Light the fire and watch storms march in over the Atlantic Ocean. Brave a bracing sea dip and scurry back into the warmth of your beach retreat. Wrap up for rosy-cheeked rambles across cliffs and coves. Or find a snug little nook to read your book in view of wheeling gulls and roaring seas.
Out of peak holiday season is the best season to escape to the coast for a romantic break. Explore natural wonders and heritage hotspots without the crowds, seek shelter in seaside pubs and tearooms, and enjoy time out together in these cosy couple’s boltholes by the beach.
Birch Studio, Lamorna, Cornwall
Sleeps 2-4 (+ 3 dogs)
Have you ever witnessed the landscape drama of West Cornwall in the winter? Its mighty granite cliffs lashed by the Atlantic, pearly coves reigned by seals and seabirds, and wave-side cafés welcoming you in with a steaming brew. Hideaway in this romantic retreat tucked in the sub-tropical valley of Lamorna, where you can hunker by the fire in your luxury studio that once belonged to artist Lamorna Birch, tumble down to a rugged cove and explore wild West Penwith, and unwind in your wooden hot tub and barrel sauna. Surely one of the loveliest sea view properties in Cornwall for a winter stay.
The Penthouse, Hunstanton, Norfolk
Sleeps 2
Capture a bird’s eye view of the coast from your cosy penthouse in the Victorian seaside town of Hunstanton. Your opulent, adults-only abode is decked out with a king-size bed, clawfoot bath and a welcome bottle of fizz, so when you’re not out embracing the briny air on a beach walk, gawping at Hunstanton’s famous striped cliffs, or strolling along the seaside promontory, you can be taking in the scenic charm of this coastal village in sumptuous style.
The Chalet, Coulderton, Cumbria
Sleeps 3
Seaside simplicity wins when you commandeer this waterside chalet, from where you’ve got the wild landscapes of The Lake District and Scotland at your fingertips. After a day of exploring lakes, shores and castles on foot and by bike, kick off your boots and light the log burner, rustle up a gourmet meal and dine with sea views, then rejuvenate in the hot tub, ready for another day of coastal adventures.
The Stable Block, Porlock Weir, Somerset
Sleeps 2 + 2 dogs
There’s nowhere better to base yourself for an off-season retreat than between the beach and the moors on a coastal break in Somerset. Here you can wake up and check the weather rolling in over the bay, and choose between wild, windswept cliff and coast walks, or rambles across the rolling peaks and valleys of Exmoor. Explore the natural wonder of the Valley of Rocks, visit National Trust’s Watersmeet and watch the world go by from Porlock’s dinky harbour, then snuggle up beside the woodburner in your country-style cottage where contemporary style meets traditional charm.
Admiral’s Beach House, Torquay, Devon
Sleeps 2
If your idea of romance comes with a dash of modern style, slink away to this contemporary apartment on the outskirts of Torquay. Sea views and coastal hues fill every nook and cranny, so you can enjoy the seascapes whether you’re inside with your feet up on the sofa, or outside on the terrace. Beyond the door you can bask in the traditional seaside charm – eating fish and chips on the promenade, watching boats come and go from the marina, or strolling in Torre Abbey’s gardens. It’s the perfect winter hideaway for a couple’s holiday stay on the Devon coast.
Freshwater Getaway, Isle of Wight
Sleeps 2
Far from just a summer holiday destination, the Isle of Wight comes into its own as an island escape once the crowds have gone home. Bag a sea-view apartment for two in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, from where you can pad along Freshwater Bay, strike out across Tennyson Down to the Needles, or towards St Catherine’s Lighthouse on the southern tip of the island. Or you might prefer to swing open the doors to your private balcony and make the most of your cosy, modern apartment with a king-size bed.
Cliff Head, Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire
Sleeps 2 +1 dog
Traditional charm seeps into every corner of this cosy abode for two on the edge of the popular coastal holiday destination of Robin Hood’s Bay. Unwind to the sound of the sea, and live to the ebb and flow of the tides, from this 17th century fisherman’s cottage tucked between the cobbled lanes and the beach. If all you want is time together, you won’t need to stray any further than the shoreline and the log burner, but if you want to do some sightseeing then seek out Hayburn Wake waterfall, Whitby Abbey and Scarborough Castle.
Driftwood Cottage, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Sleeps 4
Whisk your lover away to the remote shores of the Hebrides and enjoy eye-popping ocean and mountain views on the shores of the Trotternish peninsula on the dramatic Isle of Skye. Hibernate in the comfort of your coastal hideaway and watch the storms lash the beach, or get outside and climb the Old Man of Storr, dip in the fairy pools and seek out the dinosaur footprints at Staffin beach.
Emblestones, Northumberland
Sleeps 2 + 2 dogs
Boasting a vast and varied coastline, with sweeping beaches, coastal castles and heritage fishing villages, Northumberland is a wildly romantic destination in the off-peak months. From this stylish reverse-level villa you can step out onto Embleton Bay, explore Dunstanburgh Castle and follow the Northumberland Coast Path to Craster. Or, snuggle up and take in the views beside the logburner, get lungfuls of fresh sea air on the balcony and sleep soundly in your king-size bed. This cosy coastal retreat is one of Northumberland’s finest seaside holiday cottages for couples.
Book Your Cosy Cottage By The Sea
Off-season is the perfect time for a wild and romantic getaway. Browse our collection of romantic seaside cottages and find a cosy coastal bolthole for two.
