THE COAST IS CLEAR!
Put off by the summer hordes? Now’s a fine time to enjoy Britain’s glorious seaside — with cottages to suit all budgets
THIS may have been a year of rules, more rules and a whole lot of undesirable travel restrictions — but that does not mean you can’t have an enjoyable autumn break. The ‘ rule of six’, although limiting big multi-generational gatherings, makes smaller family get-togethers quite possible at one of many hundreds of rental cottages at the British seaside.
No need to worry about pesky Covid-19 tests before flights; no quarantining on your return home. And it’s wonderful by the sea in the autumn: bracing walks along beaches and above cliffs, thundering waves during storms, wheeling gulls and the promise of a cosy hostelry with a fireplace and a warm welcome.
That’s as long as you do not happen to be in an area where the latest rules announced this week may have put paid to visiting a pub.
So, here’s our choice of Great British seaside escapes at holiday cottages for October and November for all budgets.
DELUXE
CORNISH CORKER
GRANTED, Greece does a roaring trade in whitewashed buildings, but so too does Cornwall. A few short strides from the dainty horseshoe harbour in Mousehole, charismatic three-bed Mill Hill cottage offers a dose of the Med closer to home.
With temperatures pleasant into late autumn, the private garden is perfect for
sidestepping the crowds. Inside, low-hanging beams and a country kitchen are adorned with fancy industrial touches. BIG ATTRACTION: Take the five-mile loop along the coastal path to Lamorna Cove with views of St Michael’s Mount. HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps five, priced from £1,910 per week (pw); boutique-retreats.co.uk.
WILD NORTHUMBERLAND
BAMBURGH beach and turrets of the Norman castle are a short walk from the door of the 18th- century, Grade ll-listed Grove House cottage, adjoining the former home of local hero, Grace Darling. Characterful sash windows, inglenook fireplaces and exposed beams make it a cosy retreat. Feeling brave? Take a dip.
BIG ATTRACTION: See rare artefacts, weapons and archeological finds at the vast Bamburgh Castle (from £11; bamburghcastle.com).
HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps four, from £1,434pw; crabtreeandcrabtree.com.
COSY COTTAGE CLASSICS
THE cosy terraced Spray y Cottage overlooks the groynes s on Whitstable beach and is so o close to one of the town’s star r attractions, The Old Neptune e pub, you could almost shout t your order from the front gate. BIG ATTRACTION: Whitstable e native oysters flourish h September to April. Try some at t Whitstable Oyster Company y ( whitstableoystercompany.com). . HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps six from m £1,095pw; whitstableholiday-homes.co.uk/spray-cottage.
BREEZY YORKSHIRE
ON THE east side of Whitby, y, one of the town’s oldest fisherman’s cottages, Greenfingers, sits at the foot of the 199 steps leading up to the gothic ruins of f Whitby Abbey.
Views from the four floors s are exquisite while inside is a country kitchen, inglenook fire and romantic rattan and antique french beds. BIG ATTRACTION: Travel coastto-country from Whitby on the scenic North York Moors Railway (from £30; nymr.co.uk). HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps six from £ 1,200pw; shorelinecottages.com
ISLAND RETREAT
BUCKLAND Place is a four-bed boathouse cottage in Seaview, two miles east of Ryde on the Isle of Wight, entered via an imposing church-style door.
There’s plenty for the family outside and indoors there’s a pool table, Xbox and dart board. The Solent is practically on the doorstep with Seagrove and Priory Bay beaches a short walk. BIG ATTRACTION: Let the steed do the hard work on a horse ride across Bembridge beach (£30 an hour; sallysridingschool.com). HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps eight, but take only six, from £961pw; classic.co.uk.
MID-RANGE SPADES IN SUFFOLK
FOR those looking for a classic bucket- and- spade resort, Southwold’s blue-flag beach and colourful huts sit beneath the pier lined with the usual seaside fair and amusements.
A short hop from the seafront you’ll find Trinity Cottage, a two-bed 19th- century curved brick gem at the end of a pretty terrace: think bay windows and antique-style cast iron beds. BIG ATTRACTION: Have a tipple on the local Adnams brewery tour (£20; adnams.co.uk). HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps four, from £552pw; suffolk-secrets.com.
COASTAL TRAILS
YOU won’t have to fight for space in the car park of nearby Manorbier Beach, backed by the motte-and-bailey castle: it’s just a five-minute walk from this gleaming white cottage, Delfryn, part of a 17th-century farmhouse and courtyard. It has sash windows, a Victorian fireplace and a walled patio. BIG ATTRACTION: Take the 2.5-mile ramble from Manorbier to Swanlake Bay along a small wedge of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park trail. HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps five from £648 pw; qualitycottages.co.uk.
DREAMING OF DEVON
THE brown and beige interior of Bumblebee Cottage won’t knock your socks off, but the location will — a five-minute saunter downhill to the quaint shops and cafes that sit back from pretty Salcombe harbour.
In late autumn, there’s space to amble down to the sea. If the weather is still balmy, grab a spot on the stone terrace of the Ferry Inn ( theferryinnsalcombe.com). BIG ATTRACTION: Save on the 20- minute drive around the headland and take the ferry over to East Portlemouth beach. HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps six from £652pw; coastandcountry.co.uk.
SCENIC WALES
THE cracking farmhouse cottage Greigir Isaf Barns, near Abersoch on the east of the Llyn Peninsula, is perfectly placed to roam one of Wales’ top stretches of coastline.
Blessed with its own microclimate, the peninsula has moderate weather in October and beach walks are crowd-free.
The cottage’s homely interior has flagstone floors, exposed brick walls and a roaring fire for cosy nights in when the temperature drops. BIG ATTRACTION: Why not take the scenic route and hire a kayak to explore the glorious coastline (from £15 an hour; abersoch sailingschool.com).
HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps four, £ 601pw; abersochholidayhomes.co.uk.
DELIGHTFUL DORSET
THE classic British seaside break is alive and kicking in Charmouth where traditional huts line the beach.
The detached Penn Cottage has striking sea views from its lofty position on the hill, and you can reach the pebbles in moments. The added bonus is that the nearest pub and fish and chip shop are also just a short walk away. Fossil hunting is also par for the course on the craggy Jurassic Coast. BIG ATTRACTION: The five-mile stretch of South West Coast Path to Seatown peaks with magnificent views at Golden Cap hill before the final descent. HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps six, from £ 572pw; dorsetcoastal cottages.com.
BUDGET SEDUCTIVE SCOTLAND
IF YOU’RE looking for a hideaway, this cracker overlooking the Sleat peninsula on the Isle of Skye is a breath of fresh air.
Rose Bay Cottage is sheltered from the water’s edge by trees and a private driveway and views ripple across the water to the peaks of the Knoydart mountains opposite.
The house has two bedrooms, cosy furnishings and a banquet-style dining area. BIG ATTRACTION: It’s a three-mile walk to the glassy waters and white sands of quiet Camas Daraich beach. HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps four, from £452pw; unique-cottages.co.uk.
HIDDEN KENT
DEAL doesn’t get quite as much of the spotlight as its coastal neighbours, but the
great cafes, warren of narrow streets and expanse of pebble beach make it one of Kent’s best lesser-known resorts.
At its heart, the pink facade of The Pilot’s House, a rustic cottage tucked down a quiet street, gives an inkling of what to expect inside: a mix of eclectic and homely design such as Belfast sinks, brass taps and a comfy green velvet sofa. BIG ATTRACTION: History buffs can lose a whole day roaming the coastal fort of Deal Castle (from £7.90; english-heritage.org.uk). HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps four from £615pw; keeperscottages.co.uk.
ESSEX BEAUTY
LITTLE Thatch, a black panelled cottage, has buckets of oldfashioned charm with low rafters, a brick log fire and a bedroom in the eaves. There’s a small compromise with one bedroom and a sofa bed but the gains come in the positioning; a short stroll from the wide sandy beach and pier at Walton-on-the-Naze. BIG ATTRACTION: Hire a bike from nearby Frinton-on-Sea and loop the six-mile coastal section to Clacton- on- Sea ( Johnsons Cycles, 01255 851852). HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps four, from £302; sykescottages.co.uk.
DEVON RIVERSIDE
THIS dreamy 18th-century cottage right on the bank of the River Yealm at Noss Mayo has access to the water below and kayaks for those brave enough to launch them straight on to the water.
The fresh, nautical decor of Early Tide chimes with the surrounding coast and beaches, and neighbouring Newton Ferrers is just across the creek. BIG ATTRACTION: The Swan Inn enjoys a riverside location. Grab a takeaway coffee before a walk and a well- deserved pint after ( swaninnnossmayo.com). HOW TO DO IT: Sleeps four, from £568pw; classic.co.uk.
CALM IN CORNWALL
THERE are three things you want for a stress-free holiday in Cornwall: a cottage that won’t break the bank, few crowds and a bounty of beaches nearby.
Brakestone Cottage, a snug two-bedroom fisherman’s lair in the heart of the higgledy-piggledy Port Isaac, famous for TV’s Doc Martin, has them all. Beyond the picture-postcard harbour there are some lovely walks along the South West Coast Path. BIG ATTRACTION: Inhale a good dose of history on a 1.5-hour guided tour with a local (£10; portisaactours.com). HOW TO DO IT: From £443pw, sleeps four-six; johnbraycornish holidays.co.uk.