Time to relax on a country holiday
Experience real country living with a rural holiday rental that will give you time out from hectic schedules and city life. Spend lazy days in a log cabin in the USA, relax poolside at an Italian farmhouse, take in the views from a treehouse or rent a cosy cottage in the English countryside. Holiday houses in the country are blissfully private and surrounded by Mother Nature’s finest features including scenery as diverse as canyons, fjords, rainforests, mountain ranges and rolling hills.
Types of country holidays
Honeymoons, safaris, luxury escapes, family breaks and yoga retreats are just a few examples of country holidays. From staying in secluded villas to glamping in forest yurts, country holiday rentals take many forms. A country holiday can be as chilled or active as you like, and as it’s self-catered it’s up to you to set the agenda. Many country holidays offer access to hiking, kayaking, horse riding, paragliding and other activities. Country holidays can be a simple as a stone cottage or as luxurious as a lakeside manor house where you’ll get Wi-Fi, swimming pools, private boat docks and more.
Check out the views on a coastal country holiday
When you think of a holiday by the sea what do you imagine? Golden sands and crystalline waters or stark windswept bays backed by dramatic headlands and rocky outcrops? Country holiday houses by the sea are some of the most relaxing rentals you can find. There’s something about sea air and wide open expanses of water that recharge your batteries and when the beach is your garden, the ocean is your playground! There’s something to suit all tastes, whether we’re talking about wooden beach chalet rentals by the North Sea, or modern summer homes in the countryside beside the Med.
Dog-friendly country holiday cottages
Who’s a good boy? If your answer is “my dog”, then maybe he deserves a holiday as much as you do! After all, it’s a hard life keeping humans entertained, protecting your house and family, and being available for tummy tickles at all hours of the day. Finding good kennels or arranging for people to take care of your dog can be stressful and can take the fun out of holidays. Country holidays are ideal for our four-legged friends because of the space and freedom they provide. Dogs love to explore the countryside and there are countless lodges, holiday cottages, farmhouses and other dog-friendly holiday rentals willing to welcome your canine pals.
National Trust cottages for country holidays
If you’ve ever wanted to stay in a historical building, you might consider sticking close to home for a countryside holiday in the UK. The National Trust preserves buildings and protects areas of Britain and you can stay in lovingly restored lighthouses, towers and cabins as well as more traditional cottages in Britain’s national parks and heritage quarters. You can stay in cottages with leftover features from a bygone era such as exposed beams and wells – you never know, you might even find some original residents in haunted country holiday rentals.
Top destinations for country holidays
There are heaps of ideas for country holidays that suit couples, friends and families with kids. Explore exciting options for country holidays in the sunniest spots in the world, as well as less obvious choices like Scandinavian log cabins, caves and converted windmills.
A chic country retreat on the French Riviera
The sun-soaked South of France is an eternally popular choice for a countryside holiday. The romance of the Cote d’Azur and its beaches and winding coastal roads has been captured on the silver screen and it remains a popular destination with country villas and Provencal bastides dotting the hills. A country holiday in medieval villages like Eze or Grimaud presents a refreshing change of pace from St Tropez and Cannes but with plenty of activities like beaches, vineyards and golf courses nearby.
Countryside holidays in the UK
A country holiday in the UK saves time and is perfect for a relaxing weekend break. Favourite holiday destinations in England include the dramatic mountains of the Lake District, the quiet beachside villages of Suffolk and the verdant chalk hills of the South Downs. It’s also worth trying a Welsh country cottage because you are never far from both beaches and mountains in Wales.