Editor’s Choice

Our Favourite Flight-Free Holidays!

If you’re used to jetting off to exotic locations on your summer holidays, you’d be forgiven for feeling a little down right now.

But staying grounded doesn’t have to equal holiday boredom. You can still take the trip of a lifetime – it just involves giving that crowded airport lounge a miss!

We’re constantly astounded by all the fabulous locations we’re able to access, just by hopping on a train, or packing up the car. Who could fail to relax in the gorgeous French countryside, surrounded by plump vineyards and a plate of oozy cheeses?

Meanwhile, whooshing down the sparkling Swiss ski slopes is a sure-fire way to forget all your cares back home… and did you know that Scottish beaches are often claimed to be among the best in the world?

To convince you even further, here’s a rundown of some of our favourite quirky places to stay, in flight-free destinations (from the UK).
Author: Nina Jervis
Main Image: Hidden Treehouse Resort | Germany

Radio Tower

Saint Brelade, Jersey

Stay in one of Jersey's most iconic and unique buildings, with dramatic 360-degree coastal views all around that promise to take you far away from everyday life.

Bedrooms: 3

Sleeps: 6

From

£190 / night

Helen's Tower

Bangor, County Down

It's not every day you can stay at an enchanting home immortalised in the words of Alfred Lord Tennyson, yet Helen's Tower in stunning County Down offers exactly that.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£292 (2 nights)

The Isle of Carna

Loch Sunart, The Highlands

Cast yourself away to your very own private Scottish island, teeming with native wildlife and boasting 600 blissful acres of fresh, tranquil luxury.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: 6-8 per property

From

£1200 / week

The Black Castle

Coolbaun, Tipperary

Travel back through time with an ‘over-knight' stay for two in a majestically authentic 16th century Gaelic castle.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£274 / night

Chateau Ramsak

Pocehova, Maribor

Idyllic Slovenian vineyard glamping in the refreshing midst of natural and unspoilt luxury, with plenty of good wine!

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: 2 or 4 per unit

From

£125 / night

Hidden Treehouse Resort

Bad Zwischenahn, Lower Saxony

A gorgeously green German glamping site, where fairytale forest living has been given a five-star upgrade.

Bedrooms: 1 per treehouse

Sleeps: 4 per treehouse

From

£195 / night

Les Ormes Domaine & Resort

Dol-de-Bretagne, Brittany

A welcoming family accommodation and activity centre, set on a two-hundred acre French country estate.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: Varies

From

£70 / night (barrel/bubble)

Rosita

Wittenbach, St Gallen

Explore the rural tripoint of Switzerland, Austria and Germany in a colourful choice of light, bright and eco-friendly vintage caravans!

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: Varies

From

£82 / night

Hayema Heerd

Oldehove, Groningen

Recreate fairytales of old at Hayema Heerd, a Dutch hotel made of straw, set on a peaceful farm in the north of the Netherlands.

Bedrooms: Varies

Sleeps: Varies

From

£80 / night (igloo)

Le Monteil Revolution

Sardent, Limousin

Unplug from everyday life and head for a slice of rural French paradise, where friendly animals roam free (and so will you!).

Bedrooms: Open plan

Sleeps: Up to 4 per dome

From

£63 / night (Rocher)

Sky House at 57 Nord

Wester Ross, The Highlands

Sky House is a boutique hideaway in the wildland of the north, with 57 Nord taking its name from its location on the 57th parallel. It is perfectly nestled within the dramatic landscape of the Scottish Highlands just south of the Isle of Skye.

Bedrooms: 1

Sleeps: 2

From

£350 / night