A cottage escape is synonymous with many things – privacy, seclusion, comfort, luxury. In the perfect holiday cottage all these elements are packed into a house that is often no bigger than our homes, but geared to all our needs. Inside that dream cottage we can enjoy a week or so off in surroundings that are both classy and congenial.
From the plush and traditional to the modern and sleek, here are five of the finest luxury cottages in the UK.
Black Moon Cottage, Cornwall
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The Black Moon offers a chic, modern take on the classic cottage. Perched on the Cornish coast, with windows that open out directly onto it, the Black Moon features cave-like stone walls and black marble surfaces that blend old and new in a seamless manner.
This unassuming gem is ideal for a romantic getaway. It has wonderful sea views, a huge bathtub and an unusual converted basement that can be seen through the glass floor in the living room. The area also has fantastic local restaurants.
It sounds more like a medieval tower than a cosy cottage, but Shortflatt Tower really does offer the best of both worlds. Situated in a fleshed-out 13th-century "fortalice" (small fort or fortified house), this intimate, beautifully presented holiday home feels both fresh and up-to-date.
The original stone floors bring a delightful authenticity to the cottage, while the modern amenities curtail the excesses of rusticity, making Shortflatt Tower a unique holiday spot with lashings of atmosphere out in the Northumberland countryside.
For those who love the antiquated, classic cottages of old, Swinbrook Cottage, tucked away in the deep quiet of the Cotswolds, is just the ticket. This 16th-century cottage may have a lot of history within its walls, but it's also equipped to deal with the needs of modern cottage-dwellers.
The cottage has a whopping eight bedrooms and five bathrooms and its breathtaking stonework can hold up to 14 guests in one go.
Perched just outside the tiny village of Hurst Green in East Sussex, the Georgian-era Ingram House is a Grade II listed marvel of design.
While the exterior is a tasteful, minimalist white, the interior is crammed with opulent furnishings, lending a feel of real affluence to this tidy little cottage.
Diving over the border and headfirst into the 21st century, the state-of-the-art Forth Bridges View cottage is just nine miles outside the capital, Edinburgh.
The designers of this one-of-a-kind cottage have installed a large circular living room with wide glass doors that open up to spectacular views of a garden and the Firth of Forth beyond. While the house is private and cosy, it has an enviable proximity to Edinburgh and the Scottish capital's many sites.
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