleeps up to four.

Wisteria Cottage, Somerset

A Grade-II listed property near Ilminster, Wisteria Cottage has deceptively modernised interiors under its thickly thatched roof. Heavy beams, exposed stone walls and a deep, inglenook fireplace combine with recessed lighting and stylish furniture give a contemporary and comfortable feel.

Oliver’s Travels offers Wisteria Cottage from £3,828; sleeps eight.

Family cottages

The Helford River House, Cornwall

With a large walled garden, table tennis, trampoline and plenty of books and board games, this rambling stone house near Falmouth is a spacious choice for a multi-generational holiday. The South West Coast Path, and swimming beaches of Grebe and Maenporth, are close by.

I-escape offers The Helford River House from £1,953; sleeps eight.

Oak Tree Cottage, New Forest

Newly available for 2026, this secluded cottage near Fritham, is a cosy family retreat ideal for birdwatching and enjoying the forest wildlife, including New Forest ponies. Formerly an old gun powder factory, the historic house dates from 1899.

New Forest Cottages offers Oak Tree Cottage from £2,035; sleeps six.

Cross Lane House, Somerset

An ideal venue for two families holidaying together, this part-thatched, late medieval house offers convivial living spaces combined with the privacy of separate staircases that lead to two bedrooms and two bathrooms. It’s situated on the Holnicote estate near Allerford, an area rich in walking trails and wildlife.

The National Trust offers Cross Lane House from £2,464; sleeps eight.

Pavilion Cottage, Isle of Wight

In the grounds of Osborne House, Queen Victoria’s holiday home near Cowes, this Edwardian-era cricket pavilion turned cottage is a fine choice for families who want to explore the island’s history. Entry to English Heritage sites is included in the rental price, alongside out-of-hours access to the grounds, and guests are given a welcome hamper on arrival.

English Heritage offers Pavilion Cottage from £1,580 for four nights; sleeps four.

Foxlink, West Sussex

Best suited to families with babies or older children, this former gamekeeper’s cottage in 60 acres near Billingshurst has been carefully restored and equipped with a plunge pool and plenty of cosy spaces. A concierge service is available to help make the most of the local area, with activities including horse-riding, cycling, golf and tennis.

Luxury Boltholes offers Foxlink from £2,563; sleeps seven.

Luxury cottages

Oak House, West Sussex

At the foot of the South Downs, near Midhurst, wood-clad Oak House offers high-ceilinged living areas, broad pergola-shaded terrace and a large, lawned garden with trampoline and children’s football areas, plus table tennis and table football. Catering, spa treatments and additional housekeeping can be arranged.

The Wow House Company offers Oak House from £3,700; sleeps eight plus two children.

Tigh an Tobair, Isle of Skye

Enjoy grandstand views of Loch Dunvegan and mountain landscapes of the Outer Hebrides from this island retreat on the Duirnish Peninsula on Skye’s northwest shores. Interiors come in cool greys and pale creams, while the grassy garden contains a wood-fired hot tub and wooden dining deck.

Boutique Retreats offers Tigh an Tobair from £3,765; sleeps eight.

Wood Farm House, Cotswolds

A lavender-lined path leads to this beautiful Cotswolds farmhouse with boutique interiors and cinema room. The large dining area makes this a great choice for family get-togethers and celebrations, while designer fabrics and wallpapers in cosseting bedrooms and sitting areas give it a luxury feel.

Sand & Stone Escapes offers Wood Farm House from £4,210; sleeps ten.

Woolbrook Reservoir, Devon

Created in a former reservoir, this spectacular property lends itself to families and large groups holidaying together. It has plenty of sitting areas, plus a games room, pool table, large dining table and well-equipped kitchen. Nearby Sidmouth offers seaside fun with independent shops and a choice of restaurants.

Luxury Coastal offers Woolbrook Reservoir from £6,211; sleeps 16.

Greene Farmhouse, Suffolk

An astroturf tennis court, heated outdoor pool, spa with hot tub, gym, home cinema and games room are among the many plus points of this luxurious retreat in the village of Pakenham near Bury St Edmunds. Ideal for a family gathering or a celebration with friends.

Kate & Tom’s offers Greene Farmhouse from £7,825; sleeps 14.

Pet-friendly cottages

Skylark Lodge, Powys

An ideal base for up to two people and two dogs, this cedar-clad lodge comes with folding doors that open onto a shady, raised terrace and fenced, grassy garden beyond. The interiors have a stylish, Scandinavian feel and local walks include Llandrindod Lake Park and Radnor Forest.

Canine Cottages offer Skylark Lodge from £919 (an additional £25 fee applies per dog); sleeps two.

Crows Hall, Essex

Crows Hall is part of a dog-friendly collection of properties at Wakes Hall Farm, on 500 acres of private land near Colchester, near the Suffolk border. This pretty Grade II-listed property dates from 1839 and has a terraced garden and hot tub. Up to three dogs are permitted to stay.

Rural Retreats offers Crows Hall from £1,277 (an additional £35 fee applies per dog); sleeps four.

Field View, Cotswolds

This stone cottage near Cirencester enjoys unspoilt views of fields and farmland from whitewashed rooms with exposed wood floors and beams. There’s a private garden and a choice of local walks along the Monarch’s Way and Macmillan Way. Allowing up to two dogs, it’s perfect for a family or two couples holidaying together.

Bolthole Retreats offers Field View from £1,465 (an additional £40 fee applies per dog); sleeps five.

Glenmalloch Lodge, Dumfries and Galloway

The loch-side trails and woodland paths surrounding this former schoolroom make it an ideal destination for dogs and their owners. Reached by a bumpy track, near the market town of Newton Stewart, it has one bedroom which doubles as a living area with a woodburning stove.

The Landmark Trust offers Glenmalloch Lodge from £1,498 (an additional £40 fee applies per dog); sleeps two.

The Potting Shed, Yorkshire

Up to two dogs stay free of charge at this dreamy cottage with an enclosed walled garden near the River Esk. Bowls, dog bed and treats are provided and there’s a useful outside hose for washing down muddy paws. There are plenty of dog-friendly pubs in the area too.

Paws & Stay offers The Potting Shed from £1,335; sleeps four.

The 30 best holiday cottages in the UK