Creative destinations with luxury lodges
Taking the rustic and the opulent and fusing them together, luxury lodges are your chance to explore the wilder reaches of the country while still enjoying a slice of the high life. In this guide, we range from the shanty pubs of Cornwall to the raw landscapes of Scotland to offer bags of inspiration for your next intrepid and indulgent getaway.
Where to find luxury lodges in Scotland
Scotland is a wild, wild place, which makes it a perfect hunting ground for lodge-goers who are pining for luxury and adventure in one.
An eye on Ben Nevis
You could use that luxury lodge as a base for conquering mighty Ben Nevis if you settle in the vicinity of Fort William. The Nevis Gorge gapes open right next to the town, hiding gushing waterfalls and the highest peak in the United Kingdom. Returning to a hot tub and a crackling fireplace would be a real bonus in these parts.
Loch Lomond for lakeside beauty
As Loch Lomond pierces into the heart of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, it comes framed by some seriously stunning Scottish backcountry. That means any luxury lodges you find here are likely to enjoy vistas of deer-stalked mountains and thick oak forests. When the time comes to adventure, the trek to the top of Ben Lomond Munro rewards with sweeping views of both the Highlands and the Lowlands.
Lodges on the Isle of Skye
The jewel of the Hebrides is a great place for those keen on being truly immersed in nature. Where old Highland clans once roamed, you can now bag a taste of luxury between the jagged spires of the Cuillin Mountains and the icy Atlantic, which sometimes even throws out glimpses of porpoises, minke whales and seals.
Take luxury lodge holidays in Wales
Give yourself over to the Celtic hospitality of the Welsh and you could find yourself being pampered between the peaks of mighty Snowdon or the rolling hills of Ceredigion. A few popular spots in the nation are listed below.
A stay on the Pembroke coast
Lodges in and around the Pembrokeshire region are a gateway to what’s certainly Wales’s most talked-about coastline. You could be tramping the Pembrokeshire Coast Path just hours after rising, catching the sun glint on gorgeous inlets like Barafundle Bay or the puffin-peppered island of Ramsey. For more refined activities, chic Tenby has you covered with boutique shops and artisan cafes.
A stay in Snowdon
You might want to ensure you get a luxury lodge for that pilgrimage to Snowdonia, because the challenging hikes here are wont to leave the leg muscles in need of a little R&R. Search for your pad in areas by quaint Welsh hill towns like Betws-y-Coed and Beddgelert and you can supplement with local alehouses and trips to mighty Norman castles.
Cabins and lodges in the Brecon Beacons
The Brecon Beacons are a land beset by South Wales’s highest summits. From Corn Du to Pen-y-fan, there are plenty of routes to take after pulling on the boots. The good news about getting luxury lodges in this region is just how accessible they are – most sit less than an hour’s drive from Cardiff.
England’s luxury lodges
For a taste of bucolic farming country or a bracing trip to the coast, all topped off with oodles of creature comforts, England has luxury lodges in some seriously enticing spots.
The fells of the Lake District
Prepare to be truly enchanted by the green, green vales of the Lake District National Park. One of the most popular reserves in Old Blighty for luxury lodges, glamping and cottages, it’s a fine place to unite nature with a little dash of relaxation. Some days, you can hit the trails to conquer fells like Skiddaw and Orrest Head. On others, you could mix lazy mornings with cultural jaunts to Wordsworth’s onetime home.
Go coastal in Cornwall
Cornwall has become something of an adventure playground for the well-to-do of England. That means you shouldn’t have a problem finding a hot-tub-ready lodge or bespoke cabin in the county. Don’t worry about what you’re going to do, either. Seafood sizzles in Padstow’s kitchens, there are acclaimed art galleries in St Ives, along with surfing and sailing aplenty on both the north and south shores.
Verdant lands in Yorkshire
The Yorkshire Dales have been capturing the imagination of nature lovers for centuries. A luxury lodge holiday between their wooded hills and hamlet-spattered countryside is a mouthwatering prospect, and not just because of the crumbly cheeses that brim from the dairies there.