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27 Of The Best Coastal Cottages For A Dose Of That Much-Needed Sea Breeze
Salty hair and fish and chips, come at us
Coastal cottages are in high demand among for holidays and staycations all year round, and it’s not hard to see why.
With many boasting views across some of the UK’s most famous coastlines, beach cottages in the likes of Cornwall, Devon and Oban are the perfect hideaways for those who like to explore their nearby surroundings and take a dip in the ocean, come rain or shine.
From cottages located on the edge of cliff faces to others which are a hop, skip and a jump away from the waves (quite literally), a quaint property located close to the pub, coastal walks and seafood restaurants are a big holiday win in our book.
We’ve rounded up the best coastal cottages that you can rent now, for those wanting a taste of the sea in the UK:
Grey's Cottage, Broadstairs
If you’re after a cottage that emulates stylish minimalism, whilst still being incredibly cosy, look no further. Nestled along the Kent coast in the quintessential town of Broadstairs is where you’ll find this snug getaway.
Outside, a cobblestoned fence matches the exterior of the home and is accented by light grey and white finishes. Across the interiors, a similar toned palette covers the living room, two bedrooms and kitchen, hence the name Grey's cottage.
After spending a day by the sea, guests can choose to unwind by relaxing in the private patio garden or in the local pub, (just a short walk away) giving you that true home away from home feeling.
Cottage for 5 from £105 per night
The Matchbox, Winchelsea
One of the best things about a staycation is believing that you could actually live in your weekend getaway. That’s exactly how it felt going to The Matchbox in Winchelsea, near Rye.
Run by Unique Homestays, the shiplap beach house with bright yellow door and window frames, sits right opposite Rye Harbour Nature Reserve where sheep and horses graze lazily during the day. Beyond the Reserve, and only a short walk away, is Winchelsea Beach which is perfect for a morning dip before heading back to the cottage for coffee and breakfast on the deck. It's the kind of routine you could get used to.
The house itself is tastefully decorated with exposed wood, colourful artwork and thoughtfully placed sofas and chairs, to cosy up in and admire the peaceful views. Nearby, Rye is a bike ride away and beyond that Camber Sands for long, sandy beach walks. But you might prefer to fire up the BBQ and pretend that The Matchbox is your own, just for the weekend.
Available from £1,995 per week, £1,495 per short break
The Floathouse Amelie, Cornwall
How does the sound of waking up in a houseboat and sipping on freshly-brewed coffee with panoramic views over the Penryn River in Cornwall sound to you?
With three cabins and a bathroom, this floating property is exactly what you need if you love to cosy up and watch the tide come in and out along one of the south of England’s most famous coastal spots.
The floathouse is big on eco-friendly living, too, with biomass heating, rain water harvesting, electricity from renewable sources and reclaimed and local wood throughout. Located a 30-minute walk away from Falmouth (think surfing and sailing), we couldn’t think of anywhere better to book for a weekend away with family and friends.
Boat for 6 from £130 per night
Deco Beach House, Cornwall
A modern house on the Roseland Heritage Coast AONB, Deco Beach House's interiors is a modern celebration of art deco styling at its finest. Located less than half a mile from Mevagissey harbour, Portmellon Cove's Beach House has glass windows overlooking the most stunning blue sea and is decorated with a serpentine staircase and 1920s accents across its five bedroom suites, drawing room, kitchen and living room.
The house has a fire pit, private foreshore and path to the beach where you can take a dip and go paddleboarding before returning to the house to sip on cocktails with fresh herbs picked from the garden. Make ours a daiquiri.
House for 10 guests from £8,950 per week
Ty Coch, Wales
How does a private beach, acres of land and a welcome hamper on arrival (filled with local eggs, fresh bread, Welsh cakes and ethical coffee) sound to you?
Located alone the Welsh coastline, this haven is close to the pilgrim’s route where you can walk, run or cycle and also features a BBQ and luscious green lawn in the garden where you can hunker down with burgers or marshmallows at the firepit at night.
We also can’t get enough of this spot’s modern cottage cream-coloured interiors and outdoor fairy lights.
You’ll also have the choice of several places to stay, from the Dairy (four people), Barn (four people) and Cottage (six).
Cottage for 14 from £285 per night
Harbour Moon, Cornwall
Watch harbour life drift by right from the comfort the sofa or bed of this intimate one-bedroom cottage. Designed with the rustic charm of a fisherman's cottage but with added luxury, Harbour Moon is the perfect escape for couples.
Upstairs a gorgeous white, wooden beamed ceiling runs through the entire floor, whilst the flooring, which is made of glass provides natural light in the mornings.
In the evenings, let the flames of the traditional log burner on the ground floor soundtrack your evening whilst cosying up with a bottle of wine and your loved one.
Cottage for 2 from £125 per night
Sandy Toes Beach House, Kent
Oh we do like to be beside the seaside, especially when it involves staying in a beach house on the Isle of Sheppey overlooking the coastline.
A popular destination for paddle boarders and fishermen, the shell beach is a gem along the coast and this holiday hideaway has two double bedrooms and one single, as well as a raised deck on both sides of the abode. Better yet, the house is powered by solar energy meaning you don’t need to worry about keeping the lights on late at night.
Cabin for 5 from £285 per night
Fjall, Dorset
Nestled away on the hillside of a wooded valley, you’d be forgiven if you thought Fjall was a house from one of your favourite romcom films given its beauty, grandeur and award-worthy vistas. With views of Charmouth and the Jurassic Coast, the repurposed flint-stone fronted building serves as the perfect contrast to the site's modern wooden and pink-coloured plaster-patterned interiors, with its double-height lounge, handwoven textiles designed by the owner, standalone egg bathtub and rainfall shower.
There are floor-to-ceiling sliding doors from the lounge that take you out on the deck where you can watch the sun rise and fall, over breakfast or hot toddies, with the beach of Lyme Regis just a short drive away if you’re in need of sand and ice cream.
House for up to six guests from £1,550 per week
Inverlonan Bothies, Oban
If you’ve never stayed in a bothy, rest assured once you do you’ll never want to camp outside ever again. Inverlonan’s bothies are only accessible by foot, boat or buggy and are situated overlooking Lock Nell in Oban, Scotland.
Both properties – Uisge Both and Beatha Bothy – have private decks, open fire pits, outdoor wood-fired pizza ovens, private eco-toilets and outdoor showers.
During the day, you can choose to hop in a canoe or onto a paddleboard to explore the stunning vistas or hike and wild swim. The possibilities here for outdoor fun are endless.
Bothie for 2 from £400 (two nights)
Northcott Beach House, Bude
This beach house looks like the perfect location for an Edwardian TV drama given the fact it takes pride of place on the Northcott clifftop near Bude, Cornwall.
It has views across the Cornish sea, an Aga, an outdoor shower to rinse out that salty hair after a surf and nearby seafood restaurants. Seclusion is key here, with your only neighbours being those of the dolphin kind in the waves below.
House for up to 16 people, price £2,650 per week (£1,995 per short break). Enquire for day hire.
Pagham Beach House, Sussex
If you want to know how boujee people do coastal holidays, we have a feeling this is as close to it gets.
The main body of the house is a ‘sun-filled quadruple aspect flowing space’, according to the property’s online description, which includes a sitting room, dining room and a stone clad kitchen.
The dining table sits eight, while the sheltered decking leads out to the garden and beach on either side of the house. This is open-plan living at its finest. A log fire sits proudly in the centre of the room and there’s even an exterior warm shower if you like an early morning dip in the sea to awaken the senses.
House for six people. Price bands vary depending on the season. A three night stay during winter starts at £630 for three nights.
The North Wing at Trevigue, Bude, Cornwall
An old farmhouse with a private east-facing courtyard, this holiday home is located a short walk away from the village and Strangles beach along the Cornwall shoreline. Fitted with a wood-burner in the Inglenook fireplace and an abundance of DVDs to keep you entertained if the British weather takes a turn for the worse, we assure you that you’ll never be bored – or cold – during your stay here.
Our favourite interiors features? The spiral slate staircase and walk-in shower.
Cottage for two from £150 per night
Halzephron Cabin, Cornwall
This is a very special seaside hideaway, complete with a wood burner, a pretty huge bathtub, a mini kitchen and views across the bay.
With French doors that open onto the lawn overlooking a cove below, squint hard enough and you’ll be able to see St Michaels’ Mount. What's more, tea and fresh coffee, organic milk and homemade biscuits or cake will be handed to you on arrival, with the option of wine or champagne if you let the hosts know in advance.
This coastal spot is located a 20 minute-drive from Lizard Point (we advise heading there to watch the seals and visit the lighthouse) and St Michael’s Mount, as well as a short distance from St Ives, Porthleven and Penzance.
Cabin for 2 from £84 per night
The Lobster Pot, Lyme Regis
Located on Monmouth beach between Sidmouth and Weymouth, the adorable chalet overlooks Lyme Bay and has views across the Dorset coastline.
The cosy spot is equipped with a three seater day bed, a kitchen, a fold out breakfast bar, shower room and a deck with a picnic bench and beach chairs. With nearby beaches including those of Charmouth, Chesil and Weymouth, you’ll have plenty of seaside spots to choose from for a picnic or even a dip in the sea (if you’re brave).
Chalet for three people from £405
Carswell Beach Hut, Devon
You’re going to want to pinch yourself after reading about this coastal spot because it almost sounds too good to be true. The beach hut is located down a very steep cliff path following a 15 minute walk from a parking spot which should be enough to tell you that you’ll be completely secluded in this paradise spot.
Perched above jagged rocks, this hut has its own private beach, wood fire hot tub, hammock chairs and BBQ. With an organic farm shop located 10 minutes away and a local hamper of cream tea available to preorder from the hosts before your arrival, we can’t imagine a better place to eat, sleep, explore rock pools and swim in the sea. It’s so good, in fact, we're regretting letting you know about it.
We’ll race you to book it!
Cabin for 2 from £325 per night
Bowcombe Boathouse, Devon
Did someone say ‘boathouse with gin bar’? That’s exactly what you’re going to get with this adorable coastal retreat.
A quick look inside this boathouse and you’ll find a window seat overlooking the bay and a wood burner – the perfect spot for lounging around on a Friday evening cuddled up with a glass of merlot. At the weekend, you could kayak your way to Kingbridge and Salcombe and head to a local café or take off on the coastal path for the afternoon.
Boathouse for 2 from £175 per night
Samphire, Essex
If we could immediately pack our bags and move into this weather-boarded cabin that looks over the marshes of the Ray Channel then we would in a heartbeat.
Away from the hustle and bustle of Essex lies this adorable coastal spot with views overlooking boats in the estuary and the causeway leading to Mersea Island.
With a sofa on the decking where you can read a book, kayaks for exploring the wetland and local attractions including jam tasting at the Tiptree Tearooms, you won’t exactly be bored here.
Cabin for 2 adults (and 2 children) from £100 per night
4 Coastguards Cottages, Helford Passage
If we could buy any coastal property right now, this hideaway would be it.
Built around 1850, this converted coastguard cottage is whitewashed which gives it a really modern, airy and spacious feel but it's also peppered with homely warm touches thanks to artwork and fabric decorations from local artists.
With paddleboards, kayaks and a child safe heated outdoor swimming pool, this is a perfect spot for friends and groups of families. There’s a local pub specialising in seafood that also hosts quizzes, while a local ferry will take you to Daphne Du Maurier’s Fisherman’s Creek.
Cottage for six people, price on request
Bayview, Portwinkle
This sea front cottage has views from living room to terrace and is located just a minute walk from the Cornish beach.
The pièce-de-résistance of the property is, undoubtedly, its decked terrace, which is perfect for garden breakfasts and late-night card games, in addition to its BBQ area.
With high ceilings, a spiral staircase and open-plan design, this is the perfect weekend cottage for friends wanting to chill out.
Cottage for eight people from £1,033
May’s Cottage, Beesands, South Devon
If clean lines and white interiors are your game, then this is the holiday stay for you.
Sitting on the seafront at Beesands, this quaint fisherman’s cottage has stable doors which invite in light, the sea breeze and the sounds of the ocean. There’s also a pub along the seafront and a café located nearby which sells locally-caught seafood.
Cottage for four people, price on request
Katie O'Malley is the Site Director on ELLE UK. On a daily basis you’ll find Katie managing all digital workflow, editing site, video and newsletter content, liaising with commercial and sales teams on new partnerships and deals (eg Nike, Tiffany & Co., Cartier etc), implementing new digital strategies and compiling in-depth data traffic, SEO and ecomm reports. In addition to appearing on the radio and on TV, as well as interviewing everyone from Oprah Winfrey to Rishi Sunak PM, Katie enjoys writing about lifestyle, culture, wellness, fitness, fashion, and more.
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