If you’re anything like the Host Unusual team you’re probably craving a change of scenery right now. It doesn’t need to be far away, or particularly exotic, just somewhere other than the same four walls and immediate surrounds.
With the possibility of a summer holiday looking uncertain, we’re looking ahead and dreaming of an autumnal post-isolation escape.
Below are a handful of properties that you can of course visit year-round but they’ll be particularly beautiful during the autumn months, when the surrounding landscape is rich in the colours of the season and the weather is favourable for exploring the great outdoors.
Author: Gemma Wilson
Main Image: The Fish Treehouses and Huts | Worcestershire
North Star Club | Yorkshire
Where better to experience the autumn colours than a stylish retreat set deep within 500 acres of native English woodland. The North Star Club comprises of eight stand-alone cabins that are anything but rustic (despite external appearances)! The sumptuous interiors wouldn’t look out of place in a country house hotel, with all the luxurious comforts to boot. If you can drag yourself away from your uber cosy abode (and we highly recommend you do), don your walking shoes and explore the surrounding woodland, or the rolling hills of the nearby Yorkshire Wolds.
The Fish Treehouses and Huts | Worcestershire
Don’t be put off by the words ‘treehouse’ and ‘hut’! The Fish Treehouses and Huts are not replicas of the ramshackle wooden shacks you may have hand built and played in as a child. These cabins, surrounded by private woodland on the 400-acre Farncombe Estate, are seriously luxurious. We’re talking en-suite bathrooms, well-stocked minibars, Nespresso coffee machines and even underfloor heating (yes, really!) Take the kids – the Treehouses sleep up to four. Or if you’ve had a little too much family time recently (we totally understand!), enjoy a romantic retreat in one of the more intimate Huts.
The Hideaway | Somerset
As the name implies, The Hideaway enjoys a secluded setting on an expansive private farm, surrounded by nothing but the Somerset countryside. This stylish 19th century barn conversion comes complete with all the creature comforts required for a romantic escape (indulgent roll-top bath, fire pit on the patio for cosy evenings, a hillside hot tub with panoramic views), so you could be forgiven for not wanting to venture out. However, the World Heritage Jurassic Coast is just a 30-minute drive away, and autumn is the perfect time of year for a stomp along this dramatic coastline.
Culbin Edge | Moray, Scotland
Autumn is also an excellent time of year to visit the region of Moray in Scotland. Boasting a magical coastline, dotted with picture-postcard fishing villages and sandy bays, and home to a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins, the region is considered to be one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland. And we know the perfect place to stay: Culbin Edge. This contemporary eco-cabin enjoys a scenic location on the edge of the Culbin Forest with views of open farmland, sweet-smelling pine trees and the rolling hills of Dava Moor.
Walden Lodge | Glamorgan, Wales
This hand-built cabin uniquely brings a touch of America to the Vale of Glamorgan. Inspired by the American Transcendental Movement, hosts Tom and Paula designed the lodge to resemble a prairie cabin from the days of the pioneers, its name a nod of recognition towards the movement’s best-known advocate, philosopher and writer Henry David Thoreau. Walden Lodge also celebrates its Welsh locale: the art and craftwork throughout is the creation of Welsh talent. And we haven’t even mentioned the scenic setting yet: this two-storey wooden cabin sits nestled amidst the tall trees of Tresilian Wood, moments from the Glamorganshire coast, with views across the channel towards the Quantock Hills.
West Stow Pods | Suffolk
If you’re looking for an autumn break that’s quirky, fun and reasonably priced, stop your search! Deep in the heart of Middle Earth (Suffolk, actually) are the unique West Stow Pods. Immersed in a woodland setting, this glamping property comprises of a collection of cosy, self-contained pods and wooden lodges. We particularly love the Tolkien-esque Pod Hollow that’s built into the side of a grassy knoll; the interior a mix of old-world furnishings alongside mod-cons. Explore the surrounding countryside on foot, bicycle or even horseback and enjoy the seasonal colours.
