Last Minute Getaways

The Ravine is a contemporary and stylish annexe, boasting spacious open-plan living and a balcony with seating, perfect for enjoying views of the sea and surrounding countryside after a day exploring the beautiful landscape on one of the many coastal walks opposite. Just half an hour’s coast path walk leads to Bovisand, a beach designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. You can also discover the sights of Wembury, a wildlife haven with nesting sea birds and an array of marine plants and animals. Shop 1 mile, pub 100 yards.

Birdsong Cottage is the perfect escape for couples and is close to the North Devon and North Cornwall coasts. This pretty semi-detached cottage is surrounded by hundreds of acres of Forestry Commission Land. It is just 2 miles inland from the Atlantic Highway (A39) on the North Devon/Cornwall border in between Bideford and Bude, an is the ideal choice for a relaxing break
Surrounded by beautiful countryside and birdsong, you can relax in the large enclosed lawned garden accessed from the court yard and enjoy a lazy breakfast whilst you plan your day. Lovely country, woodland and coastal walks abound, and there many dog-friendly beaches close by. This really is the perfect spot to relax and unwind at any time of year, just 4 miles from picturesque Clovelly with its donkey transport and quaint cottages lining its cobbled lanes. Just a short drive from the secluded, dog-friendly, sand and shingle beach in the tiny clifftop hamlet of Bucks Mills, one of the most beautiful villages in North Devon. This secluded hidden gem has pretty white washed cottages speckled along a wooded valley at the end of a no-through road.
A village store and post office is just 3 miles away for your daily essentials, and the popular village inn at Woolsery has a highly acclaimed restaurant and adjacent fish and chip shop, perfect for an evening out or an evening in with fish and chips. Fabulous beaches for relaxing and surfing can be found at Westward Ho!, Saunton Sands, Woolacombe and Croyde Bay, and are all within easy reach. Visit the bustling resort of Bude, the spectacular coastal pathways around Hartland Point and the market town of Bideford, from where visitors can take boat trips to the island of Lundy, England’s only marine nature reserve.
The owner supplies a fishing pass so you can enjoy the adjacent lakes, and golf, surfing, sailing and horse riding are all on offer close by. For cycling enthusiasts and walkers, the nearby Tarka Trail is not to be missed and there are numerous National Trust properties in the area. Beach 6¾ miles. Shop 3 miles, pub and restaurant 2 miles.

A charming two-bedroom cottage perched in Bleadon, Somerset. Near an AONB. Ground-floor bedroom. Dog-friendly. Weston-super-Mare 5 miles; Brean 7.3 miles; Glastonbury 18.2 miles; Bristol 23.2 miles

This detached barn conversion, adjacent to the owner’s home, is located just outside the lovely conservation village of Fordyce, 1½ miles from the Moray coast. A magical place, the village is a warren of narrow streets and beautiful houses still following a medieval plan, and all wrapped around a magnificent centrepiece, Fordyce Castle, simply sitting on a bend in the village street. The holiday cottage is very spacious, comfortable and warm, and takes advantage of the panoramic views of both sea and countryside, with the arched French doors in the living room leading to a sunny sitting-out area at the front. Set within 1 acre of private grounds with dedicated guest outside area with garden furniture and BBQ available.

Fordyce also offers an attractive park opposite the old kirkyard as well as a Victorian garden. The sandy beach at Sandend is a quick drive or a 45-minute walk from the cottage, where local fish can be bought and surfers enjoy the waves. Good coastal walks abound through the old fishing villages of Portsoy and Cullen, or alternatively travel inland through castle and whisky country. There are plenty of golf courses in the vicinity, and the variety of bird and wildlife both onshore and off will please the keen nature lover. Shop, pub and restaurant 2½ miles.