Over the last year or so, lockdown and the coronavirus has forced us to look inwards to find unique, interesting escapes in our own backyard. We have scoured the UK to find quirky accommodation and unique places to stay all over England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so that you can still get off the beaten track with Not In The Guidebooks.
With that in mind, here’s a brief introduction to a selection of our unusual places to stay that we have sourced in 2021, from castles to cottages, safari tents to secluded houses.
The General’s Hideout Retreat
Nestled in quiet woodland in the depths of Herefordshire, this unique military-themed retreat equipped with a safari tent, tipi and bomb shelter bathroom makes for the perfect place for a fun getaway, far from civilisation.
Spend your days exploring the forest and relaxing in your own wood-fired hot tub, and as evening draws in light up the log burner for those cosy, quiet nights where the only sound is that of the surrounding wildlife.
The comfortable and clean shower block has a transparent roof, creating a magical outdoor experience as you look up to see only a canopy of trees. Luxurious, quirky, and wonderfully furnished, this retreat is a genuinely unique and unusual place to stay in the UK.
Cleugh Foot House
Enjoy staying in this beautiful 3 bed house nestled in the countryside of Northern England. With stunning views and beautiful hikes starting at your doorstep this newly renovated country house is the perfect place for a short family getaway.
Cleugh Foot House, is a three bedroom house overlooking acres of parkland along the River Esk. The house is fit with a state of the art and fully equipped kitchen and dining area, perfect for big family dinners. There is also a living area with a cosy fire place and comfy sofas. There are three beautiful spacious bedrooms (one ensuite), two with king sized beds and the other with two doubles. In your private backyard, there is also a second dining area, a fire pit and even your own hot tub to sit back and relax in!
NC500 Campervan Adventure
Discover one of the world’s most incredible road trips, that sits right on our doorstep. Explore ruined castles, sweeping bays and white-sand beaches, incredible mountain landscapes and corners of the UK that seem as if they shouldn’t exist in the British Isles, all at your own pace and in true style in a Volkswagen Campervan.
You decide on the amount of time you take to complete the NC500, then pick up your campervan from just south of Lancaster. Note: Pick up is on Monday or Friday only.
Whether you take a week, ten days, or two weeks, you’ll begin by joining the NC500 route, we would recommend starting at Inverness, making the city your base for the start or the end of your adventure.
From there, everything is entirely up to you. Drive west to the rugged west coast and the winding passes that take you over to Applecross and the magical bay that overlooks to Isle of Skye. Or, drive north up the east coast, and stumble across whisky distilleries and crumbling coastal castles.
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The Munches Room – Buittle Castle
It doesn’t get much more unusual than a stay in a genuine Scottish castle. Well, this might not still look entirely like a castle out of a fairy tale, but the imposing granite building definitely still retains some of the castle characteristics from its turbulent past.
A Great Hall for dining in, formal gardens and crumbling ruins on the grounds remind you of a history that stretches back over 800 years, and the room itself is hugely luxurious with a king-sized bed, a private en-suite and access to the courtyard.
It makes for a genuinely unusual stay in the UK, and provides the perfect base to explore the beautiful coastal location of Dumfries and Galloway, an area steeped in as much historical intrigue as it is natural beauty, all adventures being fuelled by a breakfast made with locally sourced and homemade produce.
The Valley View in Somerset
This wonderful converted farm building, nestled in the rolling hills and lush fields of Somerset, offers the ideal quirky stay for anyone looking for a place to really get away from it all. The building is located on a sustainable farm with its own nature reserve, perfect for those who have a love of the outdoors.
Converted to the highest standard inside, the building retains its rural character thanks to the stone exterior and the working farm it is located on, allowing you the ideal spot to relax in total comfort and watch the world pass by, or head out on hikes in the quiet woodlands and valleys in the area.
With the local pub just a short walk down the road and incredibly warm and hospitable hosts, this is one of those stays that leaves you feeling totally at ease, relaxed, and rejuvenated for your return home.
Here at Not In The Guidebooks, we offer a wide variety of unusual places to stay and unique accommodations, varying from homestays in Vietnam and luxury eco-retreats in Iceland, to magical treehouses in Wales and stunning cottages in Cornwall.
31/03/2021 
