Luxury festive breaks
Mulled wine and mince pies, bracing walks and stolen kisses under the mistletoe; make your Christmas extra special by whisking the party to a luxury homestay.
It's a time for togetherness, the most wonderful time of the year as the song goes. With your own home covered in tape and wrap, head to a luxury country house to enjoy a Christmas to remember. Gorgeously decorated in anticipation, our luxury Christmas holiday cottages are awaiting your arrival; all that's left to do is unpack the car, set the presents under the twinkling tree and uncork the fizz. The supermarket order will be along in a short while with further provisions, and the children are already exploring the far reaches of all the rooms. Little ones tucked up in bed, chink glasses to the most relaxing Christmas and New Year ever.
Just the two of you? Couples wishing to hide out for the festive season can hole up in a romantic retreat, escaping to a luxury self-catering bolthole with no arguments about whose parents are hosting lunch. Stir from festive dreams at your leisure, sink into a rolltop or hot tub, then indulge in a simple Christmas lunch before setting out on a romantic walk along the coastline, greeting other festive ramblers with a cheery 'hello'. Maybe just a short walk though: back at your luxury festive retreat there's mulled wine to sip and old classics to watch by the fire. Staying in is the new going out this season.
Sea Sentry
As featured on George Clarke's Amazing Spaces, this World War Two guard tower nestled on the coast in Shaldon has been brought bang into the 21st Century with an armoury of quirky mod cons, making it the perfect retreat for two.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Peacock Blue
In the heart of Dartmoor National Park lies a sublime self-catering abode named Peacock Blue; the haute design and stylish interiors fuse with vintage finds and sophisticated flourishes to create a divine luxury homestay.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Sojourn
Drewsteignton, Dartmoor, Devon, UK
Nestled within the wilds of Dartmoor near Chagford sits Sojourn; a luxury chocolate box cottage with spa room. A true English country escape with lavish finishes and beautiful linens.
Sleeps: Up to 2 people
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Spa room with massage table.
The Pomegranate Tree
West Anstey, South Molton, Exmoor, Devon, UK
Surrounded by evergreens on the edge of Exmoor National Park, The Pomegranate Tree is a peaceful self-catering escape chock-full of 16th century charm.
Sleeps: Up to 4 (+2) guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One small well-behaved dog is welcome
The Riddle
North Bovey, Dartmoor, Devon, UK
Plot your country escape to this luxury holiday cottage in North Bovey; one of Devon's most idyllic villages set within the rugged beauty of Dartmoor National Park. The Riddle is the type of cottage you might find on the pages of a storybook.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request.
The Creamery
Abbotsham, Appledore, Devon, UK
Far from the crowds, the Hartland Heritage Coast is a halcyon world of pebble beaches and Beatrix Potter wildlife backed by a deep blue sea. Set between Appledore and Clovelly, The Creamery was made for those hidden-away self-catering holidays in Devon.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome with a third small dog on request
Features: Fire pit and summerhouse reading room
Cinnamon Cottage
A thatched luxury cottage in the quaint village of Higher Ashton in Devon where traditional thatch crowns elegant and intriguingly beautiful interiors within.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Novella
This cob cottage deep in Devon woodland is a storybook of a home, tucked down a lane and decked out in botanical prints, vintage embroidery and antique furniture, inviting imaginations to unfurl.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: Hot tub, trampoline and outdoor kitchen (year-round) with table tennis available in the summer months
Beauport
Nestled on the banks of the River Yealm in South Devon's yachty haven of Newton Ferrers is the oh-so-stylish Beauport. This stunning self-catering luxury cottage exudes a restful ambiance echoic of the rippling river which sits at the bottom of the garden.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Summerhouse and private slipway
Rydon
Trusham, Teign Valley, Devon, UK
Enjoy some time out at this contemporary self-catering barn dwelling squirrelled away in the picturesque Teign Valley, Devon.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome (must be kept on leads in the grounds)
Features: Heated pool (from 6th May to 30th September)
The Brandy Thief
Lee, Ilfracombe, Devon, UK
Awash with history and swathed in character, this luxury coastal escape is a dreamy retreat for explorers looking to hunker down in North Devon.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome and two on prior arrangement
Dusky Cottage
Hope Cove, Kingsbridge, Devon, UK
Set between the yachting havens of Kingsbridge and Salcombe, Dusky Cottage sits on a country lane leading down to Hope Cove. Push open the sky-blue gate and you'll be smitten; this luxury thatched cottage is sure to capture the hearts of all the family.
Sleeps: Up to 8 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: Hot tub, summerhouse, climbing frame, swings
Tamarisk Beach House
Impeccable interiors, sea-salted air and panoramic views over Woolacombe Bay make Tamarisk Beach House an idyllic retreat for families and surfers looking for luxury self-catering accommodation by the sea in North Devon.
Sleeps: Up to 8 guests (6 adults + 2 children)
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 & Up to 4 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Zingara
Spacious and grand with modern flourishes, this baronial manor with on-site beauty salon is a haven for visitors wanting to explore the nearby Jurassic coast.
Sleeps: Up to 8 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 guests
Pets: Three well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Summerhouse with table tennis, pool table and yoga mezzanine
Historic farmhouse in rural Devon countryside
Settled within the heart of rural Devon where the promise of adventure abounds, the simple exterior of this historic farmhouse conceals the rare richness within. A place that perfectly combines elegance with comfort, turn the key to decorative plasterwork, panelled walls and five bedrooms (one said to have hosted a sleeping Oliver Cromwell).
Sleeps: Up to 10
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub, games room with bar billiards, pool table, table tennis and croquet lawn
Linea
Combe Martin, Ilfracombe, Devon, UK
Blending into the dramatic coastal landscape and perfectly positioned for watching the sun journey across the sky, Linea is a labyrinth of clean lines, shifting shadows and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome on prior request
Features: Outdoor heated swimming pool available all year, basement cinema room
Ellesmera Mill
This enchanting 400 year old millhouse is chock-full of old-world charm. Set in the South Hams near Dartmouth, the dreamy south Devon coast is almost within touching distance and short stroll through the valley leads to the sheltered cove of Blackpool Sands.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Hot tub, sauna, cinema room with table football
Maberly
Chillington, Kingsbridge, Devon, UK
Simple and elegant, this large South Hams self-catering house near Kingsbridge offers the most peaceful of countryside getaways.
Sleeps: Up to 12 guests (with two or more children)
Alternative Group Option: Up to 8 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome on prior request.
