The 20 best short-haul hotels

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Following a modest £15m makeover in 2008, this is now one of Cornwall’s chicest boltholes. Each of the 48 bedrooms boasts oak floors, whitewashed walls and crisp furnishings – all in shades of sand, aqua and pale blue. Watch the chef whip up seafood classics in the open kitchen, be pummelled in the glossy Cowshed spa, or raid the selection of buckets, spades and surfboards piled up in the lobby and head to the beach. The Cornwall Coastal Path is on the doorstep, too.

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Cottages with cachet

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According to the Office For National Statistics, Britons went on 10m fewer trips abroad last year than in 2008, many opting instead for a holiday in the UK. But that doesn’t mean a no-frills break. James Morris, managing director of Farm and Cottage Holidays, says many of us now expect holiday cottages to have the same features as those of a plush boutique hotel. “We’ve noticed the trend for ‘super cottages’ building over the past four to five years,” says Morris. “Properties are coming on to the rental market with extra features, such as private cinemas, indoor pools and hot tubs. One of the first was The Pad in Torbay, which offers a top-of-the-range entertainment system, steam shower with MP3 function and a dancing pole.” They don’t have to be “super” expensive either – fill the property and you could pay just £60 per person a week. Here’s our top 10… Continue reading