Seaside breezers
The Hamptons, Devon
Hit the beach in style from this North Devon boutique hidey-hole. It has four-posters with sheets that are way too good for sandy feet, WiFi, Molton Brown goodies, roll-top baths, lovely views, plus Nintendo Wiis and DVDs for when the kids have had enough of rock-pooling. Walking and surfing are also de rigueur around Ilfracombe. From £44.50. chicretreats.com
Martello Tower, Suffolk
Perched on the coast at Aldeburgh in Suffolk, the atmospheric Martello Tower is the most northerly of a chain of towers built to keep Napoleon out. The vaulted interior has teak floors and canopies over the main living space create a tent-like feel. The roof terrace offers fantastic views over the sea. From £597 for three nights for four. landmarktrust.org.uk
Allenbrook, Pembrokeshire
The gardens of this country-house B&B ramble down to the Pembrokeshire coast, where there are walks along the coastal path, sandy beaches, sailing, windsurfing and even sunshine, as the village of Dale holds the record for mainland Britain. Rooms face south over the sea and breakfast is round a big, convivial table. From £30. allenbrook-dale.co.uk
The Big Sleep hotel, East Sussex
Following successful properties in Cardiff and Cheltenham, Cosmo Fry has opened a Big Sleep Hotel on the seafront at Eastbourne. It's sleek, colourful, no-nonsense and has a wide variety of room sizes. Bring a party. Bring Grandma! From £42.50. thebigsleephotel.com
Baboo yacht, East Sussex
Chill out on a yacht at a fraction of St Tropez prices aboard Baboo, a 33ft cruiser decked out in comfy cream leather that's moored at Brighton Marina. It doesn't actually go anywhere — you just enjoy the buzz of marina life, sip G&Ts on deck and let the waves lull you to sleep. From £350 for a two-night weekend for up to four (but more romantic for two). holidaylettings.co.uk
B&B weymouth, Dorset
This contemporary and minimalist, but laid-back and welcoming establishment is sister of B&B Belgravia in London. It sits on the promenade of a Dorset seaside town that was originally put on the map by George III, who went there for the saltwater cure. Ninety-five miles of Jurassic coast, a must-see, stretch out before you. From £39.50. thehotelguru.com
The Chapel, Norfolk
It doesn't get much closer to the sea than this. When the tide's up in the creek, you can't park outside this converted chapel in Thornham. Upstairs, there's a panoramic view of the marsh, sea and sand dunes. Open the window and you can almost taste the salt. No TV or phone here. It's just you, the clinking masts and the seabirds calling across the marsh. From £545 for three nights for up to eight. glavenvalley.co.uk
Romantic retreats
The Angel at Burford, Oxfordshire
Perfectly located for sorties into the green and gold Cotswolds, midway between Oxford and Cheltenham, this is a quintessential 16th-century coaching inn with three comfortable rooms. Dinner will really surprise, and the breakfasts are huge and hearty. From £42.50. theangelatburford.co.uk
Howfield Manor, Kent
Close to Canterbury for shopping and culture, and to the chalky coast for windswept walks, this is a welcoming, small, family-run hotel where they look after you properly. Expect Champagne by the fire and winter-warming food using ingredients from the Garden of England — it's another world but, conveniently, not too far from the motorway. From £37.50. howfieldmanorhotel.co.uk
Gothic Temple, Buckinghamshire
Built in 1741 in the sprawling gardens of Stowe House, this little gem has bags of atmosphere, with its circular walls and plastered vaults. The main vault is gorgeously painted with heraldry and on the first-floor gallery there's a belvedere with stone seats and a view over one of the finest landscaped gardens in the world. From £597 for three nights for four. landmarktrust.org.uk
Abbey Inn, North Yorkshire
Hard by the ruins of Byland Abbey, which are floodlit and occasionally moonlit at night (so ask for the suite with the view), this inn was built in 1845 as a farmhouse by monks from Ampleforth. It has now been made over by English Heritage and furnished with Mouseman pieces made in nearby Kilburn. Good, hearty food is served to reward days spent walking the moors. From £47.50. bylandabbeyinn.com
Queens Arms, Somerset
Almost umbilically attached to its quiet valley on the Somerset/Dorset border, opposite the church in a mellow stone village, this pub attracts locals, in-the-know people visiting nearby Sherborne and the odd celebrity hoping for anonymity. Excellent grub, interesting ales and ciders and five rooms, including one with French antique walnut bed and purple cast-iron bath for two. From £42.50. thequeensarms.com
Cawdor Cottages, Scottish Highlands
Romantic hideaways in picturesque countryside surrounding Cawdor Castle in Nairn, these eight traditional estate cottages — Gardener's, Rose, Fisherman's, etc — are done up with charming, contemporary style by Isabella Cawdor. Achneim, originally a gamekeeper's lodge with views over the Moray Firth, sleeps two. From £385 for four nights. cawdor.com/cottages
Go to the next page for eco escapes, culture breaks, urban treats and more.
