If you are looking for a staycation in Britain and want to discover some less-travelled parts of the realm, I found an appealing alternative to holiday camps and hotels.
My usual accommodation preference is luxury boutique hotels but I wanted to try something new.
As for holiday camps and villages in the UK, like Butlins and Center Parcs, marketed to families as domestic vacation destinations, a definite no. Maybe they are strange to me because they don’t exist in the US; the closest equivalent would be timeshares, resorts with activities and entertainment available on-site. Or maybe strange because I’m not a packaged holiday enthusiast and always choose to do-it-myself over manufactured, seemingly generic experiences.
In searching for something different and wanting to combine local exploration with a comfortable weekend break, I happened upon Unique Home Stays. Like many travel secrets, bountiful once discovered, I had no idea there are an infinite array of rental properties in all shapes and sizes, scattered across the country. I chose a cottage in Cornwall, and so began my journey.
Destination: The civil parish of Warleggan on the southern edge of Bodmin Moor, Cornwall, England. Population: 203
Getting there, on the roads less travelled:
Accommodation: The Fairy Cottage
Officially named Pixie Nook, this one-bedroom cottage whimsically decorated in floral pastels has a cozy fireplace and a private cedar hot tub. Whether you enjoy cooking your own meals in the quiet country kitchen, or prefer to patronise a local pub, there’s a perfect balance of accessibly secluded.
Locale: Bodmin Moor, Cornwall
Explore this amazing, picture-perfect landscape and create an adventure of your own. Take a walk in the woodlands, cycle the countryside or drive to the Cornwall coast. Other activities, culture and entertainment include: Bodmin and Wenford Steam Locomotive, an old slate mine and subterranean lake at Carnglaze Slate Caverns, Bronze Age stone circles known as the Cheesewring and the Hurlers, grand houses at Lanhydrock (National Trust) and the Georgian house of Pencarrow, plus miles and miles of footpaths and trails for both serious walkers and amateur hikers.
In short, private home rentals, luxury self-catering accommodation, regional local colour. I’m hooked.
To view properties and plot your own close-to-home escape, visit Unique Home Stays.
Some Good Life 