An octagonal, stone-built toll house shaded by trees.

Book Self-Catering Holidays in Quirky Holiday Cottages

Fancy a self-catering holiday in a quirky and unusual holiday property? Who wouldn’t say no to a holiday with friends in a luxury lighthouse or a beautifully restored Napoleonic Fort?

Search here to find an architecturally unique holiday cottage for a more than usually memorable holiday with family or friends. The UK has a splendid choice of distinctive and unusual character cottages appealing to those looking for something slightly different from a traditional house. 

While quirky cottages are not the ‘everyday’ holiday property, they still offer the same standards, facilities, and amenities you would expect to find in any decent holiday property worth its salt. Types of out-of-the-ordinary holiday lets include (but are not limited to):

  • Lighthouses
  • Windmills
  • Restored railway stations and carriages
  • Castles and Forts.
  • Shepherds Huts
  • Narrow Boats
  • Tree-houses
  • Signal boxes
  •  Follies 

View this collection of distinctive holiday properties to find one with that ‘must-stay’ funky factor for a long holiday or just a weekend break.

A stone drive leads to a barn conversion surrounded by well-mown lawns.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Orchard Cottage is a gorgeous stone-built romantic holiday cottage in the Wye Valley in a designated National Landscape in Penterry, Monmouthshire. The pet-friendly cottage offers contemporary comforts, a log fire, traditional charm, seclusion, an outdoor fire pit, and lovely rural views across Monmouthshire.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Ground-floor frontage of a stone-built holiday cottage in Mousehole.
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Romance is assured at The Langley Tarne, a pet-friendly, one-bedroom holiday cottage Mousehole that boasts many traditional features as well as an open fire, modern comforts, and contemporary style a 2-minute stroll from the gorgeous harbour and the beautiful coastline of Cornwall.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Part of two unique single-storey chalets deep in the hamlet of Heights of Achterneed, the Larchfield Chalet 2 offers a remote Highlands holiday home near Strathpeffer. It offers unbeatable views of Scotland’s gorgeous hillsides. Immerse yourself in the great outdoors. Pets welcome.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
2-storey exterior of. stone-built barn conversion overlooking a paved terrace and a lawn
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Harvest Cottage welcomes couples to a pretty stone and pantiled farm cottage near Pickering in the heart of picturesque Levisham. The pet-friendly, one-bedroom barn conversion offers ample gardens and peace and quiet. It is an ideal base for exploring the North York Moors and coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
A cottage lounge with a pine-beamed ceiling and comfortable leather sofas.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Located close to Dorset’s Jurassic Coast near Bridport, The Cider Barn is a newly refurbished family-friendly barn conversion in secluded rural surroundings at Hembury Mil in Askerwell. The Cider Barn sleeps 4 in 2 bedrooms, appealing to those planning beach or walking holidays on the Dorset coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
An eco-friendly log cabin with a fenced-in verandah sits in the shade of mature trees.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

The Log Cabin epitomises rustic charm. The two-bedroom remote and dog-friendly holiday lodge in East Devon was built with weathered pine logs and lies between woodland and a lake near the village of Sheldon. Up to four guests will enjoy rare tranquillity and a chance to fish for their supper!

  • Agency Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Eco Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
A stone-built holiday barn conversion overlook a lengthy lawn
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

The Apple Store is a charming Herefordshire holiday cottage in Whitchurch boasting exposed beams, stone walls and features windows. The pet-friendly cottage in Herefordshire's beautiful countryside offers couples a romantic retreat in a one-bedroom cottage close to the Forest of Dean. It features multiple outdoor relaxation areas and contemporary comforts.

  • Accessible Cottages
  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

Enjoy a lovely countryside holiday at Stable Cottage, situated on 3.5 acres of gorgeous landscaped gardens in the rural hamlet of West End, Norfolk, where guests find a two-storey holiday home from which to launch day trips to the beautiful North Norfolk coast.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Farm Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

The River Crake lies at the end of the garden at Sawmill Cottage, a large and charming 18th-century rural holiday cottage near Low Nibthwaite in the South Lakes. The pet-friendly cottage spoils guests with beautiful views, a generous garden, an open fire, a games room and modern comforts blended with old-world charm.

  • Active Holidays
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Cottages With Games Rooms
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Independent Cottages
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages