Bookalicious Travel Addict: GUEST POST - Unique Places to stay by Kate from Unique Sleeps

Well as my blog is about travel and books, I thought it only fair to host Kate from Unique Sleeps onto my blog to share her wonderful ideas about "Unique Places to Stay". It's certainly whet my appetite and I've always fancied staying in a Yurt. You don't know what a yurt is? Then read on......

Unique Places to Stay in the UK

The popularity of unique and unusual places to stay in both the UK and around the world has grown at a rapid rate over the last decade.

With the birth of ‘glamping’ (luxury camping), people are realising that they can still indulge in all the delights of outdoor living, without the need to forgo the comfort and warmth of a hotel style bedroom.

But it’s not only glamping that is hitting the headlines. Unique and unusual accommodation is high up on people’s wish lists with guests yearning for a magical twist for their next break away.

It is has been hard to narrow down the best places to stay, there are so many to choose from, but here are 5 of my favourite Unique Sleeps.

Living Room Treehouses - Wales

Living Room Treehouses, located in Machynlleth, Wales, is home to a unique and special collection of 6 treehouses, designed and created by the owner.

The treehouses are set in a hidden valley in the heart of the Welsh mountains, camouflaged within a magical woodland setting.

A stay here is completely off-grid with solar lighting provided and a log burning stove to keep you toasty in the evenings.

There is plenty to keep you occupied in the surrounding area with local walks, bike rides and a hike up nearby Snowdonia. The beautiful, wide, sandy beaches that Wales is famed for are just a 15 minute drive away. If the treehouses have inspired you, be sure to visit the Centre for Alternative Technology to learn more about off grid and sustainable living.

Champing

Yes you did read that right, it is champing and not glamping. If you haven’t heard of ‘champing’ it is
a term recently created by the Churches Conservation Trust meaning to spend the night in a church. The CCT have recently opened up their doors to three churches in Northamptonshire, Kent and Norfolk.

Enjoy a night sleeping by candlelight in one of the historical churches, which you get to yourself, for £60 per person per night, with breakfast included, and made from local produce.

Gypsy Caravan Breaks in Somerset

Sleep in the very gypsy caravan used in the Famous Five TV series! This gorgeously restored bow top caravan is located in an apple cider orchard on a rural Somerset farm. Chill out with the ducks, ponies, donkeys and sheep, or relax in the luxury of your Romany styled caravan.

Locally you can visit the world famous Glastonbury with its famed Tor and Abbey ruins. Nearby is England’s smallest city, Wells, with its stunning cathedral and bustling farmer’s market. Somerset is a county rich in places to see with plenty of walks and outdoor living to enjoy in the Mendip Hills.

Black Isle Yurts in Scotland

You probably have seen yurts springing up in various locations across the country as this ancient

accommodation of Russian origins gains in popularity. And it is with good reason – yurts are fantastic places to stay all year round owing to their insulated and comfortable build. Most accommodations used for yurt holidays come complete with a luxury bed and cosy log burning stove.

Black Isle Yurts in Scotland are set in a stunning location with incredible coastline views and sandy coves easily explorable close by. Not far away is Chanonry Point, one of the best onshore dolphin-spotting sites in Europe.

Black Isles Yurts offers off-grid holidays in 150 acres of Scottish farmland, woodland and shorefront where you will stay in hand crafted yurts.

Railway Carriage Holidays

Whether you are a train spotter or not, you will love the uniqueness of a stay in a train.

Railholiday in Cornwall have lovingly converted 4 railway carriages into holiday accommodation

sited in two locations in Cornwall (Hayle in West Cornwall and St Germans in South West Cornwall).

The railway carriage pictured above is Harvey and is located in Hayle. Harvey can sleep up to 9 guests and is set within a large garden beside Hayle station on the Cornish mainline. Hayle is not only a bustling town, it is also perfect for a beach holiday with its miles of golden sandy beaches. Try a bit of surfing or catch the train down to Penzance (which only takes 9 minutes). Don’t miss the incredible site of St Michael’s Mount and the iconic Land’s End.

Hop on over to www.uniquesleeps.co.uk