Luxury surfing holidays
There's a whiff of wild and free about luxury surfing holidays in the UK and Ireland; with sea temps that range from 6 to 20°C, you could be rocking boardshorts or stuffed in a 5mm. If in doubt, paddle out.
Pack your suit and head for a watery wilderness, where shivery-salty smiles and sand in your hair are the surest signposts of a British surf trip done right. These private homes come with steaming outdoor showers where you can wash the ocean off, secure storage for the surfboards, and bubbling hot tubs where you can thaw the digits. Add a deck for morning wave checks, and you have all the makings of the best luxury surfing holidays in Europe. At the end of a day spent carving and turtle rolling, it'll be sundowners and a barbecued supper on the terrace.
Whether it's just you, your dog, and your bodyboard, or a big group of wave riders gathering for an annual trip, these luxury holiday homes scattered up and down the coast are just a stone's throw from the swell. Iconic surf spots like Porthleven and Gwithian, where ankle slappers and six-foot barrels live in unison, beckon beginners and pros alike, and secret surf spots in the underbelly of Ireland bring Blue Flag beaches and wild Atlantic swells by the keg. Why lug your longboard to the tropics when the forecast for luxury surf retreats on home soil looks this good?
Juneberry
Cubert, Holywell Bay, Cornwall, UK
Tucked away between the trees on Cornwall’s north coast near Holywell Bay, Juneberry is a luxury self-catering cabin settled in the quiet idyll of rural bliss.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,095 per week, £850 per short break
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Yoga deck with mats and blocks, outdoor shower
Saffron Tower
Beaumaris, Isle of Anglesey, Wales, UK
Standing watch from the corner of a beautiful walled garden, Saffron Tower is a true wellness retreat where couples can indulge in a spa-like experience on the Anglesey coast.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,950 per week, £1,550 per short break
Pets: Two medium well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Heated indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, gym with running machine, Echelon Exercise bike, Hydrow rowing machine, weights, yoga mats and portable air conditioning unit
Aphrodite
Trevalga, Boscastle, Cornwall, UK
Nestled between the popular villages of Boscastle and Tintagel, Aphrodite flaunts magnificent sea views and secluded romance. Set over five floors, this luxury coastal holiday home offers an unforgettable escape to Cornwall's north coast.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,750 per week, £1,295 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Orlagh
Perched high above the golden sands of Cornwall's Whitsand Bay, a fusion of designer-led interiors and Miller-esque seascapes combine at Orlagh.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,795 per week, £1,295 per short break
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Hot tub and outdoor shower
Little Portion
Tresean, Holywell Bay, Cornwall, UK
Crooked and charming, pretty red tin retreat Little Portion is a luxury coastal cottage just one mile away from Cornwall's Holywell Bay, with reclaimed finishes, trailing plants, and an al fresco hot tub.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,450 per week, £1,150 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Features: Hot tub
The Edge
Set in a cliff top location with a bird’s eye view of Whitsand Bay and the surrounding coast, The Edge is the perfect eco-friendly luxury self-catering beach hut for honeymoons with a difference.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,750 per week, £1,295 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub, heated outdoor shower
Aurora
Freathy, Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, UK
Facing the rise and fall of the sun as it journeys from day to night, Aurora and its al fresco hot tub clings to the tumbling cliffs above Freathy Beach at Whitsand Bay.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,695 per week, £1,250 per short break
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Hot tub
The Limit
As seen on ITV's 'Cornwall' with Caroline Quentin and George Clark's Amazing Spaces, this quirky 1930s luxury beach hut is becoming quite an iconic dwelling within the north coast of Cornwall. Its unique position with Holywell Bay’s sand dunes makes it perfect for romantic self-catering weekends by the sea.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,850 per week, £1,495 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub and fire pit
The Hide
Callestick, Perranporth, Cornwall, UK
An unexpected discovery at the end of a Cornish country lane, this modern luxury cottage hideaway near Perranporth beach combines rusticity with contemporary clean-line appeal.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,495 per week, £1,150 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Features: Hot tub, fire pit and yoga deck
Seaglass
Tregonhawke, Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, UK
Seaglass is a stylish self-catering beach hut in Cornwall boasting awe-inspiring views which will captivate and delight. This eco-friendly cabin overlooking Whitsand Bay is the perfect luxury hideaway for lovebirds looking for some romance by the sea.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,850 per week, £1,395 per short break
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Hot tub and heated outdoor shower
Breakers
If it’s a luxury coastal self-catering escape you crave then you can’t get much closer to the elements than Breakers. With panoramic views of Whitsand Bay, this is the perfect sand-between-toes romantic hideaway.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests (+ 1 child aged 12 or above)
From: £1,195 per week, £995 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Atlanta
Freathy, Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, UK
Studded into the cliff face, Atlanta promises an unforgettable escape in Cornwall’s forgotten corner. Panoramic views of Whitsand Bay's golden sand, azure waters and rugged coastline create an enchanting destination for holidays beside the sea.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,795 per week, £1,295 per short break
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Italian spa bath, heated outdoor shower, hot tub
The Cotton Tree
Tresean, Holywell Bay, Cornwall, UK
The Cotton Tree is a Queenslander-style luxury self-catering cottage inspired by tropical beach houses and barefoot living. Set on the north Cornwall coast, Holywell Bay and Polly Joke beach are within easy reach.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,550 per week, £1,150 per short break
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Features: Hot tub
The Cable Hut
Aberbach, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
The Cable Hut nestles between the remote beaches of Abermawr and Aberbach in South Wales. Set beside a single track road within metres of the Pembrokeshire coast path, a true castaway experience awaits from the moment of arrival.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,295 per week, £995 per short break
Pets: One large or two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
Limehouse Cottage
Coomasaharn, Glenbeigh, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland
Hidden in a land where mountains, valleys and lakes collide, Limehouse Cottage serves up simple luxury living with one hand and raw, organic beauty with the other. A home that embraces Ireland's elements in all their untamed glory.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,395 per week, £1,095 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Outdoor bath tub and fire pit
The Crafters´ Hut
Whether in the Swedish wood-fired tub or beneath the pergola watching the rain over the sea, an intoxicating vista is guaranteed at this architect-designed cabin overlooking Mousehole harbour.
Sleeps: Up to 3 guests
From: £1,750 per week, £1,250 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: A Swedish wood-fired tub, summerhouse, fire pit
Umber Cottage
Umber by name and umber by nature, earthy tones and kilim rugs create a warm, bohemian interior at this stonewall cottage settled at the end of St Agnes' most famous terrace.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £1,250 per week, £950 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One large or two small dogs are welcome
The Shipwreck
Portwrinkle, Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, UK
Perched above the sands of Portwrinkle Beach in Whitsand Bay, this luxury cabin is a haven of rustic joy and nautical paraphernalia, where the WiFi truly is weak but the connection oh-so strong.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests (2 adults and 2 children under 12 years)
From: £1,895 per week, £1,450 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
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
From: £1,750 per week, £1,350 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome with a third small dog on request
Features: Fire pit, hot tub
Tempest
Surrender to the majesty of Whitsand Bay with a luxury self-catering beach house break at Tempest. Fall asleep to the sound of the waves and gaze out to infinite sea and sky views as you let this 'forgotten corner' of Cornwall lure you under its spell.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £2,495 per week, £1,850 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One large or two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
Ukiyo
A striking structure on Cornwall's untamed south coast, Ukiyo is a nod to the modern Scandinavian summerhouse. Inside is a contemporary haven of poured concrete and sculptural furnishings, offset with silvering Siberian larch cladding which seamlessly melts into the ocean.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £2,650 per week, £1,995 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome, two on prior request
Features: Hot tub
Lost Cottage
Glenbeigh, County Kerry, Republic of Ireland
Lost Cottage was once a winter refuge to a herd of mountain goats but now invites guests to stay in one of the most unique self-catering cottages in Kerry, Ireland. Pared-back interiors offer a stylishly simple shelter from which to admire Glenbeigh's emerald green farmland and soaring mountains.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £1,695 per week, £1,250 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Isla Windmill
Beaumaris, Isle of Anglesey, Wales, UK
High on a hill overlooking the Anglesey coast, Isla Windmill is unique, authentic and fit to burst with character with views of the sea and Snowdonia National Park
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £1,850 per week, £1,350 per short break
Pets: Two medium well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub, portable air conditioning unit
The Fable
Ventongimps, Perranporth, Cornwall, UK
Nestled up a tiny track surrounded by rose gardens, The Fable is a fairytale escape in Poldarkian Cornwall. This luxury self-catering cottage is just three miles from the golden sands of Perranporth beach and complete with a hot tub.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £1,995 per week, £1,450 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Features: Hot tub
Gypsea Rocks
Trebarwith Strand, Cornwall, UK
Gypsea Rocks nestles between the soaring cliffs of a hidden valley in north Cornwall, 500 metres from Trebarwith Strand beach. This luxury self-catering cottage is a perfect seaside haven combining vintage finds with rustic flourishes.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £1,395 per week, £1,095 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Ivy Cove
Holbeton, Noss Mayo, Devon, UK
Perfectly placed for both sun baking and storm watching, Ivy Cove is a luxury cottage near Noss Mayo where colourful modern design and spectacular coastal views go hand in hand.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £2,195 per week, £1,695 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three small dogs on prior request
Features: Wood-fired hot tub
White Beach Cove
Beaumaris, Isle of Anglesey, Wales, UK
A traditional Welsh cottage nestled into Anglesey’s remote north coast, White Beach Cove is an adventurer’s delight hidden in one of the UK's wildest corners.
Sleeps: Up to 5 guests
From: £1,750 per week, £1,295 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Three well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub, electric car charging point, portable air conditioning unit
Maison Blanche
A luxury self-catering Grade II listed cottage which has stood the test of time since 1647, every corner breathes harmony and cheer while outside a hot tub bubbles under twinkling skies.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £1,850 per week, £1,350 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Wood-fired hot tub
The Signal Station
Journey to the end of the earth to this iconic maritime home settled high on the cliffs of Cornwall’s wild Lizard Peninsula.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £2,495 per week, £1,895 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Raffia
Approached via a zigzagging path that tumbles down the cliff towards the cove at Polperro, this Scandinavian-style beach house takes in scrumptious sea views from floor-to-ceiling windows and a balcony that seems to hang over the end of the earth.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £2,250 per week, £1,650 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Smokehouse Cottage
Newgale, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
A white stone dot tucked beneath the hills, discover a piece of Wales' wild magic at this secluded bolthole on the Pembrokeshire coast. Formerly a smokery, this reclaimed fisherman’s cottage has been cleverly reinvented to create an authentic refuge hideaway.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £2,095 per week, £2,150 per short break
Pets: One small to medium well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: Wood-fired hot tub (available autumn and winter months on prior request), outdoor shower for surfers
Gwendolyn
Nestled above the sand dunes of Perranporth Beach, Gwendolyn is a luxury coastal cottage with hot tub and far-reaching sea views in North Cornwall, where troves of rustic riches hide.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £2,950 per week, £2,250 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Features: Hot tub, al fresco BBQ area
Villa Boden
If you see beauty in simplicity, Villa Boden is for you. Kept in the family for over twenty years, two sisters have re-imagined their adored Cornish beach house, embracing Nordic design concepts and taking a modern approach on luxury hygge living.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £2,695 per week, £1,995 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Pomona
On an isolated clifftop close to the Cornish fishing village of Coverack, this mid-century modern home is a celebration of art, nature and retro style. A hidden gem tucked within the Terence Coventry Sculpture Park.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £1,995 per week, £1,495 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Dogs will be considered on prior agreement
Features: Heated outdoor swimming pool (available May- September inclusive), cinema den, table tennis
The Brandy Thief
Lee, Ilfracombe, Devon, UK
Awash with history and swathed in character, this luxury coastal cottage is a dreamy retreat for explorers looking to hunker down in North Devon.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £1,950 per week, £1,450 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One small to medium well-behaved dog is welcome and two on prior request
Heddwen
A Welsh granite farmhouse with coastal dramatic views of Cardigan Bay in one direction and Mount Snowdon grazing the clouds in the other, Heddwen exudes warm and inviting cottage charm.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £2,295 per week, £1,750 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Outdoor bath
The Viewing Gallery
Experience 'life on the ocean wave' without leaving the safety of the shore, watch for dolphins and seals playing in the surf and sit agog at the breath-taking sunsets all from the comfort of the private deck at The Viewing Gallery in Portreath.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £2,495 per week, £1,895 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
Solas
Luskentyre Beach, The Isle of Harris, Scotland, UK
Settled above the paradisiacal shores of Luskentyre Beach on the Isle of Harris, Solas is a modern self-catering home seemingly perched on the edge of the world.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £3,295 per week
Pets: One well-behaved dog will be considered on prior request
Features: Wood-fired hot tub, spa area with sauna, shower and yoga deck
Nautilus
St Mawes, The Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall, UK
With a collated and collected vibe, this light-filled beach house is as perfect for families looking for a unique beach escape as couple’s seeking a laid-back yet indulgent retreat.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
North Rock Beach House
North Rock Beach House is a spectacular luxury beach house overlooking the the sea and Sennen Cove in West Cornwall- voted by Conde Nast Traveller as one of Britain's best beaches.
Sleeps: Up to 7 guests
From: £2,795 per week, £1,995 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Outdoor heated swimming pool (available from May-September)
Galleon
This luxury beach house with a pool has been cleverly redesigned into the cliffside to make the most of the spectacular views over Portreath beach. Welcoming families and friends to beach break in style.
Sleeps: Up to 8 guests
From: £3,595 per week, £2,695 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Geothermically heated indoor swimming pool
Alba Beach House
A luxury pink cob cottage with a balcony overhanging the sands of St Ives' Porthmeor Beach, Alba Beach House is the ultimate self-catering family seaside retreat.
Sleeps: Up to 8 guests
From: £2,895 per week, £2,195 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two pets are welcome
The Hatch
Beach Road, Crantock, Cornwall, UK
Taking guests on a tactile journey through earthen tones and organic textures, and just a short stroll from Crantock Beach, The Hatch is a luxury coastal holiday cottage in Cornwall that's been crafted with soul.
Sleeps: Up to 9 guests (+ 1 in trundle bed on prior request)
From: £3,495 per week, £2,650 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 & Up to 4 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Features: Games room with table tennis and cinema loft, plus garden home office
Lightkeepers
A thoughtful renovation near Gwithian on north Cornwall’s St Ives, Lightkeepers is an elemental farmhouse with a plunge pool and an art gallery feel. Inside is an earthy chamber of marble plinths offset by textiles that bring the textures of Africa.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
From: £3,650 per week, £2,750 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 guests
Pets: Two well behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Outdoor pool (8x2m, available May-September), hot tub and shower, games room with pool table
Stratum
An offset twisting puzzle where layers of Trebarwith stone and pearl-white render appear to rotate independently of each other, Stratum is a luxury self-catering beach house where windswept hair and salty skin run amok.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
From: £3,995 per week, £4,350 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: There is a hot tub, outdoor shower and garage games room/gym
Amaia
Plaidy Beach, Looe, Cornwall, UK
Seemingly floating above the ocean, with private beach access and a hot tub looking over the water, Amaia emerges from the Cornish cliffside with timeless beach house elegance.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
From: £6,995 per week, £5,595 per short break
Pets: One well behaved dog is welcome on prior request.
Features: Hot tub, private beach access, outdoor shower, outdoor kitchen with gas BBQ and wood-fired pizza oven, fire pit, cinema room with bar
Seren Mor
Newport, Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK
Nestled on the green cliffs of the Pembrokeshire coast, this luxury self-catering home in Wales is the perfect family retreat.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
From: £3,550 per week
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: Kayaks, surf boards and a private path directly onto the beach
Senara
Just a mile from Gwithian’s rolling dunes and pounding surf, Senara is a cool, architectural beach house complete with outdoor pool, hot tub and sauna.
Sleeps: Up to 12 guests
From: £4,995 per week, £3,750 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 & Up to 4 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Features: Outdoor heated swimming pool (May - September), hot tub, sauna, gym, outdoor kitchen, yoga deck
Zephyros
Uplyme, Lyme Regis, Dorset, UK
Settled high atop a ridge on the Dorset-Devon border with a feeling of floating in the clouds, Zephyros overlooks miles of undulating valleys and arcadian hills, with the Jurassic coast sparkling to the south.
Sleeps: Up to 12 guests
From: £5,695 per week, £4,550 per short break
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Heated indoor pool, cinema snug, children´s play area with swings, trampoline and climbing frame, table football
Northcott Beach House
Northcott Mouth, Bude, Cornwall, UK
A breathtaking cliff-top large self-catering beach house in north Cornwall offering large luxury accommodation near Bude in north Cornwall for up to 16 guests.
Sleeps: Up to 14 guests
From: £3,295 per week, £2,450 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Lowenek
Part easy coastal retreat, part cheerful multi-gen gathering place, it might appear to be all floating aspects and modernity, but there’s cosy bones to this luxury self-catering beach house keeping watch over Portreath Beach.
Sleeps: Up to 14 guests (12 adults and 2 children) (2 extra children by prior request)
From: £4,250 per week, £3,195 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 8 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Hot tub, entertainment cinema room (with cocktail bar, table tennis, pool table)
Weddings at Gwendolyn
With a thatched roof that feigns to keep a lid on the joy within, wise ivory chimneys that preside over garden love scenes, and casement windows that look out to the sea, Gwendolyn is perhaps the most poetic elopement venue in all of Cornwall.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests overnight and up to 20 day guests
From: £4,450 per week, £3,850 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome, or three on prior request
Features: Hot tub, al fresco barbecue area
