Inspiration

A holiday cottage for every season

5 min read

Across the UK, our holiday cottages mark the passing of the year in subtle ways. In spring, they open outward toward gardens and countryside renewal, while summer brings barefoot living and long evenings sat outside around the barbecue. Autumn is all about crunchy leaf walks, farm shop visits, slow harvest cooking and fires lit early. Winter makes a cottage feel almost protective, somewhere to watch storms pass while staying warm inside and enjoying small towns and their festive traditions. These holiday cottages prove that the UK has a perfect escape waiting for every season, and it’s worth planning around what each one offers.

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A spring escape in the Garden of England

Stay at: Kingshill Farmhouse, Kent

Spring suits Kingshill Farmhouse perfectly. Set within Elmley National Nature Reserve on the Isle of Sheppey, the cottage sits among 3,300 acres of saltmarsh, grazing land and wild coastline, placing you directly inside one of the UK’s most remarkable landscapes. Known as the Garden of England, the county feels especially alive here as migrating birds return, wildflowers begin to appear and new life spreads across the marshes.

Kingshill combines vintage character with thoughtful comfort, from underfloor heating to deep windowsills filled with light. Wellness treatments and yoga sessions add to the sense of renewal, while sheltered swimming from the private shell beach brings a bracing start to the day. To get the most from the spring here, book a wildlife safari, or simply watch nature from the glass-walled kitchen. Nearby farm shops also offer excellent salt marsh lamb, perfect for an Easter stay shaped entirely by the season.

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Summer by the sea in West Wales

Stay at: Llareggub Beach House, Pembrokeshire

Llareggub Beach House has that effortless 60s boho vibe that makes summer feel just right, with distressed wood, mid-century fabrics, and relaxed open plan spaces that let the light pour in. From the elevated living room, the view over Saundersfoot Bay is an entire panorama, with tides, boats, and ever-changing Atlantic skies providing a moving backdrop all day. Summer here is made for long mornings on the terrace, walks along the beach, and dipping into the sea whenever you like.

Adventurous days can include walking, surfing, coasteering, or kayaking along Pembrokeshire’s rugged coast. For a change of pace, visit the Bosherston Lily Ponds in June or July to see them in full bloom. When it comes to food, there’s nothing better than a seafood dinner at the Stone Crab with mussels, lobster, and platters to share, or cooking on your terrace barbecue with fresh local fish and shellfish from Saundersfoot or Tenby.

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A cosy autumn stay in the Cotswolds

Stay at: The Gates, Castle Combe

The Gates is pure autumn magic. Oak beams, original stone floors, mullioned windows, and a huge stone fireplace are made for crisp evenings and golden light. Cooking here is a joy and in autumn, it feels like a celebration of the harvest time. Rummaging through seasonal produce at nearby Allington Farm Shop or Burton Farm Shop, followed by the act of preparing hearty food while following a recipe from one of the kitchens recipe books makes the cooler evenings feel especially cosy.

Mid-October to mid-November is peak colour time. Take a short drive to Westonbirt Arboretum to see over 2,500 species of, including fiery Japanese maples, at their most vivid. The next day, pick pumpkins at a local Bath patch nearby, then finish with a pint and dinner at The Castle Inn. Back at The Gates, carve pumpkins, soak in the freestanding bath and curl up in front of the fireplace to complete a fully autumnal experience.

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A winter retreat on the Cornish coast

Stay at: Fallen Angel, Mousehole

Fallen Angel turns a Cornish winter into an immersive experience. From huge glass windows, the harbour, Mount’s Bay, and the rugged coastline provide everchanging scenery of rolling waves, grey skies, and low winter sun. Inside, the space is cosy with a snug for quiet mornings, a big corner sofa by the log burner with board games for lazy afternoons, or the bubble bath with panoramic views for the ultimate winter treat. Watching the elements shift from the warmth of the cottage feels meditative.

From mid-December to early January, the famous Mousehole Harbour Lights illuminate the village nightly, with carollers, mulled wine, and lanterns. If you visit around December 23rd, join the Tom Bawcock’s Eve lantern parade and try the traditional stargazy pie at The Ship Inn. For an offbeat winter adventure, book a seaweed foraging experience with local forager Rachel Lambert and discover the coast from a seasonal perspective few see.

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The UK doesn’t have just one holiday season, it has many. With the right holiday cottage, every time of year offers a different kind of escape, making it easier to start planning not just your next break, but the one after that too.

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Beth Tingle

Beth is our Marketing & Content Coordinator, who uses her experience in all things content to get to the heart of the stories and people behind our places and paint an authentic picture of what makes them truly special. She then helps the SEO team to ensure that content reaches as many people as possible. Raised in the small seaside town of Clevedon, she then studied English at Falmouth University and is happiest when swimming in the sea. A huge foodie, she enjoys travel that involves finding the best local markets and cooking up the produce in a self-catered stay.

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