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You say summer, we say, sack off the Ryanair flights and discover the best UK escapes. Who needs Como when you’ve got Cornwall, with its turquoise waters, rugged coastline and boutique hotels. And let’s not forget the Isle of Wight, Hampshire, the New Forest and Derbyshire. Go on, have a scroll.

1. For a Cool Coastal Gem: Atlanta, Trevone

The Lowdown: Situated in one of Cornwall’s most coveted positions, a few steps from a natural bathing pool and a stone’s throw from the two beaches in Trevone Bay, Atlanta Trevone is a newly refurbished collection of five luxury self-catering holiday homes, with its newest addition to the collection opening this summer. Bringing a unique design-led offering to the area with an unrivalled location, Atlanta Trevone is the ultimate Cornish escape. Owned by the same Cornish family for generations, the Victorian-era property has been run as holiday lets since the 1900s and following the renovation by next-generation Jess and Ash Alken-Theasby, will continue to be the perfect destination for friends, families and couples.

The Accommodation: The interiors are Hamptons beach house meets The PIG, whitewash walls, high vaulted ceilings and sash windows combined with warm Fermoie fabrics, Millard & Flo lighting, and antique furniture inherited over the years by family. The holiday homes benefit from open-plan Neptune kitchens with Lacanche cookers, open fireplaces, Drummonds bathrooms featuring roll-top baths overlooking the ocean and original Victorian features, giving them a truly luxurious home-from-home feeling. All the bedrooms are designed for comfort with ViSpring mattresses, down bedding and Egyptian cotton sheets.

Price: From £1,400 per week in Atlanta View, sleeping 5 + a toddler.

First photo credit: John Hersey

Second photo credit: Alex Collins

2. For an Eco-Friendly Inn: The Jack Russell Inn, Faccombe

The Lowdown: The Jack Russell Inn is a country pub and restaurant with rooms in the heart of Faccombe Estate, Hampshire. Combining the relaxed atmosphere of a quality local pub with luxury interiors and excellent food made with local and estate produce, The Jack Russell is the ultimate countryside escape. The dog-friendly accommodation consists of 11 bedrooms, with three in the main building and eight in the stand-alone ‘Dog House’. The interiors combine rustic elegance with contemporary design and reflect the pub’s passion for quality and the charm of the countryside.

The Accommodation: With a strong focus on the seasonality and locality of ingredients as well as a conscientious effort to have very little negative impact on its surroundings, the kitchen at The Jack Russell, recently taken over by Head Chef Andy Watts, sources as much of its produce from Faccombe estate as possible. Sitting just outside the kitchen is the pub’s herb garden which provides an array of fresh herbs to complement dishes such as Poached smoked haddock, chorizo & white bean cassoulet, baby spinach and herb oil. The Jack Russell Inn hosts foraging and feasting days throughout the summer which take guests on a guided walk around Faccombe Estate to search for seasonal bounties before returning to the pub to indulge in a three-course meal inspired by the foodie findings.

Price: Rooms from £130 per night

3. For a Wellness Haven: Lime Wood, New Forest

The Lowdown: Surrounded by ancient woodland in the heart of the New Forest, Herb House Spa is a restorative haven at Lime Wood; the country house hotel known for its laid-back atmosphere, recently refurbished interiors and award-winning Italian restaurant ‘HH&Co’ run by Angela Hartnett and Luke Holder. The sumptuous cottages, lodges and rooms (stocked with Soil Association-approved organic Bamford products) offer views out to landscaped grounds and the surrounding untamed forest beyond. Refurbished by Susie Atkinson, the peaceful rooms are adorned with beautiful artworks and colour schemes, roll-top baths and Vispring beds.

The Accommodation: Meanwhile, Herb House Spa partners with some of the biggest names in wellbeing: there’s brand new restorative Ground Wellbeing treatments, tailored Skinesis facial treatments by Sarah Chapman (the sought-after A-list London facialist), and a rooftop gym with personal training and – you guessed it – stunning views. Herb House also hosts a number of rewarding retreats throughout the summer, from its latest partnership with Mindfulness and Beyond to launch their first ever UK three-day Stress: Balance and Wellbeing Retreat, to its in-house Re-wilding Retreats, designed to get back to nature, make the most of the great outdoors and provide time for contemplation.

Price: Bedrooms from £405 per night

First photo credit: Jake Eastham

Second photo credit: Amelia Wood 

4. For Award-Winning Food: The Duncombe Arms, Ellastone

The Lowdown: A gem in Derbyshire, The Duncombe Arms is known for its award-winning food, incredible wine list and beautiful rooms whilst remaining a family-run local pub. In the heart of The Dove Valley in a beautiful pocket of countryside, the inn from the 1850s was renovated and brought back to life by Johnny and Laura Greenall. In that time they have added the adjacent Walnut House; home to 10 beautiful bedrooms, and The Old Barn, a self-catered cottage sleeping six people across three rooms.

The Accommodation: The award-winning pub, which has retained a Michelin Bib Gourmand for two years and been placed in the top 30 by the Estrella Damn Top 50 Gastropubs, offers the ideal base from which to explore this unspoilt part of the countryside for walking, wild swimming, biking and antique hunting! Situated at the foot of the Weaver Hills which rise to 1000 feet over Ellastone, The Duncombe Arms has access to breathtaking walking from the door as well as being a stone’s throw from the Peak District and the many cultural sites of Derbyshire.

Price: Bedrooms from £195 per night

5. For an Island Escape: Foresters Hall, Isle of Wight 

The Lowdown: Just a 28-minute ferry from Southampton, Foresters Hall features a prime perch with the Isle’s timeless attractions at visitor’s fingertips, from the beaches to boutiques, bars, restaurants and other coastal calling cards. The hotel, formerly known as North House, was acquired in April, 2022 by film industry vets – and husband and wife duo – Peter Sussman of Schitts Creek and CSI (born and raised in Toronto) and Sara Curran of The Favourite and The Night Manager (born and raised in Dublin).

The Accommodation: The interiors are inspired by the building’s beginnings in the 19th century and taking the lead of The Main House, is the buzzy bar, quiet library, restaurant, private dining room and Rooms 1 to 5, which honour their conception with a contemporary twist. Guests are greeted by an entrance featuring calming and uplifting tones with warmly lit hallways which open into light-filled bedrooms, where colour palettes are softer and paired with dark wood floorings. Other simple but classic touches include Chesterfield sofas, brass light fittings, roll-top baths and working fireplaces.

Price: Bedrooms from £295 per night