It’s always fun to celebrate a change of season, particularly when winter gives way to spring. Flowers begin to bloom, the days become longer and lighter, and you start thinking about how nice it would be to take a break out of life for a while. Maybe go on a stroll in the fresh spring air, or just relax with a book in brand-new surroundings (spring is all about newness, after all!)
So what better excuse for us to showcase ten of our very best new season breaks? With plenty of rolling countryside, noble heritage, quirky touches and even an Amazing Space on offer, get ready to feel inspired by our hand-picked selection…we guarantee you’ll be full of the joys of spring in no time at all!
We begin with Barrowden Windmill – a quaint, listed and dog-friendly mill nestled in Rutland, otherwise known as the smallest county in England. You’ll be in the perfect position to explore acres of rolling countryside, as well as chocolate-box stone villages and the sparkling Rutland Water.
Charming and characterful, the windmill sleeps up to four people in two comfy, traditionally furnished bedrooms…and we think you’ll enjoy exploring the three gently-curved floors, particularly when you gaze out of the windows over 360-degree countryside views!
How about a break that’s fit for wartime heroes? RAF Wainfleet Tower is a uniquely iconic Lincolnshire landmark that was once used by the Dambusters for firing practice during World War Two – with some of NATO’s most formidable warplanes as frequent visitors in later years.
Now redeveloped into unique and contemporary accommodation, you’ll find plenty of historical artefacts inside this light and bright tower, with plenty of cosy luxury – there’s even a hot tub you can relax in!
Discover three cosy bedrooms to choose from, while the fourth floor living area is a stunning glass observatory that offers an unsurpassed panorama over sand flats, out to the bracing North Norfolk coastline.
Red Kite Tree Tent, set in 80 acres of private Welsh woodland and once featured on George Clarke’s ‘Amazing Spaces’, offers a rurally romantic break that’s refreshingly out of the ordinary!
The lightweight, spherical tent-for-two is insulated with lamb’s wool and nestled cosily in the trees, accessed via a private bridge over a babbling stream for an arrival you won’t forget! Once inside, you’ll discover everything you need for a cosy break, along with a fire pit ideal for marshmallow toasting under the stars.
And now for something completely different! El Ray (above and main picture) is a glass-fronted designer beach house set along the Dungeness shingle-scape…with kitchen and dining facilities housed in an accompanying 19th century railway carriage cleverly incorporated into the living space!
Enjoy stunning, wildlife-strewn sea-and-shingle views from every room in this single-level holiday home, furnished with an ideal blend of vintage character and soft, neutral-toned décor. Meanwhile, the sheltered decking area and two internal courtyards are ideally positioned for catch-ups over drinks in the spring sunshine.
Child-friendly luxury awaits you at Khina Cottage, a dog-friendly lighthouse cottage secluded in the charming Kent town of Broadstairs.
Surrounded by lawned gardens and set well away from the cliffs, you’ll find plenty of safe outdoor areas for the dogs – not to mention kids of any age – to play! Watch them from the patio as you enjoy a well-deserved drink, or curl up with a good book in the cosily welcoming living area, surrounded by all the warming comforts of home.
If there’s a book inside you that’s just waiting to be written, Writer’s Retreat is just the springtime setting! A handcrafted wooden cabin for two, nestled in a wooded valley at the foot of Monmouthshire’s Sugar Loaf Mountain, creative inspiration is all but guaranteed.
Detox from the digital life in the natural comforts of spring, with a babbling stream nearby to provide your soothing soundtrack. Plan that novel with a daydreaming session in the hammock, then light the woodburner and scribble a few notes by evening, or simply relax amongst nature. Who needs a television, anyway?
If a cosy thatched cottage in the North Somerset countryside sounds like your idea of spring heaven, it’s time to spirit yourselves away to Stanton Drew Roundhouse!
A Grade II listed, hill-top house that dates back to the 18th century, this is a holiday home that’s fresh out of an enchanting picture book from times past. Discover whitewashed walls, leaded windows and a pretty thatched porch over the arched front door, not to mention an old post box in the front wall!
Relax in your very own country cottage, with living and dining areas that offer beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. This is country serenity at its very best.
Confirmed water babies will enjoy a break aboard Edinburgh Green Boat, stylishly moored in the centre of the buzzing and historic capital of Scotland.
Spacious and distinctive, enjoy holiday drinks on the deck before exploring your homely cabin, complete with two bedrooms and a comfy lounge. Extra luxuries include bathrobes and slippers, a foot spa and complimentary water bottles – and with beauty treatments and additional welcome packs on offer, you’ll soon find that life on the water doesn’t mean compromising on hotel suite-style luxury.
It’s easy to think that beach holidays are only for summer months, yet with Ilfracombe’s Beach Cove Coastal Retreat, you’ll soon be thinking again!
Choose from a selection of beach huts dotted along the cove, with each one uniquely styled to evoke seaside holidays of old – you’ll find the Premier huts even come with their own private hot tub.
Self-contained for a refreshing and deliciously snug break whatever the weather, you’ll find plenty of modern facilities inside your hut, including a flatscreen TV and an iPod docking station, while the patio outside is the perfect sunrise-watching position over morning coffee…amidst the cawing of seagulls and the tide rolling in.
We’re off to la belle France for our final pick – rural Normandy’s La Maison Atypique, a retro-styled, three-bedroomed holiday home by the beach.
‘La Maison Atypique’ means ‘untypical house’, and once you’ve explored this imaginative idyll, we think you might agree with the description. Themed and furnished in authentic 1970s style that completely belies its ‘country house’ exterior, step inside to discover plenty of innovative talking points, including a petrol station pump used as a clever dining room centrepiece.
We hope you’ve enjoyed our tour of Host Unusual spring breaks. Whatever the time of year, our hand-picked directory of original escapes are filled with creative holiday ideas that will get everybody talking! Come and see just what we’ve got to offer.
