THE STAYCATION
With holidays abroad still looking a little unlikely this year, The Staycation is the hot topic on the lips of all holiday-makers right now. If, like us, you have been dreaming about getting away since the last lockdown was announced, you have every intention of making the most of a summer in the UK now that restrictions are easing. We love finding unique places to stay, that go above and beyond the average hotel room. Somewhere with charm and personal touches that make our stay ever more memorable. The quirkier the better in our opinion! We thought we would share a few of our favourites.
LOG JAM CABIN, CORNWALL
We have stayed at Log Jam cabin in Cornwall twice now, once in Spring and a second time in the Autumn. This log cabin combined our love for being in the wild but with all luxuries includes. We were charmed by the inside, with a log burner, cosy sofa, fully equipped kitchen waiting for us and the dreamiest bedroom set-up. The bathroom is just a hop away from the cabin door with a compost loo and hot shower, fluffy towels and eco-friendly toiletries provided. As much as we loved the inside, it is the setting that is the true highlight. Surrounded by trees and wildlife, we spent much of our time outside on the deck or down by the fire pit soaking up all the good things being outdoors provides. This year holiday-makers are looking for quiet, safe places to escape to and Log Jam is the perfect place to do so. Read more about our stay here.
THE LLETHRAU, WALES
We travel to Wales time and time again for the incredible natural beauty and so it is always important for us to pick a place to stay that celebrates this. The Llethrau is situated in a private, hidden valley in Powys just a few minutes from the Shropshire border and is surrounded by nature, rolling hills and little else. Pure peace and tranquility here is the aim of the game and the owners encourage you to switch off and relax completely. The Llethrau is made up of self-catering shepherds huts, yurts and cottages that are each unique and special. We stayed in Nadine, the green shepherds hut for two nights. We enjoyed breakfast on the decking nestled in the woodland surroundings and woke each morning to the beautiful view of the hand painted ceiling. It is the little touches here that make all the difference. The hut comes equipped with a full kitchen and bathroom so you will have everything you need for the perfect stay. We loved our stay so much that we booked an extra two nights at the shepherds hut next door, Shanti, and enjoyed the added log burner included here. Choose to take one of the many trails from The Llethrau for an outdoorsy day gawping at the Welsh countryside or road trip around the market towns and villages such as Hay-on-Wye or Shrewsbury. The Llethrau also allows groups to book out the entire venue so as restrictions ease and we are able to travel with larger groups, this would be an ideal place to see all your loved ones together and make up for lost time.
Nadine Hut
Nadine Hut
Shanti hut and the resident doggo
MEDLEY MEADOW, WALES
We stumbled across Medley Meadow online and booked our own safari tent stay. Nestled in the Monmouthshire countryside between the Wye Valley and the Brecon Beacons National Park, Medley Meadow is a glamping and conservation area. Set in the 11 acres of organic meadows sit three luxury safari tent cabins. We loved that we were able to enjoy a cosy and luxurious stay but that we were somewhere that also had sustainability as its heart. Find out more about our stay here. We booked to stay in Cherry. Named after the four wild cherry trees that blossom in the Spring nearby, Cherry has a double bedroom and a twin bedroom, with an open living room/dining room and kitchen area. There is also a lovely en-suite bathroom and hot shower. The tent was so luxurious that you barely noticed you were even in a tent! We spent a lot of time on the private decking area, toasting marshmallows over the chiminea and enjoying the locally-made iron firepit. There is also a log-burning fire inside that kept us toasty all weekend. Every detail was perfect and we had everything we could have possibly needed for our stay. With the Brecon Beacons on your doorstep, lace up those hiking boots and set off for a day of appreciating the natural beauty this area has to offer. Alternatively, jump in a car and spend a day town-hopping, stopping at nearby gems such as Abergavenny or Crickhowell.
LOVE TO CAMPER RENTAL
We are total advocates for a campervan holiday and what better way to do it than with a vintage VW bus? We loved renting out Lady Lily with Love to Camper and soaked up life in the slow lane. A summer road trip should be on everyone’s bucket list and doing it in style only adds to the fun! Owners Julia and Chris have 4 quirky campers for you to choose from so you won’t be stuck to find the right vehicle for you. Lily had absolutely everything we could possibly need for a few secluded days away. She is equipped with crockery and cutlery, fairy lights, table and chairs for outside chilling, power points for charging, a comfortable rock and roll bed, a fridge, twin gas hob and a barbecue. She even has a toilet! You can’t beat that feeling of parking up to watch the sunset after a day of road tripping, popping a bottle of fizz, lighting a campfire and waiting for the stars to be painted across the sky. We will always love a camper trip and for those who are craving a true quirky adventure, you have to try it out!
THE LAZY DUCK, SCOTLAND
In the ancient pine forests of the Cairngorms National Park, within Nethy Bridge, you will find The Lazy Duck, a six acre family homestead. They have created cosy, sustainable places to stay and relax whilst admiring the natural beauty of Scotland. They have an 8-bed snuggly hostel, a camp-site as well as three eco huts. They believe in living gently and so make all the effort to be a kind and sustainable place to stay. They welcome you to come, relax and live slow and that is exactly what we did during our time spent in the Woodman's Hut. We stayed for four nights during a snowy winter but we imagine a summer trip would be equally as wonderful. Get back to nature by hiking around the Cairngorms or simply stay put in your little cabin, enjoying the views from the balcony, spotting the abundance of wildlife that exists around the homestead or even take a dip in the dreamy wood fired hot tub. It doesn’t get quirkier than this cabin, with the compost loo a mere hop, skip and jump from the main cabin as well as the shower being located outside! Pure charm awaits you at The Lazy Duck. Read more about our stay here.
Are you planning a secluded getaway this summer in the UK? We personally cannot wait to be back out there exploring.