Five of the best quirky and unusual holiday cottages

Are you looking for quirky and unusual holiday cottages? Perhaps something out of the ordinary for a special occasion or big celebration?

We have hundreds of holiday cottages and self-catering apartments, of all sizes, throughout the British Isles, that really stand out as fun and alternative places to stay.

Including converted train carriages, signal boxes, chapels, castles, lookout towers, bespoke log cabins, yurts and safari tents, here are five of the best:

Signal Box

Taking quirky to a new level is this unusual holiday cottage in the Cairngorms in Scotland.

Signal Box can be found next to the station in the Badenoch & Strathspey village of Newtonmore.

Complete with cosy log burner, it features upside down living accommodation to make the most of its panoramic views and even comes with its own sauna! Perfect to come back to after a day out exploring the Cairngorms...

Sleeping 4 in one bedroom, Signal Box is available from £460 for 7 nights.

 

Hadlow Tower

Once used as a landmark by Luftwaffe pilots on their way to London, Hadlow Tower, the UK’s tallest folly, is a magnificent Grade I* listed Gothic Revival folly, providing spectacular views across the Medway valley in Kent.

Rising to 170ft tall, the tower was considered important enough be included in the top 100 most endangered historic buildings in the world in 1998 World Monument Fund.

Hadlow Tower, which originally formed part of Hadlow Castle was recently the subject of a £4million, two year restoration.

Sleeping 6 in three bedrooms, Hadlow Tower is available from £1028 for 7 nights.

 

Greystead Old Rectory

Or how about a converted church with a tennis court?!

Greystead Old Rectory is a stunning conversion of a church near Bellingham in Northumberland.

The ground floor features a lounge with a wood burning stove plus three king-size doubles and a twin bedroom.

The first floor includes an open plan mezzanine living area, a spacious kitchen with a large central island and ample dining space for eight.

There is shared access to large gardens and an all-weather tennis court.

Sleeping 8 in four bedrooms, prices for this quirky holiday cottage start from £635 for a 7 night break.

 

Coastguard Lookout

Coastguard Lookout is a decommissioned 1950s radar monitoring station. Originally used for tracking shipping in The Channel, it was then taken out of action following the arrival of GPS.

It’s located in Dungeness, Kent and offers incredible views of the open sea,  with the water itself just a few steps away.

Panoramic windows allow holidaymakers to watch an endless procession of ships on the horizon whilst, on clear days, they can even catch a glimpse of Cap Gris Nez, the closest point of France to England.

Coastguard Lookout is entirely open plan – there are no doors – and features include underfloor heating; lime stone floors; Wi-Fi plus a log burning stove in the lounge – the perfect welcome after a bracing walk along the shingle landscape of Dungeness…

Sleeping 5 in two bedrooms, Coastguard Lookout is available from £835 for 7 nights.

 

Brookbank Folly

Or what about Brookbank Folly in Gloucestershire? This bespoke, timber framed, detached cottage is located on the outskirts of the village of Mitcheldean, right on the edge of the Royal Forest of Dean, England's largest oak forest and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

With single storey accommodation, it features open plan living, complete with a handmade fitted kitchen, a dining area and a sitting area. Outside, guests can enjoy a garden and patio area with handmade furniture and a BBQ plus off road parking for two cars.

Sleeping 2 in one bedroom, prices start from £277 for a 7 night break.

 

Want to search for more? With over 5,000 holiday cottages to choose from at Holiday Cottage Compare, we have got just the right one for you...