Ladram Cottage, Devon
Sub-Editor Milcah Fajardo and her mates found a chic coastal hideout in the south west.
The Pad
This gorgeous chocolate-box cottage with clifftop ocean views and a hot tub in the garden is nestled in a five-star caravan park.
The inside is styled with every wash of blue, while arch windows flood the space with natural light. Sink into the spacious living room, with its toasty wood-burner, before bedding down in the three nautical-style bedrooms.
Two waterfall showers, under-floor heating and Bramley toiletries also add to the home comforts.
Plus, the chippy is just a few strides away – tuck into scampi and chips, £9.25, and a gluggable curry sauce, £2.20 – while at Pebbles Restaurant, flavour-stacked buttermilk chicken burgers with bacon, cheese, hot honey and chips, £17.50, are served with panoramic sea views.
There’s entertainment galore on site, too, with an art studio, adventure golf, arcade and indoor pool. But the jewel is the private pebble beach with paddleboards to hire from £8.
Explore
Hike the scenic coastal path from Ladram Bay to Sidmouth. The incline is steep, but the view is worth it.
You’ll also spot Jacob’s Ladder — built in 1870, it’s a gorgeous pic-stop to take in the Jurassic Coast.
After just over an hour’s amble, you’ll reach Sidmouth town, with its striking red cliffs and cobbled, bunting-lined high street.
Seek out beach kiosk Kapes for a sweet reward of soft serve dipped in chocolate, from £3.50, or a silky cappuccino, £3.50 (Kapes.uk), as well as Things I Like for locally made souvenirs (Thingsilike.uk).
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After more of a thrill? Book circuits at Raceworld Indoor Karting, 20 minutes’ drive away. Experiences cost from £39.50 per person (Raceworld-karting.co.uk).
Refuel
For fresh seafood, Myca’s is just the plaice! Fried whitebait, £9, is a must, as are the spicy Devon crab tacos, £22, and massive moules marinière, £23 (Mycassidmouth.co.uk).
At nearby gastro-pub The Anchor Inn, you’ll be charmed by the friendly bar staff, local pints and mouth-watering specials, including slow-braised curried lamb shank with pilau rice, £19.95 (Theanchorinn-sidmouth.co.uk).
Over in Otterton village, The King’s Arms is home to a suntrap garden. Pair a Scrabble contest with the confit pork belly and roast trimmings, £14 – it’s what Sundays are made for (Kingsarmsotterton.co.uk).
Don’t Miss
There’s more than just local produce at Greendale Farm Shop. You can’t miss the zoo, with everything from donkeys and pigs to emus and alpacas, before filling up on fresh milkshakes and gelato, from £1.70, at The Udder Stuff shack (Greendale.com).
BOOK IT
Stays at Ladram Cottage, sleeping up to six people, cost from £274 per night (Ladrambay.co.uk).
The Bradley Hare, Wiltshire
Fashion Stylist Emily Regan and boyfriend Harry escaped to a rural foodie paradise.
The Pad
Set in the charming village of Maiden Bradley, you’ll find a picture-perfect crackling fire, armchairs to curl up in and oodles of old-school character at this 19th-century coaching inn.
Rooms have antique furniture and beautifully tiled bathrooms, most with rain showers.
At dinner, softly lit nooks offer romance aplenty. We savoured grilled monkfish, £25, with heritage carrots, £5, and you can’t go wrong with signature tipple Hare On The Rocks – a mix of grapefruit liqueur, rosso, Campari and prosecco, £14.
After seasonal fruits and pastries, the full English won’t disappoint come morning either.
Explore
For a dose of history and incredible landscaped grounds, Stourhead House is a must-visit, just 10 minutes’ drive away.
Take the Behind Closed Doors Tour for a glimpse into the estate’s rich heritage. Entry costs £22 for non-members (National-trust.org.uk).
Equally close is Longleat Safari Park, which boasts a plethora of animals and mischievous monkeys in the drive-through experience. Entry costs £44.95 per adult (Longleat.co.uk).
Meanwhile, celeb fave Frome lies 15 minutes’ drive away, with its medieval shopping streets filled with independents, such as vintage toy shop Honey On The Hill (Honeyonthehill.co.uk).
There’s also a brilliant market on Saturdays selling foodie treats and gorgeous gifts.
Refuel
While away an evening at The Beckford Arms, 20 minutes’ drive away.
Start with mulled wine, £5, in the oak bar before tucking into creamy cauliflower soup, £8.50, and the succulent Beckford burger with bacon and cheese, £16.50 (Beckfordarms.com).
While in Frome, seek out cute cafe The River House for caramel iced lattes, £5, and coffee and walnut muffins, £4 (Riverhousefrome.co.uk).
Later, dig into al dente fazzoletti with rich beef shin ragu, £14, at Little Walcot (Littlewalcot.com). Bellissimo!
Don’t Miss
Lilley’s Cider Shop has 33 unique flavours, all crafted locally. Sampling is encouraged and the refreshing mango cider, £3 per bottle, gets our vote (Lilleyscider.co.uk).
A very giftable getaway
Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley made a pit stop at Escapade Silverstone, Northamptonshire.
I’ve never dreamed of waking up beside the iconic Silverstone racetrack, but this chic collection of private residences – which sleep between two and eight – is pretty damn cool.
And both my husband Andy and four-year-old Raffy think all their Christmases have come at once when we arrive.
There’s a James Bond feel to the exterior, and with burnt-orange and olive-green soft furnishings, brass accessories and matte-black bathroom fittings, the style vibes continue inside, too.
If you pick a trackside pad and stay over a racing weekend, you can even watch drivers tackling Maggots and Becketts corners from your balcony, before you hit the super-chic, 15m swimming pool and Finnish sauna (the latter also serves up track views).
You’ll find eye-catching modern art – think diamanté-studded helmets and enormous animal sculptures made from engine parts at every turn – and more panoramic views of the action at Escapade’s eatery The Gallery, where dishes such as yellowfin tuna steak with kimchi slaw, chimichurri and sweet potato fries, £36, hit the spot.
A Barrel-Side cocktail of scotch, angostura bitters, demerara sugar and orange oil, £17, also slips down nicely, while the kids’ breaded salmon, veg and chips, £12, and fruit salad with peach sorbet, £5, gets a thumbs-up, too.
And as you’ll have smashed the present-giving for the petrolheads in your life, gift yourself the divine honey-baked French toast with bacon, berries, oat crumble and chantilly, £13, for brekkie the next morning.
Stays for two at Escapade Silverstone cost from £110 per night (Escapade.silverstone.co.uk).