Ilston

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Just a few miles from the famous Saunton Sands, this lovely home has a bubbling hot tub, a sunny veranda and huge floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the interior with light. One of three homes on the same site, it’s the ideal base for exploring the spectacular Devonshire coast. Saunton Sands is one of Devon’s most beautiful beaches, with three miles of golden sand, and azure water. It’s as popular with surfers as families, but with such a vast stretch of beach, rarely feels crowded. The popular village of Braunton is also close by, with its many surf shops, restaurants and cafes. Enjoy a lazy lie in before heading to the beach to swim, surf and explore Braunton Burrows’ immense sand dunes. Then come back for a relaxing dunk in the hot tub and watch the sun go down on the deck with a glass of something delicious. The host welcomes pets (and Saunton Sands is dog-friendly year-round), so if you’ve got a furry friend, it’s the dream holiday. 

Sandy Burrow

Only a two-minute walk from the award-winning South Beach, this home is primely located for a visit to Tenby. Offering spectacular views of South Beach all the way towards Caldey Island, this luxury apartment has an open-plan living area at its heart. Unwind in the large sitting area while the chef of the group enjoys plenty of counter space in the kitchen. Large French doors open up to the terrace where you can capture stunning panoramic coastal views while soaking in the luxurious hot tub. Each of the bedrooms also have doors that open onto the terrace overlooking the ocean and nearby golf course, where you can get a few swings in when you've clocked in more than enough beach time.

Down by the Seaside

Tucked away in a valley at the heart of the Black Mountains, this sprawling home is a dreamy countryside escape. The home is split between an old farmhouse, a cottage, and a studio-style barn, making it a marvellous choice for group getaways. It’s in a stunning location and offers absolute peace and quiet, as well as privacy. If you’re looking to go off-grid and surround yourself with nature, you’ll love this home. 

The farmhouse is as traditional as they come, with wood beams and a roaring fireplace. In the mornings, cook hearty breakfasts on the AGA while enjoying the outstanding views of the valley from the kitchen window. From almost every angle here, the views captivate. 

Perhaps you’ll lace up your boots and head out on a nature walk. There’s an acre of woodland on the 40-acre farm, as well as a stretch of river for you to paddle in. There’s direct access to the Brecon Beacons National Park from the back of the farmhouse, so you won’t run out of hiking or cycling routes. 

When you return after a day exploring the Great Outdoors, you’ll be glad of the mountain spring water hot tub. Fire it up and soak your aching muscles, then spend the rest of the evening playing board games in front of the fire. 

The nearest pub is a fifteen-minute drive, and the cafes and bookshops of Hay-on-Wye are twenty-three minutes away. It may feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, but you can grab a pint or a slice of cake easily enough. Perfection. 


Serenity in the Black Mountains

A cabin in the woods reimagined, this home belongs in the centrefold of a magazine. Traditional wooden panelling adds a rustic feel to this home, but it's nicely contrasted with a stylish monochrome palette and huge floor-to-ceiling windows that overlook a colourful sensory garden and pond. It's easy to spend an afternoon sitting on the south-facing deck, enjoying the peace of the Welsh countryside and keeping an eye out for the swallows, swifts, ducks and frogs living their lives on the water — even an otter has been spotted in the grounds by previous guests. After a stroll among the greenery, unwind with a glass of wine in front of the log burner or head up to the snug in the mezzanine with a well-thumbed book. Venturing out, two sandy beaches, Norman castles and a few quaint cafes await in the village of Llansteffan, which can be reached in eight minutes by car. Also close by is Green Castle Woods – about a five-minute drive – which is perfect for afternoon strolls through ancient woodlands. Or, ten minutes in the opposite direction lies Carmarthen, believed to be the oldest town in Wales – head there for places to eat, drink and shop aplenty.

Ty Log

If you dream of waking up to uninterrupted views of the sea every day, then this home in the coastal village of Saundersfoot is for you. Three of the bedrooms offer fabulous vistas of the water below, meaning you can wake up to the sound of the waves and the sun on your face. The living room has huge floor-to-ceiling windows framing the watery views and, with two terraces to choose from, you can watch the fishing boats bobbing in the harbour for hours. The cheerful dining room is ideal for hosting a family dinner, or you might rather grill up an alfresco feast on the barbecue to enjoy outside with the breeze in your hair. The golden sands of Saundersfoot Beach are less than a ten-minute walk away, and the charming harbour is even closer. And, with all of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park on your doorstep, you'll love exploring the dramatic landscapes on foot or by bike. 

Seagull's Nest

Set on the outskirts of the pretty village of Llanfrynach, on the grounds of a grade II*-listed Georgian mansion, this quaint cottage offers a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The home has been lovingly converted from a workers' house into a contemporary home by your hosts, with meticulous attention paid to every detail. Step inside and head through to the open-plan living room, complete with an atmospheric wood burner and a dining table with plenty of space. The kitchen is equipped with everything you might need to prepare picnic lunches to keep you fuelled up on hikes, plus more elaborate dinners at the end of a long day out in nature. There are plenty of trails leading straight from the front door up onto the high peaks of the Brecon Beacons. Alternatively, enjoy more leisurely strolls along the canal. Despite the easy access to the pristine landscapes, you'll find plenty of pubs and restaurants, as well as a supermarket, within a ten-minute drive. Finally, there's an on-site treatment room where you can indulge in various therapy treatments ranging from manicures to deep tissue massages after a hard day hiking in the hills.

Pen y Fan

Gather up all your favourite people for a seaside holiday at this stylish cottage, set right in the heart of Saundersfoot village and just a seven-minute walk from the beach. 

This is a home to enjoy whatever the British weather throws at you. In the winter months, luxuriate in the vast sunroom beneath a gabled roof and soak up the panoramic views reaching the sea. Come summertime, slide open the bi-fold doors and let the light lure you out onto the deck. Split your time between the hot tub and loungers as the kids run off some energy on the lawns.

When you work up an appetite, prepare a feast in the modern kitchen, fire up the gas barbecue, or take a seven-minute stroll down to the waterfront for some fresh seafood. With its shimmering Blue Flag beach and quaint harbour delivering oodles of seaside charm, it’s guaranteed to be an afternoon well-spent. 

For a change of scene, Tenby is just a nine-minute drive away, or hop on a boat trip to explore the wild Pembrokeshire coastline. For those who feel up to a hefty walk, the 186-mile Pembrokeshire Coast Path is right on your doorstep. 

Lazy Hazy Days

Step back in time with a stay at this magnificent Grade II* listed Elizabethan manor house. And while there’s an abundance of charm and character, you’ll also find plenty of contemporary comforts to bring luxurious ease to your country escape. From the grand dining hall and billiard room to the elegant drawing room and cosy bedrooms, every detail has been considered to inspire optimum relaxation. It’s also the perfect venue for special events, weddings and intimate gatherings with catering and organised experiences available on request. Outside, explore ancient woodlands, historic buildings and an organic farm. It’s also just a short drive to the majestic Quantock Hills and less than two hours from London. 

Place of Beauty

With features dating back to the sixteenth century, a stay at this former farmhouse epitomises a Devon country retreat. Within the grounds, you’ve got a shared indoor swimming pool, games room and playparks aplenty for the kids. Feeding sessions at the animal enclosures take place in the morning where you can get close to the alpacas, piglets and pygmy goats. And there’s an honesty shop onsite too, selling delights like eggs straight from the farm, home-cooked ready meals and barbecue meat packs. If you want to explore the wider area, Combe Martin is a five-minute drive away with a couple of local pubs and a supermarket, and Combe Martin’s beach is just a ten-minute drive.

The home itself dated back to the sixteenth century and you can feel this history in the old beams, minstrel’s gallery above the living room and listed staircase inside. Decor touches like an old spinning wheel, suspended aviary and antique writer’s bureau bring that old-world feel back into the bones of the home and the living room is set around a traditional old stove set in stonework. The huge kitchen is designed farmhouse-style with a big range cooker and island in the centre surrounded by high chairs. The master bedroom features a carved four-posted bed and each bedroom is decorated with antique darkwoork furniture and Victoriana accents. 

Outside a delightful surprise awaits. A bubbling hot tub overlooks the gardens and out to the rolling hills beyond. There’s also dining for the group on the patio, courtesy of a barbecue and perhaps a hamper of locally-sourced meat from the honesty shop onsite.  

Old Farmhouse

When Mary Ann Evans paid a visit to this home in 1857, she was inspired to write a novel. A year later, Scenes From A Clerical Life was published under the nom de plume George Eliot and over the course of the next twenty years, she would write some of the most influential books of the period, including Middlemarch and Daniel Deronda.

No pressure to anybody coming to this four-storey, Grade-II listed townhouse in the present day, then. Straight away, you can see why it had the power to rouse dormant literary ambitions — the view from the huge windows of Tenby Harbour is nothing short of sublime. Even though the interior has been updated in the proceeding two centuries, there are still signs of the home's heritage, from the high ceilings and tall windows to the original wooden floorboards in the hallway.

If you ever need a break from working on your manuscript, Castle Beach takes all of a minute to reach on foot, as does the 12th-century landmark that lends the sandy spot its name. Catching the twenty-minute ferry to see the abbey on Caldey Island is well worth doing, too.



Literary Ambitions

As you look around this home, it becomes clear very quickly that it has been designed to make the most of the beautiful coastal scenery in which this part of south Wales really specialises. In the living room, huge bi-fold doors open up to Juliet balconies that gaze out over Tenby's South Beach, while in the bedrooms there are further balconies, only this time with a view of Caldy Island. With such glorious panoramas, you could be forgiven for not really paying the interior much attention, but when you do get around to it, you'll find a modern space that's simple but effective — we're fans of the minimalist white kitchen, in particular. As you can probably imagine when looking out the window, the beach isn't too far away — just five minutes' walk, in fact. Tenby Castle can be reached in under a quarter of an hour on foot, too.

Welsh Cake

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