Remote boltholes and clifftop retreats

Feeling the need for some isolation and to get away from it all? Find remote boltholes and clifftop retreats with these holiday ideas from Travel PR:

Get lost in the Puglian countryside – Italy from £242 pp with CV Villas
Live the good life in a rural Italian idyll staying at a remote Puglian villa, surrounded by beautiful countryside but within easy reach of the sun-soaked coastline. Tre Ulivi is a modern and impeccably designed six-bedroomed property, the perfect base from which to spend dreamy days exploring charming nearby villages, taking long, lazy lunches with excellent Italian wines, shopping for local produce to enjoy in the villa’s heavenly al fresco dining area, walking through the olive groves, and taking refreshing dips in an inviting pool. The cost is from £242 pp (£2,668 total – 11 sharing) for a week’s stay. Flights extra. Explore CV Villas’ full collection of secluded villas here. Call CV Villas on 0207 261 5410 (www.cvvillas.com).

Sea, space & seclusion – save 25%, four nights now from £608 pp with Seaham Hall
Drive 20 minutes out of Durham, towards the sea and the glorious Heritage Coast. Set on a clifftop, overlooking miles of rugged coastline, find Seaham Hall, a former country Georgian manor house situated within 37 acres of landscaped gardens. Wonderfully remote, the boutique hotel has just 21 suites, but with plenty of space for maximum seclusion and privacy if desired. Take a bike out for a ride along the coast, enjoy a luxury picnic within the grounds or head to the spa and sink into a cocoon pod bed in the relaxing Zen garden. Stay four nights for three from £608 pp (£1,225 total – two sharing a junior suite), including dinner on each night, daily breakfast, an afternoon tea and full spa access. Call Seaham Hall on 0191 516 1400 (www.seaham-hall.co.uk).

A timber cabin for two – Swedish Lapland from £2,642 pp with Sunvil
The ultimate romantic retreat, switch off and allow yourself to relax and unwind in the warm and homely Loggers Lodge – perfectly made for two. Nestled in the middle of the forest, enjoy total silence and no light pollution – staying here is about ‘just being’. Connect with your surroundings through the gastronomy – a private chef will serve organic, gourmet, local meals to your table – or spend some romantic time stargazing from the outdoor hot tub. Stay three nights’ full board from £2,642 pp (two sharing), including flights (London) and private transfers. Other activities available at a supplement. Call AITO* member Sunvil on 020 8758 4722 (www.sunvil.co.uk).

Get away from it all with a stay at Kyrimai – South Peloponnese, Greece from £981 pp with Sunvil
At the far southern tip of Mani, this intimate and remote small luxury hotel is set in the most atmospheric surroundings. Located at the edge of the tiny fishing village of Gerolimenas, the property has been lovingly converted by the family from a 19^th century warehouse into 22 suites with Maniot stone walls, wooden ceilings and decorated in warm earth tones. The hotel boasts a decked pool, fine restaurant and jetty with sun loungers and ladders into the clearest blue sea. A week’s stay costs from £981 pp (two sharing), including flights (London) and car hire. Call AITO* member Sunvil on 020 8758 4758 (www.sunvil.co.uk).

Cosy cottage set on top of a Greek island – Antipaxos, Greece from £1,124 pp with GIC The Villa Collection
Enjoy beautiful Caribbean-style beaches and a cosy hilltop retreat for two on the tiny island of Antipaxos. A place of total tranquillity and privacy, with just 30 local inhabitants, few cars, three tavernas and no shops (shopping is delivered by boat), this is the ultimate, off-grid escape. Beautifully authentic, with a quaint terrace with sea views, at Bacchus House you’ll spend the days relaxing by the swimming pool, exploring local walking trails and wandering along gloriously empty beaches. Seven nights’ self-catering costs from £1,124 pp (two sharing) including flights (London) and transfers. Call AITO* member GIC The Villa Collection on 020 8232 9780 (www.gicthevillacollection.com).

Sleep metres from a magical waterfall, Vágar, The Faroe Islands – two nights from £115 pp
Gásadalsgarður is a guesthouse in the village of  Gásadalur on the western side of Vágar in the Faroe Islands, the collection of 18 islands situated halfway between Iceland and Norway. The village is home to the magical waterfall of Mulafossur, the natural phenomenon that is unique in its descent directly into the ocean. Cosy Gásadalsgarður is set just metres from the waterfall, boasting four double bedrooms and a quaint café just next door. Departing Sept, stay two nights from £115 pp (DKK 1,905 / ££230 per room – two sharing). Return flights from £280 pp via Copenhagen with SAS. See AITO* member Visit Faroe Islands www.visitfaroeislands.com.

An idyllic slice of country life – Hay on Wye from £159 pp with holidaycottages.co.uk
Top Of Lane Cottage (sleeps four plus two dogs) is a 16^th century cottage, hidden away in a remote location. Accessed by a farm track, the property’s owners live a discreet walk away and are on hand if needed, but privacy is assured. With 580 acres of National Trust Common Land surrounding you, there are many fabulous walks on the doorstep. The property offers two double bedrooms and lounge with cosy log burner. Outside, there’s a sunny terrace with seating, BBQ and enclosed garden. A seven-night stay costs from £159 pp (£637 total). Supplement of £20 per dog. Call holidaycottages.co.uk on 01237 459888 (www.holidaycottages.co.uk).

Stone cottage hideaway in Brecon Beacons – from £267 pp with Canine Cottages
Rowan Cottage (sleeps 2, plus 1 dog) is a romantic property which dates back to the 1580s and is set in Llangattock Hillside with incredible views over the Black Mountains. The stone cottage offers a lovely private terrace, and with plenty of wonderful walks from the doorstep, it’s also a great place to bring a pet dog, too. The cottage is close to the market town of Abergavenny with its Norman castle and shops, as well as some of the best caves in Europe with caving experiences suitable for all levels. A four-night stay costs from £267 pp (£534 total). £20 supplement for a dog. Call Canine Cottages on 01237 459821 (www.caninecottages.co.uk).

Escape to a remote and luxurious Scottish castle – from £413 pp with Pride of Britain Hotels
Tucked away on the breathtaking Ayrshire coast, south-west Scotland, hidden away at the end of a long and winding private entrance, Glenapp Castle is a 17-bedroom luxurious castle hotel with fairy-tale turrets, spacious oak-panelled suites and picturesque hilly surrounds. Get truly off the grid with activities such as mountain biking, foraging, stargazing, wilderness living, or even a four or five-night sea safari on Glenapp’s private boat, exploring the remote Hebridean islands in search of incredible marine life, with evenings spent glamping beneath the stars. Enjoy four nights for the price of three for £825 /£413 pp (two sharing), including a cream tea on arrival, B&B, room upgrade (subject to availability) and use of the spa. Activities extra. Call Pride of Britain Hotels on 0800 089 3929 (www.prideofbritainhotels.com).

An eco-friendly kasbah escape in the rural Atlas Mountains – Morocco from £698 pp with Kirker
Sitting majestically on a plateau in the Atlas Mountains’ Ourika Valley, Bab Ourika is a secluded retreat offering panoramic views of snow-capped mountains and idyllic sunsets, 45 minutes from Marrakech. Constructed from compacted earth – one of Morocco’s most eco-friendly properties – this unique kasbah is decorated in a charming rustic style, and features a colonnaded restaurant, garden terrace, cooling courtyards and refreshing pool. Walking, trekking and horse riding can be arranged (at extra cost), for a truly off-the-grid experience. The price is from £698 pp (two sharing) including flights (Gatwick), transfers, three nights’ B&B and Kirker Concierge. Call AITO* member Kirker on 020 7593 2283, www.kirkerholidays.com.

*AITO is The Specialist Travel Association: more than 120 specialist travel companies providing an unrivalled collection of holiday ideas that cover every corner of the world. Consumers booking with AITO can be assured of high-quality holidays and excellent personal service. Visit www.aito.com for further information.

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