Features

Proud to be Particular! Lesser-Spotted Retreats for Truly Unusual Stay-Seekers

16 July 2025
Lights Camera Glamping main photo

If you’re tired of seeing the same roll-call of retreats come up again and again when you’re researching your next much-needed break, this list is for you.

These owners have each taken a highly discerning approach to where their unique properties are listed – and we’re proud to be one of the (extremely) small handful of directories they’ve chosen. From storybook-themed sanctuaries and private islands to lovingly handmade hideaways, this is a carefully-curated selection to make you gasp in awe.

You’ll even find that some of these amazing retreats are listed with us exclusively. This makes them particularly ideal for holidaymakers who like to stray from the beaten holiday track in more ways than one.

(Just imagine how smug you’ll feel when displaying your holiday snaps online, to a chorus of envious “ooh… where did you find that?”-style comments!)

In a world that’s flooded with chain hotels and standard holiday lets, we love and appreciate being able to showcase so many extraordinary places to stay. But there’s an extra frisson of excitement that comes with unearthing a lesser-spotted holiday gem, and we hope this list delivers more than a few of those!

Author: Nina Jervis-Green
Main image: Lights Camera Glamping, Bucks

Burrenmore Nest

Castlerock, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Gleaming glass-fronted treetop lodges with al fresco whirlpool baths, sumptuously nestled amongst scenic forestland on Ireland's sweeping north coast.
Bedrooms: 1 per lodge
Sleeps: 2-3
From
£275 /night

The Sheiling

Loch Lundie, The Highlands, Scotland
A luxurious, blissfully remote and award-winning retreat with a wraparound deck, a sunken hot tub and a private pier, secluded on the edge of its own shimmering loch for spellbinding Scottish Highland views.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£960 (4nights)

Wilderhus Glamping

Ashburton, Devon, England
A selection of creative eco-retreats with Scandi-style wood-fired hot tubs for stargazing, beautifully secluded on the edge of a traditional working South Devon farm.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 6
From
£118 / night

Art Hangar

Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy
Stray from the beaten Tuscan track at Art Hangar, in an industrial hangar transformed into a unique loft space that's perfect for creative dreamers.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£1,655 (7 nights)

Champing Limpenhoe

Limpenhoe, Norfolk, England
Relax and recharge in a divine haven that dates all the way back to the 12th century, beautifully situated in a rural village within Norfolk Broads National Park.
Bedrooms:
Sleeps: 4
From
£55/adult/night

Boutique Narrowboats

Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England
Explore the Leicestershire waterways at your own gentle pace, aboard your choice of luxurious ‘hotel suite’-style canal boat for couples.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£126/nt

Qii House

Lorne, Victoria, Australia
A bold and quirky architectural gem, superbly nestled within the lush rainforest ferns of Australia's Great Otway National Park.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 8
From
£369 /night

Wannies Retreat

Hexham, Northumberland, England
A unique, lovingly converted railway van with a viewing platform and a hot tub, privately secluded on a friendly 650-acre hill farm and Dark Sky Reserve in the heart of rural Northumberland.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 5
From
£225/nt

Fun Hotel Paris

Montmartre, Paris, France
Two gloriously quirky, spacious, and fully soundproofed large family suites with kiddie treats galore, at Fun Hotel in Paris Montmartre.
Bedrooms: 2 Suites
Sleeps: 7
From
£125 / night

The Retro Bungalow

Hoghton, Lancashire, England
An authentic Lancashire ‘time-capsule’ stay that pays funky homage to the 1970s, filled with warm nostalgia, vibrant décor, and seriously good vibes!
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£140/nt 5 nts

Warksburn Old Church

Wark, Northumberland, England
A globally-unique and ultra-luxurious Net Zero conversion of a 19th century church, in beautiful rural Northumberland close to Hadrian’s Wall and Kielder Water.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 6
From
£250/night

Looking Glass Cottage

Brighton, East Sussex, England
The oldest house in Brighton curiously re-imagined as Victorian Alice in Wonderland, filled with quirky surprises and sumptuous décor, superbly located in the heart of the Lanes.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 8
From
£890/wk

4x4 Mountain Cabin

Capel Curig, County Conwy, Wales
A handcrafted off-grid timber cabin, ingeniously mounted on a Mitsubishi 4 x 4 for the ultimate in freedom and comfort as you explore breath-taking Wild Wales in your own unique way.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£95/nt

Cycladic Private Island

Cyclades, Greece
A luxurious and versatile retreat for secluded holidays and large group celebrations amongst clear turquoise waters and soft sand, infused with the magical myth and legend of ancient Greece.
Bedrooms: 10
Sleeps: 20+
From
£59,725 (7nt)

Lushna Suites at Lee Wick Farm

St Osyth, Essex, England
Eco-friendly glamping on a working potato farm... complete with spectacular sea views.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2 or 2(+2) per Suite
From
£80 / night

Sperrinview Glamping

Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland
Gaze at the stars from the warm comfort of your cosy pod, dreamily positioned at the foothills of Northern Ireland's Sperrin Mountains.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: Up to 5 per unit
From
£110 / night

Samaritan Tank

Friskney, Lincolnshire, England
A former battlefield staple, jaw-droppingly restored and beautifully positioned on a lake, for peaceful, nature-steeped views of rural Lincolnshire.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£70 /night

Barbican

Glenarm, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
An impossibly romantic ‘miniature medieval castle' with gothic windows and a stone turret staircase, beautifully located by the Glenarm River in one of Ulster's oldest villages.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£331 (2 nights)

West Cawthorne

Cawthorne, North Yorkshire, England
Lovingly hand-built cabins and historic barns filled with luxury, all beautifully nestled on a lush, wildlife-steeped hilltop on the edge of the North York Moors National Park.
Bedrooms: 1-3
Sleeps: 6
From
£120 /night

Cruinn Leum Round House

Toscaig, The Highlands, Scotland
A light-flooded creative retreat with untamed rural views, blissfully secluded in a remote, semi-wild Scottish Highlands village.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£425/week

Tainaron Blue

Mani, Peloponnese, Greece
Experience elaborate architectural design in a piece of history at Tainaron blue - a fabulous hotel in a converted Tower of Mani set by azure shores on the southernmost tip of mainland Greece.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps:
From
£200 / night

Sheepfold and Sheepshed

St. Eval, Cornwall, England
Exquisite architecture, fabulous eco-credentials and sweeping views of countryside and coastline - that's what to expect at Sheepfold and Sheepshed, a pair of eco-barns in glorious North Cornwall.
Bedrooms: 3 (+2)
Sleeps: 8 (+4)
From
£595-2795/wk

The Little Lookout

Littlehampton, West Sussex, England
A former coastguard tower, stylishly transformed into a cool, contemporary retreat with spectacular views from Littlehampton's iconic seafront.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 4
From
£150 / night

The Boot

Tasman, Nelson, New Zealand
You've heard of the old woman who lived in a shoe, but have you ever actually imagined life in a fabulous piece of footwear? Wonder no longer at The Boot, a fairytale B&B on New Zealand's South Island!
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£170 / night

Unimog Army Ambulance

Friskney, Lincolnshire, England
A thrilling stay in a cosily-converted rescue vehicle parked on a Linconshire lake, in a rural area that boasts picture-perfect views of gorgeous Lincolnshire.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£70 /night

Llanthony Castaway

Llanthony, Monmouthshire, Wales
A lovingly restored railway carriage for romantic couples, privately secluded amongst a deep, hidden valley in the Black Mountains for epic Dark Sky stargazing.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£135 / night

The Island Cornwall

Newquay, Cornwall, England
Gaze dreamily out at the Atlantic Ocean from the sumptuous comfort of your very own private, palm-fringed paradise… recently reopened after major, breath-taking upgrades!
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 6
From
£1,350 (3/4nt)

Bowland Escapes Iron Age Roundhouse

Preston, Lancashire, England
Take a fun-filled trip back in time, with a quirky stay in an ancient retreat set in the heart of the Forest of Bowland and Ribble Valley.
Bedrooms: Open plan
Sleeps: 5
From
£60 / night

The Mendocino Tree House

Mendocino, California, USA
An exquisite, design-led Californian tree-treat with an al fresco spa oasis, thoughtfully crafted around a living, centuries-old redwood in a peaceful grove that’s close to the coast.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 6
From
£385 /nt

L’EssenCiel Hôtel and Spa

Piré-Chancé, Brittany, France
An avant-garde, architect-designed hotel inspired by the structure of a tree, with an indoor pool, gourmet restaurant, and luxurious nest-like rooms that soar over the serene north west-French countryside.
Bedrooms: 1 per room
Sleeps: 2
From
£130 / night

Seventies Studio Margate

Margate, Kent, England
A self-contained ‘time capsule' apartment covering the entire top floor of a townhouse in the heart of Margate, with fabulous views of Dreamland and the beach.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2-3
From
£50 / night

Hidden Treehouse Resort

Bad Zwischenahn, Lower Saxony, Germany
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
£235 / night

Cabanes des Grands Chênes

Raray, Picardie, France
A soaring nature escape for couples and families, set in fairytale forest land just outside the city bustle of Paris.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2-6 per cabin
From
£150/ night

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