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Special Escapes: Self-catering in the UK

cottage with turf roof
Veranda of cabin in woods by mountains and a lake
Living room with log burner looking through a picture window to a lake and mountains
Brightly coloured living room sofas by fireplace

Alastair Sawday's Special Escapes has unearthed quirky, comfortable, independent self-catering places run by people who care. Each has been visited by and written about by us - we like them all and we don't include ones we wouldn't stay in ourselves. Don't spend another moment trawling through the insanely complex and unreliable world of self-catering websites. Special Escapes has what you're looking for...

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Latest escapes...

The Garden Cottage, Yorkshire

Enter a stone-flagged passage at the end of which is a grand old door to the garden beyond:...See the full entry »

Richmond

Covent Garden Apartment, London

Just three minutes walk from Covent Garden, the Victorian frontage of this chic top floor...See the full entry »

66A Neal Street, London, WC2H 9PA

Ground Floor Apartment, Bath & N.E. Somerset

A treat to stay on a Georgian terrace in an elevated position in Bath – one of the most...See the full entry »

Portland Place, Bath, BA1 2RU

Editor's picks...

Kernock Cottages, Cornwall

The sign at the top of the drive saying, '249 miles to London', captures it all: halfway between...See the full entry »

Pillaton, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6RY

The Cowshed, Suffolk

As conversions of farm outbuildings go, this has to be one of the best. It is sparklingly modern...See the full entry »

Tattingstone Park, Tattingstone, Near East Bergholt, Suffolk, IP9 2NF

Cornish Tipi Holidays, Cornwall

A great idea, born of goodwill and a profound sense of what makes people happy. Lizzie has...See the full entry »

c/o Tregeare, Pendoggett, St Kew, Cornwall, PL30 3HZ

A selection...

Carmel, Gwynedd

Off the main coast road, past the little bungalows, and you're heading down to the sea. Carmel is...See the full entry »

Pontllyfni, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL54 5EG

Tudor Cottage, Shropshire

You could be walking into a showhome, such is the perfection of this renovation; owner Rachael...See the full entry »

36 Union Street, Bishop's Castle, Shropshire, SY9

Rose Cottage, Dunalastair Holiday Houses, Perth & Kinross

Rose Cottage – well-named, its front is rose-draped in summer – stands in a secluded garden...See the full entry »

Dunalastair Estate, Kinloch Rannoch, Perth & Kinross, PH16 5PD