An octagonal, stone-built toll house shaded by trees.

Book Self-Catering Holidays in Quirky Holiday Cottages

Fancy a self-catering holiday in a quirky and unusual holiday property? Who wouldn’t say no to a holiday with friends in a luxury lighthouse or a beautifully restored Napoleonic Fort?

Search here to find an architecturally unique holiday cottage for a more than usually memorable holiday with family or friends. The UK has a splendid choice of distinctive and unusual character cottages appealing to those looking for something slightly different from a traditional house. 

While quirky cottages are not the ‘everyday’ holiday property, they still offer the same standards, facilities, and amenities you would expect to find in any decent holiday property worth its salt. Types of out-of-the-ordinary holiday lets include (but are not limited to):

  • Lighthouses
  • Windmills
  • Restored railway stations and carriages
  • Castles and Forts.
  • Shepherds Huts
  • Narrow Boats
  • Tree-houses
  • Signal boxes
  •  Follies 

View this collection of distinctive holiday properties to find one with that ‘must-stay’ funky factor for a long holiday or just a weekend break.

Sleeps
8
Bedrooms
4

Luxury accommodation meets peaceful isolation at the wonderful Glenuaig Lodge, a dog-friendly, large and remote four-bedroom self-catering cottage for eight guests in the heart of the Glencarron Estate near Strathcarron. The Lodge enjoys beautiful views and is accessible by 4-wheel drive vehicles.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Large Holiday Cottages
  • Managed by My Favourite Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
A Lighthouse complex on a clifftop with panoramic ocean views.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

Panoramic ocean views stretch before Verity Cottage, a sophisticated coastal cottage within Trevose Head Lighthouse. The coast of Cornwall lies on either side of the cottage, which boasts outdoor entertaining spaces, contemporary comfort, light and airy design, the chance to get away from it all with more clean, fresh, revitalising air than you could shake a windsock at.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
Exterior view of St Anne's Lighthouse complex on the Isle of Wight.
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Fancy a lighthouse holiday? Book Gunard, a Ventnor holiday cottage, part of St Catherine's Lighthouse on the Isle of Wight. With superb sea views, this pet-friendly waterside cottage sleeps 5 in a secluded rural location right above the waves.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A grand 3-storey, brick-built Tudor house overlooks a large, formal lawned gardens.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
12

Surround yourself with royal luxury at Upton Cressett Hall, a grand regal cottage in Shropshire. Marvel at the manicured grounds of the pet-friendly cottage, and indulge in the seclusion and beauty of a residence boasting log fires, exposed beams, antique furnishings and unique décor.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Luxury Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Aerial view of a Lighthouse and crew buildings atop cliffs overlooking the sea at Lizard Point in Cornwall.
Sleeps
4
Bedrooms
2

If you're looking for a unique and unforgettable coastal holiday experience, Longships is the perfect cottage for you. Located within the Lizard Lighthouse near Lizard Village in Cornwall, this spectacular seaside cottage offers breathtaking views over the ocean that you won't find anywhere else. With modern comforts, subtle decorations, and ample grounds for children and pets to explore, Longships is the perfect getaway for families or couples looking to relax and unwind by the sea. So why wait? Book your stay at Longships today and experience the beauty of Cornwall like never before!

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
  • Waterside Cottages
A  stone-built cottage overlooks a large lawn surrounded by flowering shrubs and bushes.
Sleeps
6
Bedrooms
3

A perfect rural retreat set amidst a working sheep farm within the Exmoor National Park, Mill Cottage in Luxborough offers comfortable upside-down accommodation for up to six guests, a child-friendly cottage in Somerset with a spacious living area, a wood-burning stove, and an enclosed garden.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Dog-Friendly Holiday Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Walking Holidays
Sleeps
5
Bedrooms
3

Spectacular ocean views extend to the horizon from Galatea, a coastal cottage within the Whitby Lighthouse complex. The unique cottage offers elegant and light-filled accommodation, spacious furnished grounds, a refreshing sea breeze, sophistication, and seclusion within easy reach of the beach. 

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Fishing Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Waterside Cottages
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Enchanting 16th Century Pink Cottage in Coddenham, one of the prettiest Suffolk Villages. Fabulous walks. It is ideal for exploring the countryside and Suffolk Heritage Coast. Cyclists can keep their bikes in the enclosed courtyard garden. Perfect for a relaxing romantic break for one or two people.

  • Active Holidays
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Cycling Holidays
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays
Exterior of a restored Scottish croft with stone walls thatched roof in a remote location on Skye
Sleeps
2
Bedrooms
1

Beaton’s Croft is a truly unique romantic getaway. The A-listed rural cottage is listed under the National Trust for Scotland and occupies a secluded corner of Kilmuir on the Isle of Skye. With a thatched roof and whitewashed walls, plus an open fire, the Croft exudes character and enjoys views.

  • Active Holidays
  • Agency Cottages
  • Child-Friendly Cottages
  • Coastal Cottages
  • Countryside Cottages
  • Quirky Cottages
  • Remote Cottages
  • Romantic Cottages
  • Short Breaks
  • Small Cottages
  • Walking Holidays