Our 10 Most Instagram-able Cottages

Published: Tuesday 11th Jun 2019

Beyond your holiday destination of choice is a plethora of grid-worthy places to stay. Our collection of Instagram-able cottages combines the ultimate holiday pad with myriad photo opportunities. Your Stories will be the envy of everyone. Your grid will be heaving with heavenly interiors and super stylish twists. Let the filtering begin...

A House for Hobbit fans

Visit Sussex and even those familiar with Tolkien’s tales might be fooled into thinking they’re in The Shire. In a perfectly rural spot on the outskirts of Bodiam, next to a very English oast house, you’ll find Hobbit House. 

A labour of love for its owners, this fascinating architectural feat is the project of a Tolkien superfan. You’ll be struck by the sensitivity of the place from the outside and the clever continuation of architectural themes as you step over the threshold. Doorways were meant to be curvy! 

There’s fabulous use of natural materials throughout reflecting the simple life led by Hobbits and urging guests to enjoy and respect earth’s own products. Simplicity and genius lie side by side in the copper piping taps, exposed brick walls and driftwood pieces.

Hobbit House sleeps four guests in the grounds of vineyards. With a hot tub at the end of the path where broad rural vistas beckon, this is the perfect rural retreat for grown-ups. But a super fan family would love it just as much with so much to do on the doorstep. 

You’re spoilt for choice of detail shots for your grid here hence Hobbit House taking the number one spot on our Instagrammable cottages list!

 Hobbit House | Hobbit House Dining Area  

Possibly the most family-friendly cottage there is...

If telling tales of family life through your Instagram feed occupies your time, you’ll be busy on the grid once inside Egret View.

This sensational family holiday home in Cornwall has kids and quality family time at its core. The vision of its owners will leave your kids begging for a climbing wall of their own at home. Yes, that’s just one of the many fabulous quirks about this place.

But what will you snap first? The restored wooden boat that takes centre stage in the living room is our go-to image. The perfectly placed fishing rod on the ocean-blue wall begs you to gram it. Many a kitchen dream comes true here, from the tractor seat stools to the most epic of beach views through floor to ceiling windows.

There’s a huge sense of fun and happy times here, which means there’s colour galore amongst the nautical themes. The wallpapers alone will keep you busy for a while. Plus, the incredibly tasteful way they’ve balanced the outside with the in, will inspire your grid for weeks to come.

Egret View Living Room 1 | Egret View Living Room 2

No Ordinary Holiday Cottage in Wales

With TV fame already under its belt, Dragon’s Eye won’t mind you getting snap-happy while you’re here. This fabulously quirky place to stay might need its own category under our Instagrammable cottages headline because there are no bricks and mortar here.

You might recognise this one-of-a-kind cabin from its appearance on Channel 4’s Cabins in the Wild series. It has won awards for its design and up close you’ll appreciate why. The clever use of stainless steel shingles to create the vision of a dragon’s scales is beyond clever. 

Putting a whole new spin on glamping holiday ideas, once inside the eye and looking out it’s even better! Once you’ve photographed the view take a close look at the bed. A spot of design genius ensures that the bed rotates to give guests the very best view, and photo, of the moment. Lake views or stargazing in the dark skies - you choose. 

Once you’ve put a 360-degree tour on your Instagram Stories, there are plentiful interiors touches to grace your grid. While you soak up the lake views, watch your following grow!

Dragon's Eye at Night | Dragon's Eye Living Room  

A Luxurious, Large House in the Lake District

So you might have to fight it out with your friends who grams this peachy pad first. Sleeping 12 guests, you’ll need to bring friends or persuade your family that now is the time for a multi-gen holiday!

Cleabarrow Cottage is cheekily humble in its title. A wraparound balcony and sprawling interior certainly put pay to any cosy cottage ideas you might have imagined for your grid. But this oh-so spectacular Lake District holiday house will not disappoint you or your followers. 

For starters, you’ve got six bedrooms to get snap happy in - although you might want to ensure you arrive first before everyone else ruffles the exquisitely designed bedrooms. Everywhere you turn there’s an elegance to this very modern home. Carefully chosen ornaments and artwork blend with the colour theme of each room. 

If you like to post up-close details and interiors on your grid this is the perfect Instagrammable cottage for you. Add to that a choice of sweeping balcony views and doubtless a hilarious Story from the hot tub at some point, your holiday will be the envy of everyone checking in.

Clearbarrow Cottage Dining Room | Clearbarrow Cottage Balcony

An Art Deco Design Haven to Die For

Come to Cornwall and we can certainly tick the boxes of beach, surf and bases to stay for you. But come to Red Rails in Newquay and we’ll add Instagrammable cottages to your list of local wonders too.

We’re not short of made-for-TV properties, thankfully, this is another one from that tribe. As seen on George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces series, the refurbishment of Red Rails celebrates its 1920s art deco building, inside and out. Unsurprisingly, you could fill Stories with a new view or twist of light on the foreshore for the duration of your stay.

Inside you won’t even have to try at getting arty with your photos or filters; the interiors already do this for you. There’s no shortage of geometric shapes to play with on the walls and soft furnishings. Across its five bedrooms take your pick from retro furniture pieces and lighting perfectly blended with contemporary comforts.

In the open plan living area, there’s an awesomely shaped wood burner that’s worth lighting even on the hottest of days to capture in its entirety. Everywhere you look there are striking combinations for arty grid shots and some stunning wallpapers for fab selfie backdrops if not standalone posts.

Let’s just say you’d better be a beach bum as well as an eager Instagrammer. Otherwise, you’ll be (happily) holed up snapping and posting while everyone is out and about getting to know Newquay!

Red Rails Living Room | Red Rails Bedroom  

A Pet-friendly Romantic Bolthole in Kent

Between a vineyard and Romney Marsh, what more do you need for a grown-ups getaway?! Just the two of you and Fido can descend on this rural idyll and watch the vines grow while sipping last year’s vintage. 

The Lookers Legacy has earned its place on our Instagrammable cottages list because it has such a fascinating story to tell. Once a hut used by ‘Lookers’ to watch over their flocks, they’re dotted around the Kent countryside, but this one’s extra special.

Restored to conserve the story of its origins and extended to amply accommodate two guests, it’s one of those renovation gems. It’s interesting to photograph from various angles outside. A selfie in the hot tub, that’s integrated between the two sides of the building, is the perfect tease for Stories!

Inside is brimful with tones of grey to inspire a redecoration project. There are accent colours amongst the cushions and a supremely soft sheepskin begging to be used as a backdrop for your new book. Who doesn’t want to see gorgeous kitchen tile inspiration on Instagram? And then there are the perfectly coordinated kitchen gadgets. 

Throw in some exposed brick, cleverly hung doors and shot after shot of uninterrupted views. All you’re missing is a bottle of the local plonk to finish off your IGTV review of the place!

The Lookers Legacy Hot Tub | The Lookers Legacy Living Area

A Sustainable Place to Stay

Whether you’re trying to be more eco-conscious with your travel plans or you’re yearning for Scandi vibes without the air miles, Mount Hooley Lodge ticks both boxes. It’s pretty as an Instagram picture too.

Its sustainability credentials are impressive and some, like the grass-laden roof, is photogenic as well. While you’re outside photographing the roof, the first of many landscape snaps might interrupt your flow. You’re 1,200 feet above sea level here in the South Tyne Valley and all 360 degrees of views bring their own wow factor. 

With hot water and heating provided by a ground source heat pump, you can relax in the hot tub without fearing for the future of the planet. All the while feeling blessed for the beautiful world we live in as you soak up those views. 

This Canadian style log cabin is an impressive structure of solid, interlocking logs that proffer many an arty shot. There’s a seriously Scandi vibe as these logs dominate the interiors and ensure minimalism in everything else. Watch as your grid is overtaken by nature at its best.

Mount Hooley Lodge | Mount Hooley Lodge Lounge  

A Suffolk Farmhouse Celebrating Rustic Chic

Church Farm is a celebration of original features cased in sumptuous modern touches. It’ll take you a week just to take it all in. There are so many angles and shots to take here, you could dedicate an entire grid just to this place.

From whole room shots that pull the roaring wood burner, squishy sofa and exposed brick between original uprights eloquently together. To crisp close-ups or vignette hugs around the details that make this family farmhouse an extra special place to stay.

An interior design gem, high-quality soft furnishings grace sitting rooms, snugs and all five bedrooms alongside the perfect combination of antique, contemporary and revived furniture. Neutral shades and natural materials take the lead with accents of on-trend copper and splashes of rich accent colours. 

Each of the five bedrooms is individually styled and will have you snapping happily for a while. The detail in the antique bedstead begs to be ‘grammed. The Provencal vibe of another room awash with white could equally steal the show. Reflections in the mirror fronted armoire further down the hall call you to get creative with the glint of the chandelier above. And did we mention the slipper bath… 

In our humble opinion, this is possibly one of the most Instagrammable cottages out there. What do you think?

 Church Farm Bedroom | Church Farm Living Room  

A Norfolk Retreat Etched with Urban Vibes

You could be forgiven for thinking you’re in some urban warehouse conversion. But The Cattle Shed was once exactly what it says on the tin. And this spectacular barn conversion is like no other. The attention to detail in the dressing of this property is exquisite. As Instagram-able cottages go, this is a no-brainer for Highlights. 

The glory of barn conversions is often the space they offer. Sprawling and calm. Yet here, the subtle placement of perfectly in-keeping pieces is expertly done. The result? An impressive home away from home that’ll inspire even the most adept of interiors Instagrammers. 

Where will you lay your lens first? The eclectic stone of the exposed walls with a hint of original artwork beckons you. The dinky copper jugs decorated with the least tangled fairy lights you’ve ever seen bring a sense of fun to the vast kitchen - foodie flat plans start here.

The edgy vibes of the pitched roof and solid A-frames extends to an urbanite bathroom. Turn the rainfall shower on and fill your Stories with steam as your followers gaze with envy at the copper tinged tiles. 

The mood and your filter soften in each of the bedrooms. Oozing elegance, the quality of finish, the cleverness of the details and an overriding sense of softness and calm shines through. Once you’re done on Insta, you’ll be popping over to Pinterest to inspire your own renovations at home with these photos.

The Cattle Shed is completely at one with its rural roots, but the sublime blend of urban style gives this place an edge that’ll soon be gracing your grid too.

 The Cattle Shed Kitchen | The Cattle Shed Bedroom  

A Dorset Cottage with a Designer Makeover

Fall for the chocolate box frontage but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s all kitsch and Cath Kidson inside. For Dulcima Cottage has had the designer treatment and reconfigured the thinking on Dorset holiday cottages.

An impressively sympathetic yet contemporarily en pointe extension across most of the back of the cottage brings shafts of natural light to this period property. Hiding under that thatch are swatches of original features coated with tasteful furnishings. 

Original fireplaces are home today either to wood burners or artfully placed furniture. In their contrast of exposed brick to the whitewashed walls, we reckon you’ll find a shot or two for the grid. The low ceilings, exposed beams and room-by-room layout of the old part of the house proffer a series of cosy spaces to snap and share.

Show off the contrast of the open-plan extension to your heart’s content. Its straight walls and downlights are softened cleverly by delicate wallpaper. The period charm is aided by contemporary wicker tub chairs you’ll want to take away and edged by floor to ceiling windows.

Bouncy looking beds and plump bedding spur you to share this modern vibe nestled under ancient eaves. While superbly funky coral wallpaper brings both colour and charm to one of the best bathrooms we know.

Once you’ve dabbled with tilt-shift on the photo of those cushions, the BBQ hut in the beautiful garden awaits your lens attention. 

 Dulcima Cottage Hut | Dulcima Cottage Kitchen  

Stay in our Instagram-able Cottages

We’ve merely scratched the surface in sharing our favourite Instagrammable cottages here. But we’ve actually got lots more up our sleeve. You, your phone and your filter preferences will find more inspiration right here.