The algorithm has never been anywhere. It’s never missed a turning on a single-track road, never actually tasted the local cider, never sat in a kitchen while an owner explained why they swapped a stable job for a passion project and a view worth more than the salary was. And yet it decides, more or less, where most of the country ends up each summer: the same headlands, the same sold-out lunch tables, the same handful of cottages doing the rounds.
We work the other way round. We’re a small team of fairly obsessive UK travellers, the kind who notice which cabins got the reading light in the right place and which owner bakes something for your arrival, and we’re fastidious about only listing the places we’d book ourselves.
So here’s where we’re going, where we’ve been, and the places we already can’t wait to head back to.
Where the Kip team are staying this summer.
Hadspen Valley, Somerset.
“I just spent a few utterly idyllic days in the Somerset countryside as the very first guest at this gorgeous new hideaway, and I’m not sure I’m emotionally prepared to return to real life. Sophie & Ed have absolutely nailed it. A mountain of cheese and cider on arrival (always the way to my heart), the most ridiculously good supper hampers delivered to the hut, ice cream appearing as if by magic, and one of those places where you accidentally spend three hours staring at the view because apparently that’s your personality now. Could I have stayed another week? Easily. Forever? Also yes.”
Sarah, Kip Co-founder.
Each sleeps 2 + 2 kids. Dog friendly. From £170 / night.
Alcoves, Cotswolds.
“We recently lucked out and timed a stay at the brand new Cotswolds cabins, Alcoves, with the start of a heatwave. It was a total dream to be tucked away in a little pocket of sun-dappled woodland, with the Jersey herd filing past at breakfast and uninterrupted countryside views. The cabins are beautiful. The artist owner, Tom, has thought of every detail and they feel more like hotel suites than cabins in a field. There’s a hot tub on the deck that switches to cold if you need a cool-down (we did), and I’m still thinking about the BBQ box. Local steaks cooked over fire, hard to beat. It’s also super easy to get to, so perfect for a spontaneous trip when the forecast’s looking good.”
Jaz, Marketing
Each sleeps 2. From £180 / night.
Cottage Orné, Cornwall.
“Cottage Orné is my ultimate summer pick. It’s a small site of holiday cottages and cabins that reminded me instantly of summers when I was little; the kind of place where everyone finds their thing – games room for the kids, tennis court for dad, a sun lounger by the pool for mum – before you all end up on the beach together in the evening anyway. That’s the magic of it. Here’s what a few days here looks like: a private sauna warming you through after a wet walk down to the cove; a swimming pool surrounded by wildflowers; crab sandwiches in Looe; and evenings that stretch long around the table, the kind where nobody really wants to go to bed and the stories just keep coming.”
Katy, Chief Ops Officer
Sleeps 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 14. Dog friendly options. From £140 / night.
Inverlonan, Scotland.
“It’s an OG on Kip – one of the very first hideaways we launched with – and 5 years later, it’s still one of the most special places to stay in the collection. Totally off-grid and blissfully free from tourists, you can wake up and jump straight into Loch Nell, spend the day on SUPs and kayaks, then cook dinner over an open fire beneath the stars. And if tou don’t fancy cooking (fair), their Wild Dining experience is completely magical. The chef previously cooked at The River Café and The Fife Arms, so the pedigree is pretty unbeatable. it’s an eight-course menu cooked over fire and built around the freshest, most local, seasonal and ethically sourced ingredients they can get their hands on.”
Jessy, PR
Each sleeps 2. Dog friendly options. From £220 / night.
Craftsman’s Cabin, Somerset
“I loved Craftsman’s Cabin – hand built, cased in larch and analogue in all the right ways – its rustic yet beautifully refined. Inside its brimming with gorgeous details, pieces made by local artisans, vintage furniture and quirky of a kind finds. And outside the deck is pretty magic, it’s easy to drift away into the view of the Somerset Levels, watching the birds and wildlife all around from the outdoor tub or gathered round the firepit. Then for a cold one, pop down the road to the famous Somerset Cider Bus or be spoilt for choice of brilliant restaurants, such as nearby HOLM, to sample the best of the season.”
Aimee, PR
Sleeps 4 + 1 child. Dog friendly. From £170 / night.
Glasan, Isle of Skye.
“It’s the perfect base for exploring the island’s dramatic landscapes, braving a dip in the Scottish sea, and spotting the incredible wildlife right on its doorstep. The views are simply spectacular, yet the cabin feels warm, comfortable, and wonderfully homely amidst the wildness of Skye. And while we all hope for sunshine on a trip to Skye, the weather is part of the island’s charm. If the rain rolls in, Glasan is just as magical, a cosy retreat where you can sit by the fire and watch the scenery unfold beyond the windows.”
Evie, Bookings
Sleeps 2. From £225 / night.
