When it comes to honeymoon planning, the cardinal sin is trying to organise an action-packed far-flung honeymoon at the same time as planning the wedding, compounded by the idea of jetting off straight after saying ‘I do’. This will only leave you needing another holiday to recover, so what you’ll really want post-nuptials is a quiet, restorative break.
There are plenty of relaxing retreats in quiet corners of the UK, surrounded by rolling fields or remote villages where you can reflect on the celebrations and settle into married life, just the two of you. Here’s our pick of the worthy UK honeymoon destinations…
BOATH HOUSE
Nairn, Scottish Highlands
Forget traditional Baronial-style tartan carpets or mounted antlers. Instead, the Palladian Boath House is a tranquil countryside escape on the Moray Firth coast near the ancient fishing port of Nairn.
Without the formality of a front desk and with just 10 bedrooms, it feels more family home than hotel. To really shut yourselves away, book one of the two cabins set within the wilds of the estate, or check into the Grand Room, which has side-by-side baths with views over the estate made for long afternoon soaks. Interiors are purposefully minimalist, and the romanticised idea is that guests put pencil or paintbrush to paper and get creative, leaving their own artistic mark behind and contributing to the interior’s artwork. If you can bear to leave the house, Nairn Beach is just over five minutes’ drive away — it has phenomenal sunsets and is a reliable spot for glimpsing the Northern Lights.
COOMBESHEAD FARM
Lewannick, Cornwall
You might think you know Cornwall, but away from the coast, there’s plenty more to see — and there’s nowhere better to hunker down in the heartlands of the county than at Coombeshead Farm. The rural former dairy is still very much a working farm, sprawling over 66 acres of meadows and woods.
The farm’s smallholding, market garden and on-site bakery (famed for its chewy sourdough) feeds the restaurant, which dishes up delectable rustic farmhouse cooking in a refurbished outbuilding. The rooms in the old farmhouse or the grain store are an elegant take on traditional agricultural buildings, with no hay in sight.
From here, you’ll be able to visit the mythical villages of Tintagel and Boscastle, the hidden coves of Bossiney and Trebarwith or the famed Port Isaac and Padstow. Then try wine tasting at Camel Valley vineyard or roam the gardens at Pencarrow House.
BEADNELL TOWERS & KITCHEN
Beadnell, Northumberland
The Northumberland coastline is far too often overlooked, yet it’s ruggedly beautiful, sparsely populated and away from the main thrum of tourists — what’s not to like?
The fishing village of Beadnell and its two-mile stretch of sandy beach is just a five-minute walk from the Grade II-listed building of Beadnell Towers & Kitchen. Inside are cosy coastal-inspired interiors with plenty of moody blues, pretty wallpapers and rooms with exposed stonework and low beams. Make it your base for getting to know the villages and towns of Craster, Seahouses, Alnwick or Bamburgh and visit some of the historic castles the coastline is so famed for. Or stomp along some of the King Charles III England Coast Path (set to be the longest continuous hiking path in the world once completed) and brave a bracing dip in the North Sea.
UPDOWN FARMHOUSE
Deal, Kent
The British seaside is back in vogue, and topping the list now is the little town of Deal on the Kent coast. Quieter and more relaxed than its oyster-famous neighbour Whitstable or quirky Margate, Deal — with its pebbly beach, pastel-coloured Georgian houses and independent galleries and shops — has been drawing the creatives.
Just 15 minutes from the town is the picture-perfect 17th-century Updown Farmhouse. Traditional though the Kentish-farmhouse restaurant with rooms may look from the outside, inside is a bohemian mix of antique furniture and contemporary artworks, all injected with bold colour (see: the bright-orange-drenched living room).
Outside, the cowshed has been converted into a garden restaurant. Covered with a pergola, twinkly lights and clambering wild foliage, this little enchanted terrace is the spot for hours-long rosé-soaked lunches in the sun and candlelit dinners come darkness.
NO 1 BY GUESTHOUSE
York, North Yorkshire
If a city break is more likely on the agenda for your honey- or mini-moon, compact York ticks all the right boxes of culture and history, with its cobbled streets, galleries, museums, Gothic cathedral and ancient city walls.
The Guesthouse group is making a name for itself for renovating heritage buildings, and No 1 is no different. The seriously grand Grade II-listed Regency townhouse is decked out in an ultra-calming, cool-toned palette of creams, with modern four-poster beds, high ceilings and original Georgian features. The hotel has upped its ‘little extras’ game, with record players and a selection of vinyls in the rooms to please music aficionados, and a pantry filled with local goodies, from pick ’n’ mix to crisps. Best of all, there’s a basement spa, so book in for a couple’s massage after a day of exploring the city.
ROTHAY MANOR
Ambleside, the Lake District
If your idea of a dream honeymoon is stomping up and down the Howgill Fells and splashing about on Lake Windermere with the extra company of your four-legged friend, then the Lake District’s idyllic Rothay Manor is the perfect spot to unwind post-wedding.
After taking in the fresh air of the pastoral landscapes and roaming nearby Ambleside, leave your muddy boots by the door and sink into this welcoming bolthole, which is all about that kick-back-and-lounge-by-the-fire feeling. Doggos don’t miss out on the experience either, as they get a dedicated wash room for their muddy paws, comfy beds and yummy treats on hand during their stay.
THE COLLECTIVE AT WOOLSERY
Bideford, North Devon
Set in the sleepy North Devon village of Woolfardisworthy — better known as Woolsery, for obvious reasons — the Collective at Woolsery practically takes over the entire village.
Built around the rejuvenation of the village pub in 2018, the Collective also includes a handful of rooms, suites and cottages. Though it doesn’t stop there, as Birch Farm supplies the pub’s kitchen, there’s the fish and chip shop (next door to the pub), and the post office and village stores stocked with local produce, so you won’t need to leave the bubble for much else. When you do, head to the historic village of Clovelly, or ramble part of the dramatic coastal path at Hartland Point, where on a clear day, you can see over to the puffin-inhabited Lundy Island.
BALLINTAGGART FARM
Pitlochry, Perthshire
Just an hour and a half from either Edinburgh or Glasgow, this Highlands hideaway provides a rural retreat in Perthshire, surrounded by green fields that overlook the Tay Valley.
Either stay in the self-catering cottages that form Ballintaggart Farm, where delicious pre-prepared food can be delivered to your door, or opt for the Grandtully Hotel, just two miles down the road. Whichever you decide on, no-one’s judging if the honeymoon itinerary largely consists of lie-ins and thinking of what to eat next.
Though if it’s organised activities you seek, there’s plenty here: top of the list is a cookery class at the on-site school, where lessons range from a fire-cooking masterclass to discovering how to make the most of Scotland’s seafood.
Hiring the farm’s bicycles and taking a pre-packed picnic along for the ride is a must, plus there are tennis courts on which to perfect your serve and yoga classes to wake up with.
In search of something a little more exotic? See the rest of our honeymoon-approved hotels