Alastair Sawday's Special Escapes: Self-catering in the UK

About Special Escapes

You're looking at a rare thing: a web site containing a subjective selection of self-catering properties, each of them visited and written about by us. We want this guide to be your shining light in a market that's crammed with misleading advertising and limited independent advice.

We've all, when pondering our holidays, ploughed through chunky agency brochures, undiscerning web sites and tourist board information in an effort to find the perfect holiday house, but are often hindered by lack of independent opinion. Each and every place, the brochures would have us believe, is idyllic. Getting it right has, until now, been more a matter of luck than judgement.

Well, uncross your fingers; you now have this new source of guidance. Many of the properties belong to owners who feature in our printed British guides, so we know them well and feel sure that they, and each of the other owners, will go to great lengths to make sure you enjoy your stay. Many owners live on site - sometimes in the house next door - some live elsewhere yet will have things in place to give you a warm welcome.

There should be something for everyone here - whether you're part of a couple that wants to be in glorious isolation or parents of young children who prefer to be in a sociable setting with other families. We have mills with watery scenery, a tipi camp on the Cornish coast, railway carriages on the York moors and romantic highland castles. There are also townhouses, slick city boltholes, rustic barns and impossibly pretty cottages, dotted around England, Scotland and Wales.

Some are included because they are in a peaceful, stunning setting with glorious walks that start from the door. Many have been chosen because they are stylishly comfortable and characterful and your every need has been anticipated.

Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

1. INTELLECTUAL COPYRIGHT

The copyright and all other rights on this site are owned by Alastair Sawday Publishing Co. Ltd., or the material is included with the permission of the rights owner. As a visitor to this site, you may copy material for your own private or domestic purposes, but copying for any commercial or business use is strictly prohibited.

2. CONTENT

We reserve the right to refuse any application for inclusion on this website, and we have the sole right to remove any content. Please do not submit any material that contains adult, gambling, racist, sexist or hate material.

3. EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY

We use reasonable endeavours to ensure that the data on the website is accurate and we correct any errors or omissions as soon as practicable. We do not monitor, verify or endorse information submitted by third parties and you should be aware that such information might be inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.

While Alastair Sawday Publishing Co. Ltd makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information published on specialescapes.co.uk and on sawdays.co.uk we cannot be held responsible for any errors, omissions or changes that may have occurred after uploading. All recommendations, opinions expressed and prices are for guidance only. Personal descriptions have been written in good faith and are subjective and we accept no liability for the descriptions given. All views expressed are ours and individual opinions may differ.

We are not an agent and accept no responsibility for your direct dealings with owners or for your experience of their property. All the owners of places featured on specialescapes.co.uk and on sawdays.co.uk are responsible for providing you with the final quote and booking conditions for your reservation. If during your stay you have any reason for complaint, please deal with it immediately if possible so that remedial action may be taken. Sawdays's cannot intervene in any disputes between users and owners but we endeavour to investigate complaints.

4. EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR SUPPLIERS’ GOODS AND SERVICES

If we promote suppliers on specialescapes.co.uk or on sawdays.co.uk we can accept no liability for any goods or services provided by these suppliers. You should check that you agree to the suppliers' own terms and conditions before trading with them.

5. DATA SUBMITTED BY USERS

We accept no liability for data supplied by any user for display on specialescapes.co.uk or on sawdays.co.uk. If you submit data for display on the website you are responsible for ensuring it is accurate, complete, updated when necessary and for ensuring that it is not untrue, defamatory, obscene, abusive, objectionable or in breach of any applicable laws or rights of third parties. You warrant that you have taken all reasonable precautions to ensure that any data you upload or submit is free from viruses and anything else that may have a contaminating or destructive effect on any part of the website or any other technology. We reserve the right (without limiting our rights to seek other remedies) to remove offending material placed on specialescapes.co.uk or on sawdays.co.uk that we consider to constitute a misuse of the website or which is otherwise harmful to users of the site. You will indemnify and hold us harmless from any claim or demand, including reasonable legal fees, made by any third party due to or arising (including without limitation, economic loss) suffered by us arising from your failure to observe any of the terms of this condition.

Photo captions, owner highlights and special notices have been written by the owner or management of our properties and are not verified or endorsed by ASP. Before you book you must discuss any special needs with the owner. Use our symbols as a guide, not as a statement of fact.