Well Travelled | Summer Staycations
With airports lounges and hotel lobbies losing their appeal, WELL CURATED turned our attention to the loveliest home-stays to bookmark for your next break. Scrolling through our edit, one thing is certain, you don’t have to forfeit luxury by booking a self-catering escape. Whether you’re looking forward to a family break or want to cosy up as a couple, we have done the hard work for you.
Bristol | Quincy
Sleeps 2
Quincy is an ex Fed-Ex van now dedicated to delivering the perfect romantic getaway. Based in Bristol with excellent access to the M4 and M5 you can head off on your adventures to the South West, Wales or even further afield. Quincy is a hi-spec and quality camper-van, it has probably helped that one of her owners is a carpenter. Fully equipped with running water, a comfy double bed, a fridge-freezer, gas heating, and giant solar panels, going off-grid has never more simple or stylish.
Cornwall | Juneberry
Sleeps 2
Tucked away between the trees on Cornwall’s north coast, Juneberry is settled in the quiet idyll of rural bliss. Built with love and raised with only the most natural and sustainable materials around, this luxury self-catering cabin is a reclaimed utopia of vintage floral fabrics, organic craftsmanship and eco-friendly credentials - all under two miles from the brown sugar sands and slick surf of Holywell Bay. Our favourite part… Juneberry comes complete with a yoga deck perfectly positioned for morning sun salutations.
East Sussex | LOMA Beach House
Sleeps 14
Situated just behind the dunes of Camber Sands, LOMA Beach House is an alluring fusion of Scandinavian design and industrial style. The house sleeps 14 and is completely private, yet the beach is less than a minute’s walk away. With views of the sand dunes greeting you in the morning and the sound of the sea sending you to sleep in ultra-comfy beds, it makes Loma Beach House the perfect coastal getaway. Using 100% renewable energy, the house observes key green principles: a small carbon footprint, minimal disturbance to the surrounding landscape and the use of sustainably sourced furniture.
Cornwall | The Shipwreck
Sleeps 4
Built entirely from the washed-up timber, The Shipwreck celebrates the simplest pleasures in life, far-reaching views above Portwrinkle Beach and no sound to disturb other than the gentle roar of the waves. Sleeping up to 4 guests, 2 adults and 2 children, this beautiful beach house in Cornwall’s forgotten south-east corner, is the perfect spot to spend uninterrupted time together. The cosy bunk room will delight children, conjuring bedtime tales of pirates and adventurous stowaways in search of treasure.
The Cotswolds | The Apple Store
Sleeps 4
This classic Cotswolds cottage was the original store for Daylesford’s farm produce before being converted into the aptly named The Apple Store. An idyllic space in which to retreat and relax, with log fires, thickly woven rugs and pure cotton sheets for ultimate indulgence. Guests will also enjoy delicious food on the doorstep from the Daylesford Organic farm shop, and a complimentary yoga, sound healing, meditation or pilates class in the Bamford Haybarn Spa. The cottage sleeps 4 in kingsize or twin beds in each of the 2 bedrooms.
Sleeps 10
Eden Hall Cottage offers a relaxing and luxurious getaway on the Norfolk coast. From the handcrafted kitchen, to the freestanding cast iron baths, every element of Eden Hall has been lovingly restored by the founders of Plum & Ashby, to create a calm and relaxing home from home. The self-catering cottage sleeps up to 10 people and is perfectly positioned just a short five-minute walk from the beach. It’s an ideal location for visiting the broads, National Trust properties, ancient woodlands, hidden beaches and award-winning pub, The Gunton Arms.
Lake District | Love Shack
Sleeps 2
The Love Shack was created by and for the discerning traveller who is looking for understated luxury without a vast environmental price-tag. Managed personally by the people who built it, Karen & Adam, it is finished and maintained to an impeccably high spec. Great care was taken to build the house sustainably, using local reclaimed timber, natural wall coverings, organic paints and low-energy lighting. Situated in its own small fenced woodland with stunning views of Lake Windermere, many species of birds frequent the mature trees surrounding the house. With one double bedroom and an outdoor timber deck complete with fire pit and double hammock, the cabin is perfect for couples looking for a romantic break.
Cirencester | Filly Island
Sleeps 2
This luxury self-catering cottage in the Cotswolds is a beguiling melange of creative style and romantic ideologies. Sat upon a tiny island accessed by a humpback bridge, whether staying the weekend or entire summer, two people and two dogs can claim Filly Island all for themselves. The owner's passion for up-cycling and discovering use for old objects is what makes this unique homestay so special. Pre-loved finds are revivified to great effect, from the fire bucket light shades to the curtains made from old Hungarian grain sacks. When you can tear yourself away from this luxury cottage spend afternoons sauntering around picture-postcard villages.
Norfolk | Settle
Sleeps 2-13
Tucked away within 30 acres of picturesque parkland, Settle is the perfect space for switching off. With a collection of repurposed railway carriages, a boutique cabin, and a canvas camp of safari tents, this Breckland hideaway can accommodate up to thirteen guests. As well as selecting sustainable suppliers from Piglet in Bed linens to Aesop’s superlative skincare, owners John & Jo prepare signature breakfast baskets, brimming with local fresh sourdough bread, coffee from Norwich-based Kofra, organic porridge oats, raw fresh butter from Fen Farm Dairy, local free-range eggs and milk. Breckland is Special Protection Area and one of the few spots in England where the rare and shy golden pheasant may be seen in the wild.
North Norfolk | Beach House Brancaster
Sleeps 10
Beach House Brancaster has been restored to more than just a coastal holiday let, from the lighting and the furniture to the fabrics, ceramics and artwork, almost everything you see will have been lovingly made for the house by local artists and craftsmen, meaning you can buy or commission the work whilst you’re there. Sleeping 10 comfortably, the 3 double bedrooms and 2 twin rooms should cover most family or friends' sleeping arrangements. The seemingly endless sand flats and dunes of Brancaster Beach are within walking distance, while neighbouring Brancaster Staithe is the closest harbour for sailing. Fashionable Burnham Market, a great spot for restaurants and boutique shops, is just ten minutes away.