With summer holidays approaching, many families are choosing UK staycations over overseas trips. While the weather may not match Spain or Greece, the UK offers beautiful beaches, countryside, and history.
National Trust Holiday Cottages
The National Trust manages 17 holiday cottages in the North East and over 20 historical lets in Yorkshire. One standout is Low Peak, a stone house on a cliffside near Ravenscar on the North Yorkshire coast. Dating back to the 1700s, this two-bedroom cottage was originally built for the manager of the local alum mining industry.
Now restored as a unique holiday home, Low Peak features spectacular panoramic sea views from its front windows. Its remote location makes it a haven for wildlife watching and stargazing, according to the National Trust.
Availability and Pricing
Fully booked for summer, Low Peak is next available in September, priced from £974 for a three-night stay, dropping to £844 later in autumn and winter.
Nearby Attractions
Low Peak is a two-hour drive from Newcastle and 25 minutes from Robin Hood's Bay, a seaside village ranked as a top staycation destination for 2026. The village offers a small sandy beach, dramatic cliffs, and sea views. Accommodation options include holidaycottages.co.uk properties, hotels, B&Bs, and guest houses like North Ings Bed & Breakfast and Hotel Victoria.
Whitby to the north and Scarborough to the south are half an hour away by car, while the North York Moors offer walking and cycling routes.
Other Historic Stays
English Heritage offers Priors Lodge at Mount Grace Priory and Refectory Cottage at Rievaulx Abbey, both sleeping up to four guests.
Guest Reviews
Guests describe Low Peak as unforgettable. One wrote: "An unusual place to stay, but unforgettable. Like being on the set of a Jane Austen drama. Spacious, isolated, with views over the sea and a seal colony below." Another praised: "An amazing location with ever changing sea and sky. The stars were fantastic on a clear night." A third noted: "If you like being in the middle of nowhere with sheep around you and views of Robin Hood Bay, this is the place." However, they added: "Could do with some repairs to the track on the way down."
