10 Luxury Rural Retreats for a Staycation Honeymoon

With so many flocking south for staycations this year, why not visit the lesser-trodden lands of Somerset en-route to your seaside retreat? The Newt is the perfect pitstop to indulge in a touch of well-deserved luxury.

Set amongst the grounds of a 17th century Georgian family estate, the house, stable yard and farmyard offer uniquely curated guest rooms a short stroll from the grounds spectacular landscape gardens, where you can enjoy daily guided tours, bee-keeping workshops and aerial woodland walks. If relaxation is higher on the agenda, why not relax in their onsite spa or feast on estate-grown produce and Somerset’s signature local ciders. ​​

On the site of the mill which, once upon a time, would ground corn for the neighbouring villages, Tuddenham Mill is a millennium-old historical building which stands softly behind the leafy greens of Suffolk. Remarkably refined behind the pastel-hued woodwork of its exterior, the boutique hotel offers guests a streamlined series of light and airy spaces, all warmed by the beached wood of the supportive beams above.

With double-ended baths tucked behind King-sized beds, private terraces which flow from the angled structure of corner sofas and the Scandi-themed Nooks which stand independent from the main building, the bucolic surroundings of Tuddenham Mill are offset by a multi-award winning restaurant. Headed by Chef Patron Lee Bye, guests dine on the fruits of the earth, with a seasonal range of local produce being plucked from the on-site gardens daily.

Deep in the lush green of the Cotswolds stands a trio of rustic, fully renovated cottages - each concealing an effortless amalgamation of natural living, raw materials and artistic savoir-faire inside. Headed by Judith, a Swiss-born creative with a passion for turning the magic of interiors into a tangible experience, The Cotswold Farm Hideaway is snuggled between rolling countryside hills, dotted with the countless sheep who also call it home.

Whether staying at White Hall and Willow or Winterspring (or even both, for big groups), guests will rest between the high ceilings and open-hearth fires of the cottages, which offer spacious front gardens with barbecue facilities, expansive walk-in showers and large triple glazed windows for observing the idyllic landscape beyond.

Nestled between the soaring planes of the Cornish coast, The Scarlet rests above the endless great blue Atlantic. A seaside resort with a difference, the oceanic views aren’t the only natural element of this destination, as the spacious and sea-facing rooms are designed to be warmed by the sun and cooled by the sea breeze. Lulled by the soft rhythm of the rolling waves below, guests are invited to enjoy a range of secluded facilities from their bedroom - including private outdoor courtyards, meditative pod rooms and open-aired terraces.

Awash in coastal colours of soft dune yellow, blushed wildflower neutrals and green sea foam, the hotel also offers its seafaring residents other experiences such as a holistic spa (complete with alfresco clifftop hot tubs and a reed-filtered natural pool) and the local flavours of the seasonal kitchen restaurant - which introduces new, slow-grown ingredients to its menu at the exact pace in which nature intended.

Forming a culinary love letter to their own history, the family who head Hampton Manor (the Hill’s) have centred their estate around an unparalleled passion for dining - reimagining the British staycation for those that ‘love food, story and meaningful connection.’ A hearty hotel with a history as rich as the recipes served to its ‘intrepid foodies,’ Hampton Manor boasts an insatiable itinerary of on-site restaurants - such as the charcoaled open-air of Smoke’s wood fires and the fuss-free fine dining of Peel’s restaurant.

The estate is a whirlwind of heritage, right down to each guest room being named after someone who once owned the estate, from queens to musicians. Set within 45-acres of rolling woods, this 19th-century country manor is toasting to tomorrow through the pleasures of the past.