Surf retreats
The coastline bordering the UK and Ireland has surfing to rival any. Even though the water's often cool, with a luxury coastal retreat waiting, those big sets can be wholly enjoyed.
Pulling off a wetsuit to rinse off under a hot outdoor shower with a warm home awaiting your return is how all luxury surf trips should be. Roaring fire, surfboard storage, bacon roll keeping toasty in the bottom of the Aga... add a sun deck for morning wave checks and you've all the makings of a Unique Homestays surf escape. Whether it's just you and your board or a big group of surfer friends gathering for your annual trip, trace the UK and Ireland's best surf spots by staying at these luxury retreats scattered up and down the coast, a stone's throw from the sea. From the nation's favourite beach resorts to secret surf spots, we've sourced surf breaks to suit all wave-riders. At the end of a long day on the water, there's nothing quite like cracking open a beer and watching the sunset while the barbecue gently grills supper in the corner. Why fly to the tropics when the forecast for a luxury surf escape in the UK and Ireland looks this good?
Somerby
Trebudannon, Newquay, Cornwall, UK
Embrace the vibrancy of rural sunsets, the scent of flower-filled gardens and the warmth of flickering flames from the open fireplace at this luxury modern barn set in a sleepy hamlet.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £795 per week, £595 per short break
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: Type 2 electric car charging point
Juneberry
Holywell Bay, Cubert, Cornwall, UK
Tucked away between the trees on Cornwall’s north coast, Juneberry is settled in the quiet idyll of rural bliss.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £950 per week, £725 per short break
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Yoga deck with mats and blocks
Sweetpea Cottage
Kestle Mill, Crantock, Cornwall, UK
Set deep within the Cornish countryside, yet just three miles from Crantock beach on North Cornwall's golden coastline, this luxury holiday cottage is as quaint as they come.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £795 per week, £595 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Well-equipped children´s nursery and summerhouse
Sundance
Trebudannon, Newquay, Cornwall, UK
This rustic bohemian abode is set off the beaten track between Newquay and Watergate Bay. Pared-back yet sumptuous, with heavy French linens and indulgent inside-outside living, this handcrafted wagon’s wild heart beats a free-spirited rhythm throughout its nomadic soul.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £850 per week, £650 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Sea Cabin
Trevaunance Cove, St Agnes, Cornwall, UK
A luxury cliff-side beach cottage set in one of Cornwall’s most sought after coastal villages. Perched above the turquoise waters of Trevaunance Cove in St Agnes and with stunning views across the horizon, this is the perfect hideaway for couples in love.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,150 per week, £850 per short break
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
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: £1,895 per week, £1,395 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub, heated outdoor shower
Daydreamer
Freathy, Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, UK
Ever dreamt of your own private clifftop retreat complete with bubbly hot tub and never-ending views out across Barbadian blue waters? Blissfully set on Freathy cliff in 'Cornwall's forgotten corner', Daydreamer offers just that and so much more.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,250 per week, £995 per short break
Pets: Two medium well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
Hinterland Cabin
Perched on a hill overlooking the Conwy valley, this luxury log cabin sits on the border of Snowdonia, enveloped by big skies and soaring mountains. Whether hill hiking or gorge trekking, the hot tub and sauna will be the perfect remedy to the day's adventures.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,750 per week, £1,095 per short break
Pets: Two medium well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub and sauna
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 unique holiday home offers an unforgettable escape to Cornwall's north coast.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,495 per week, £1,150 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
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: £1,895 per week, £1,395 per short break
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Hot tub and outdoor shower
Islander
Freathy, Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, UK
A luxury cliff top cabin set on Freathy Cliff overlooking Whitsand Bay, Cornwall, Islander is a Bahamas-inspired retreat with a tropical beat running through its soul. A sea-view hot tub is the cherry on top of this already oh-so-sweet piña colada pie.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,395 per week, £995 per short break
Pets: Two medium well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
Firefly
Trebudannon, Newquay, Cornwall, UK
Nomadic types will love Firefly’s earthy, back-to-nature appeal. Handcrafted using rough cut timber and complete with a double smoking chimney, hot tub and wildlife pond, Firefly is an intriguing cottage hideaway in Cornwall perfect for couples.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,350 per week, £1,050 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
The Cotton Tree
Cubert, Holywell Bay, Cornwall, UK
The Cotton Tree is a Queenslander-style clapboard cottage inspired by tropical beach houses and barefoot living. Set on the north Cornwall coast, Holywell Bay and Porth Joke beach are within easy reach.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,395 per week, £1,050 per short break
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
Little Portion
Cubert, Holywell Bay, Cornwall, UK
Crooked and charming, this pretty red tin cottage is the perfect couples' coastal retreat just a mile’s amble from Holywell Bay, with reclaimed finishes, trailing plants and an al fresco hot tub.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,250 per week, £995 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
Libertine
Goonhavern, Perranporth, Cornwall, UK
Libertine; a luxury self-catering bolthole set amidst a milieu of pretty woodland just outside Goonhavern village on the north Cornwall coast. This fashionista’s cottage is positioned within a few miles of Holywell Bay, St Agnes and Perranporth beach.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £850 per week, £650 per short break
Pets: One large or two medium well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub and garden deck
The Hide
Callestick, Perranporth, Cornwall, UK
An unexpected discovery at the end of a Cornish country lane, this luxury self-catering hideaway near Perranporth beach combines rusticity with contemporary clean-line appeal.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,295 per week, £995 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub, fire pit and yoga deck
Nare’s Yard
Portloe, The Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall, UK
Tucked away behind rolling fields on Cornwall’s long-lost, forgotten Roseland Peninsula, lies a luxury abode where beautiful simplicity and natural materials echo the outside world.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,150 per week, £850 per short break
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Wood-fired salt water hot tub, al fresco roll top bath and shower
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, £1,295 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
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 over the age of 5)
From: £1,150 per week, £895 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
The Meadows
Retyn, St Newlyn East, Cornwall, UK
There's a flavour of Balearic island style to this weathered stone couples' retreat. Tucked into the hills, occupying a secret location seven miles inland between Crantock and Watergate Bay on the north Cornwall coast, The Meadows was designed for simple country living in the twenty first century.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,450 per week, £995 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub, outside fire, electric car charging point
The Beach Hut
Millook, Widemouth Bay, Cornwall, UK
Stay in this unique rough-luxe beach shack in North Cornwall and rediscover the simple life in this AONB. Fresh interiors, maritime lullabies and the starriest of night skies make this traditional yet chic Cornish beach shack the most inspiring of retreats.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,895 per week, £1,495 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
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: £1,595 per week, £1,250 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub and fire pit
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: £1,450 per week, £1,095 per short break
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Italian spa bath, heated outdoor shower, 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: £1,195 per week, £895 per short break
Pets: One large or two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
Delphin
If your dream luxury break includes wild swimming, fine-dining hangouts and listening to vinyl records by the fire, then this Scandi-inspired modern beach house in Porthleven will be one to tick off the bucket list.
Sleeps: Up to 2 guests
From: £1,395 per week, £995 per short break
Pets: One dog or two small well-behaved 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: £1,695 per week, £1,195 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
The Boat House
With luxurious contemporary interiors, The Boat House near Cawsand is a very special gem in the forgotten corner of Cornwall. The gardens are a nature lover's paradise with five acres of secluded wooded grounds leading down to the beach.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £1,295 per week, £1,350 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
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: £1,295 per week, £975 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
The Fable
Ventongimps, Perranporth, Cornwall, UK
Nestled up a tiny track surrounded by pretty rose gardens, The Fable is a fairytale cottage in Cornwall in the heart of Poldark country. This luxury cottage with hot tub is just three miles from the golden sands of Perranporth beach.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £1,595 per week, £1,195 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub
The Wool Shed
Trebudannon, Newquay, Cornwall, UK
With an off-the-beaten-track feel, but set within a pretty Cornish hamlet, The Wool Shed is a hand-crafted cottage exuding rusticity where scorched wooden floors, knotty textures and a pallet of calm greys combine to create a modern-day holiday abode.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £1,350 per week, £1,050 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Hot tub and outside stone fireplace
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: £1,395 per week, £1,095 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 and summerhouse reading room
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 colorful modern design and spectacular coastal views go hand in hand.
Sleeps: Up to 4 guests
From: £1,550 per week, £1,155 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: Wood-fired hot tub, electric car charger
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: £1,895 per week, £1,395 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: £1,895 per week, £1,450 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome, two on prior request
Features: Hot tub and fire pit
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 4 guests
From: £1,650 per week, £1,250 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One small to medium well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: Wood-fired hot tub, outdoor shower for surfers
Under the Rose
Under the Rose stands in all its chocolate-box glory, taking prime position in the heart of Crantock village.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests (including 1 child)
From: £1,250 per week, £995 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: Hot tub
Galleon
This luxury beach house 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 6 guests
From: £1,650 per week, £1,150 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Raffia
Approached via a zigzagging path which tumbles down the cliff towards the cove at Polperro, this Scandinavian style off-grid retreat is blissfully unplugged.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £1,850 per week, £1,350 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 & Up to 4 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
The Lost Music Hall
Created by a London dandy to serve as his secret retreat from society, this former music hall has been restored in all its Arts and Crafts glory to offer unique escapes in a hidden valley of Devon's South Hams AONB.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests
From: £1,795 per week, £1,350 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 & Up to 12 guests
Pets: Two pets are welcome
Features: Heated outdoor swimming pool (May-September) and games room with table tennis and darts
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
From: £1,350 per week, £1,050 per short break
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
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: £1,995 per week, £1,395 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two small well-behaved dogs are welcome
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: £1,650 per week, £1,250 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
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
From: £1,595 per week, £1,250 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
Features: Games room with table tennis and table football
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: £2,195 per week, £1,650 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
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: £2,095 per week, £1,595 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome on prior request
Features: Hot tub
Gwendolyn
Nestled above the sand dunes of Perranporth beach, this elegant Cornish coastal cottage with hot tub and stunning sea views hides a treasure trove of modest, rustic riches.
Sleeps: Up to 6 guests (+ 2 children)
From: £2,350 per week, £1,795 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 4 & Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are very welcome
Features: Hot tub, al fresco BBQ area
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)
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
From: £1,795 per week, £1,350 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 & Up to 4 guests
Pets: One well-behaved dog is welcome
Features: Hot tub, summerhouse, climbing frame, swings
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: £2,495 per week, £1,745 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 2 guests
Pets: Two pets are welcome
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)
From: £1,650 per week
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 & Up to 4 guests
Pets: Sorry, no pets
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
From: £8,500 per week, £6,250 per short break
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome on prior request
Features: Outdoor heated swimming pool available all year, basement cinema room
Ellenglaze
Holywell Bay, Cubert, Cornwall, UK
Those looking for a sublime holiday home close to the beach, boasting indoor swimming pool, cinema room, hot tub and mod cons need look no further! Ellenglaze in Holywell Bay will enchant families wanting the ultimate holiday home from home.
Sleeps: Up to 10 guests
From: £3,295 per week, £2,650 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 6 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
Features: Cinema projector, indoor heated pool and hot tub
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: £2,795 per week, £2,250 per short break
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
The Old Beach Stores
Porthcothan Bay, Padstow, Cornwall, UK
Tucked behind soft sand dunes which rise from the beach like billowing hot air balloons, this luxury beach house on Porthcothan Bay is the perfect base for a family break on the north Cornwall coast.
Sleeps: Up to 11 guests
From: £3,250 per week, £2,950 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 7 & Up to 6 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved, medium-sized dogs are welcome
Features: Garden room with hot tub and bar, games room with pool table, outdoor shower and dunk tank
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 16 guests
From: £2,650 per week, £1,995 per short break
Alternative Group Option: Up to 10 & Up to 8 guests
Pets: Two well-behaved dogs are welcome
