Sawday’s Special Places to Stay

A Sawday’s special place to stay, whether it’s a self-catering home, hotel, B&B or a pub with rooms, is a place where you can explore wilderness right from your door. We personally inspect every single one we work with, choosing them not just for the beauty that surrounds them, but for the creativity and passion of the people behind them. 

Our collection spans the whole of the UK and Europe, so you’ll find everything from remote cottages in the Scottish highlands and beach houses in Cornwall, to Italian villas, quiet gîtes and hilltop fincas. 

We’ve been seeking out special places since the 90s and, as we carry on finding more and more, we hope you enjoy discovering them all as much as we did. 

 

Featured places to enjoy nature

La Scierie - Gallery

La Scierie

Salins-les-Bains, Jura
Fallen Angel - Gallery

Fallen Angel

Mousehole, Cornwall
Pont Faen - Gallery

Pont Faen

Gwynedd

Looking for your next summer getaway?

France

France

Italy

Italy

Spain

Spain

Portugal

Portugal

 

About our special places to stay

Self-catering places & cottages

Even when they aren’t there hosting you, the person who created the place you’re staying makes a huge difference. The ones we work with go the extra mile to make you feel at home the moment you arrive. You might find welcome hampers of local food, a hand-written note, or great suggestions for things to do in the area. The place might be stocked with art, soaps and ceramics from nearby producers in the area, possibly even from the owners themselves. It will give you a sense of being a place to live, not just somewhere to keep your things for a few days.

 

Hotels

What we love in a hotel is when indulgent comfort and top-quality services are provided with an air of warmth and friendliness in a setting of creativity and character. We want our places to be everything a chain hotel isn’t – independently run, uniquely styled and possessed of a genuine human touch. We work only with small-scale businesses and where we do have owners of multiple properties, we know that they’re pouring the same amount of love into each of their places. There’s no checklist of facilities when we inspect a new hotel, or any place on Sawday’s. We simply visit, take a look around and make sure things are not just up to standard, but have a touch of magic about them.

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Pubs with rooms

Sometimes, you find yourself in a pub you never want to leave. The food is great, the beer is local, the staff are friendly and the whole place has that gentle buzz of people truly relaxing. So, why should you have to leave? Why not stay right there? That’s what our pubs with rooms collection is all about – hanging out in the bar or by the fire a little too long into the night, then wandering off to bed and waking up to a fine breakfast.

 

 

Bed & Breakfast

Where does the line between a boutique hotel and a beautiful B&B fall? The difference, in many cases, is only in the number of rooms, as you get the same warm welcome and the same generosity of spirit infusing everything. The B&B, perhaps, has a more familiar feel, like sharing in a family home for a few days of true local life. You tend to get chatting to the owners and learn about them and the area, which is the best way to make those little discoveries that turn a few days away into a memorable holiday. Our B&Bs are run by everyone from artists and potters, to retired architects and farmers whose family have been on the land for generations. Each of them has their own story to tell and their own way of welcoming you to the place they love.

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Inspiration for adventures in nature

Eight special places to stay, relax and learn in the outdoors

Taking time out of your busy life to recharge doesn’t have to mean doing nothing. Sometimes being active or learning a new skill can be more restorative than late starts and lazy days, especially when you combine it with some time in the countryside. With these incredible courses and classes, in leafy locations at our gorgeous places to stay, you’ll find yourself simultaneously relaxed and energised.

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Our most remote holiday cottages in the UK

Swap cabin fever for cottage fever at one of our favourite remote escapes in the UK. We’re not just talking about getting a change of scenery, but wonderful, natural experiences like having a chunk of National Park to yourself or dropping off the grid for a few days.

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Find more inspiration with our favourite places to stay

Places to stay by the sea in Devon

From endless blustery coastal path walks to sea kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkelling, there’s plenty to keep you and your crew busy. Here are a few of our highlights that bring you as close to the water as possible.

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Our most luxury places to stay in Kent

When you feel like staying somewhere that is truly indulgent and cosseting, a place that ticks all the luxury boxes, then start by checking out this selection in Kent.

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Places to stay in north Norfolk with walks

From pretty Tudor cottages bedecked with roses to modern minimalist beach houses, we’ve picked out six very special holiday cottages in North Norfolk. We’ve also asked the cottage owners to share their favourite local walks to help you discover Norfolk’s most breath-taking stretches of coastline, prettiest fishing villages, and cosiest pubs.

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Find your perfect match

Personally inspected and selected places that you'll love for their individual character

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