Rural accommodation travel guide


Our Rural accommodation Holidays
Devon eco lodge accommodation, England
Quirky eco lodges, 1 with Hot Tub, on a Devon nature reserve
Rural France accommodation, heart of the Provence
Eco accommodation in the unspoilt heart of Provence
Rural Crete holiday villa, Greece
Spectacular views from luxury accommodation in Crete Mountains
Andalucia self catering cottage on finca, 2 bedrooms
Two Bed cottage with private pool - 5 minute walk to village
Rural accommodation with pool in Spain, sleeps 2
Enchanting spacious barn surrounded by nature in Extremadura
Dordogne rural self catering chalets, France
Holidays to the rhythm of nature, in historic Dordogne
Loire Valley self catering accommodation
Self-catering cottage in beautiful Loire Valley countryside
Rural accommodation in Portugal, Sintra region
Sintra National Park B&B nearby Cabo da Roca with seaviews
Loire Valley self catering farm cottage, France
Perfect Loire Valley country cottage for two
Tipperary holiday cottage in Ireland
Award winning Self Catering Cottages on a small family farm
Andalucia bed and breakfast near Ronda
Style, comfort, and serenity in the rural heart of Andalusia
Umbria farmhouse accommodation in Italy
Organic farmstay accommodation in Pietralunga Forest, Italy
Italy villa near Majella National Park, Abruzzo
Artist's award-winning riverside Majella mountain retreat
Le Marche holiday accommodation in Italy
Vacation rentals & b&b on an organic farm in Le Marche hills
Ethiopia rural accommodation, nr Lalibela
Experience the real Ethiopia, hosted by the local village.
Rural villas in Tuscany, Italy
Traditional apartments in the heart Tuscany
Rural B&B farmhouse in Lubrin, Spain
Family friendly boutique B&B and self-catering holidays
Rural traditional accommodation in Transylvania
Back in time experience in the heart of Transylvania.
Dordogne self catering accommodation
Splendid isolation! Your very own cabin in the woods!
Granada holiday accommodation, Spain
Off-grid hotel in spectacular unspoilt rural Spain
Dordogne self catering cabin sleeping 4
Off-grid, off-beat self catering cabin
Baby friendly family accommodation in France
Family Friendly Loire Valley self-catering holiday cottages
Unusual rural accommodation in Sardinia
The first organic and eco-sustainable village in Sardinia
Loire Valley self catering accommodation, France
Loire Valley cottage for your holiday to happen with ease
North Devon ecolodge, England
Uniquely quirky Devon eco lodge with hot tub & great views
Honeymoon accommodation in the Dordogne, France
A secluded woodland cabin in Dordogne, SW France
Self catering accommodation nr Malaga
Beautiful selfcatering holiday retreat nearby Malaga
South Devon accommodation, sleeps 2
Self catering accommodation set in C15th Devon orchard
Devon self catering cottage, England
Cottage with lake view & wood burner on Devon nature reserve
Italian Alps inn accommodation in Piedmont, Italy
Italian Alps Inn Lovingly Run by Married Former Pro Chefs
Is a rural accommodation for you?
Stay in a rural accommodation if…
Don’t stay in a rural accommodation if…
Rural accommodation practicalities
While some places to stay, like our eco-lodges in Devon or cottages in the Loire are fantastically family-friendly, providing all kinds of toys and activities as well as extra beds and cots on request. Other properties, for example our mountain retreat in Crete, are adults-only so you’ll need to double check before you book.
While the standard varies from the rustic to the luxurious, with all our rural accommodations you can expect clean and comfortable rooms and private bathrooms (if you’re not renting out the whole house). Some will have air-conditioning although many older buildings will rely on their traditional stone construction to keep cool. A swimming pool – and certainly a private one – isn’t a given, but where there is no pool you might find that you’re not too far from a quiet beach, or that there’s a river perfect for wild swimming at the bottom of your garden.
Many of our rural accommodations are working to ensure their facilities are as available to as many people as possible for example ensuring specially-adapted rooms, reserved parking, and catering for a wide range of food allergies. However, those based in renovated old buildings will face challenges constrained by the building’s original, often uneven architecture, making step-free access difficult. Feel free to expand on your requirements when you make an enquiry and your local hosts will be able to provide detailed information specific to your needs.
Rural accommodation activities
Walking
Cycling
An excellent way to cover longer distances car-free if you’re staying out in the sticks, many rural accommodations offer bike hire – or can advise on the best place to pick some up. Where you pedal is up to you. Mountainside retreats in the Spanish Pyrenees or Italy’s Piedmont region are excellent options for downhill thrills, while the Loire Valley offers family-friendly pedalling between chateaux on off-road cycle lanes with baby bike seats and toddler trailers available. Alternatively explore the old Roman road through the Peneda-Gerês National Park in northern Portugal.Horse-riding
With many rural accommodations set on farms or among farming communities, horse-riding is a near-ubiquitous option. The horses you’ll use are generally mild-mannered and used to beginners – and children – although more experienced riders can always be catered for too. It’s a perfect way to explore the peaceful rolling farmland of Le Marche, Italy, or the mountain trails of Abruzzo, all in the company of expert instructors and guides.Stargazing
Wildlife spotting
From bird watching in Andalucía or bear-tracking in Transylvania, to butterfly-spotting in Devon, rural accommodations are perfectly poised for wildlife adventures.Maggie Watson, owner of our rural accommodation Wheatland Farm in Devon shares her love of the local wildlife: “Guests tell us they love our 21 acres, whether they want a tranquil retreat for themselves or proper outdoor space for children to explore. Personally, I’m addicted to the big wildlife pond. In winter I watch the pied wagtails coming in to roost at dusk. Frogspawn and tadpoles herald spring. And in summer into autumn I’m entranced by the stunning dragonflies. Sometimes I take a paddle board out, sometimes I swim, but often I just sit on the bench and daydream.”
Foodie fun
Join in the grape harvest – payment in wine, of course - in Abruzzo, forage for truffles in Le Marche, learn how to make perfect pasta in Piedmont or simply wander round the Loire Valley’s delectable farmer’s markets to pick up locally-made goats cheese. Rural accommodations base you in the heart of where some of Europe’s best fare is grown. Expect delicious, home-cooked meals in B&Bs, farmstays and local restaurants – following traditional recipes made from ingredients dug up earlier that day. And with food miles measured in mere metres, you’ll be cutting down on your carbon footprint too.

Responsible tourism
And with many popular resorts - for example Barcelona in Spain – becoming unpleasantly overcrowded, going rural can also make for a much pleasanter holiday experience. You’ll also be spreading the benefits of tourism more widely. It’s worth remembering that tourism in many rural areas is very seasonal, with the summer months receiving the lion’s share of visitors. Consider travelling in the spring, autumn or even during the winter months and you’ll not only enjoy a peaceful escape with barely another tourist in sight, but you’ll be supporting local businesses and producers at times when income is a little tougher to come by. And with log stoves, home-cooked food, friendly hosts (and often discounted rates) there’s something oh-so-cosy about an off-season escape.
Our top Rural accommodation Holiday
Rural France accommodation, heart of the Provence
Eco accommodation in the unspoilt heart of Provence
Best time to stay in a rural accommodation

