GETAWAYS
HOLIDAYS OFF THE BEATEN PATH BY LISAMARIE LAMB
IF YOU ’ RE TIRED OF SEEING THE SAME OLD BOXY HOTEL ROOMS WHEN YOU TRAVEL AROUND THE UK , PERHAPS IT ’ S TIME YOU LOOKED FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT . A LITTLE MORE PERSONAL . A LITTLE LESS SAMEY . THERE ARE SOME TRULY WEIRD AND WONDERFUL BOUTIQUE HOTELS AND BED AND BREAKFASTS IN THIS COUNTRY OF OURS – IT ’ S TIME TO GO OUT AND DISCOVER THEM .
CANOPY AND STARS ( WWW . CANOPYANDSTARS . CO . UK ) HAS PUT TOGETHER A WEBSITE FULL OF THE QUIRKIEST , MOST UNIQUE PLACES TO STAY IN THE UK AND BEYOND . THE TEAM HANDPICK EACH ACCOMMODATION , GIVING YOU PEACE OF MIND THAT WHICHEVER ONE YOU CHOOSE , IT WILL BE A MEMORABLE VISIT . HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR FAVOURITES .
LILLA STUGAN , WORCESTERSHIRE
Lilla Stugan , or ‘ little cottage ’, was inspired by the long summers that Martin and Annika spent in their Swedish summer house . And what ’ s not to love about a country that designates whole days to celebrating sugary cakes and buns ? To top off these sweet credentials , the hut lives at the bottom of its very own apple orchard – a mini Moominvalley ! From £ 80 per night ( sleeps 2 ) www . canopyandstars . co . uk / lillastugan
HALDON BELVEDERE , EXETER
WARWICK KNIGHT , GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Once deemed the Rolls Royce of caravans , the restored Warwick Knight has stayed true to its regal roots . Stretch your legs up on the lush rooftop lawn , while enjoying views of the River Severn or the starry skies above . Little ones climb the wall pegs up to their bunk pods , bigger ones have a double bed with orchard views and luxury linen . From £ 95 per night ( sleeps 4 ), min . 2-night stay www . canopyandstars . co . uk / warwickknight
OFFA ' S PITCH , SHROPSHIRE
Offa ’ s Pitch rises up like a giant wooden tent – only grass and sky can be seen through the great glass doors at the end . Secluded it may be , but rustic it is definitely not . There ' s an iPad pro with Wi- Fi , designer furniture , a luxury bathroom and even underfloor heating to pad about on ! There ’ s no street lighting for miles , so borrow a pair of astral binoculars and make the most of the darker than dark skies . From £ 130 per night , min . 2-night stay www . canopyandstars . co . uk / offaspitch
CUCKOO MOON CABIN , CORNWALL
Also known as Lawrence Castle , Haldon Belvedere is a stunning structure that is full of history , beauty , and luxury . Built in 1788 , this tower has been standing ever since as an iconic landmark in the gorgeous Devon countryside . The Haldon Belvedere is what is known as a turreted folly , and its solitary position on top of a ridge to the west of Exeter is outstanding . It is out of the way but close to the villages below the ridge and offers a chance to get away from it all without being too remote . The castle is on the edge of Haldon Forest which offers extensive access to the surrounding countryside . The fully self-contained apartment on the second floor is accessible via the Lawrence Room and the cantilevered spiral stone staircase with wrought balustrades and mahogany handrail . Leading from the main living area which sleeps two with its lofty ceiling and Georgian gothic detailed doors and windows , there is a separate bathroom with bath and shower , and a fully fitted kitchen , which are built into the two turrets . www . haldonbelvedere . co . uk
Stuffed to the beams with folksy charm , The Cuckoo Moon Cabin is like a scene from Alice in Wonderland . Kids will burst with excitement when they see their one-of-a-kind Old Western bedroom – who can resist bunks in a fort , a tipi and a magnetic blackboard wall ? From £ 115 per night ( sleeps 4 adults and 4 children ) www . canopyandstars . co . uk / cuckoomoon
109