As temperatures plummet and we drive home on cold winter nights our thoughts invariably drift to warmer climes and, specifically, where to go for our summer holidays.
Many will plump for a fortnight in the Caribbean, a fly-drive trip to California or a cultural week seeing the sights in Rome or Paris.
But others won’t want to be travelling anywhere outside the glorious British isles. Instead they will be saving the air fare and the car hire fees so they can afford one of the inspirational holiday homes available to rent in this country.
If you are thinking of hiring a holiday home of a lifetime then here are some options to help you make up your mind.
Malt House, Kent, England
How about a luxury grade two listed Tudor cottage in a sleepy English village? Malt House boasts romantic four-poster beds and a wondrous living room with exposed wooden beams.
You won’t ever be cold living here because it has toasty woodburners on the ground floor and central heating throughout, in case you wanted to rent it out in spring or winter.
And it’s ideal for big parties, with space for up to 30 people in no less than 13 bedrooms. There is an outdoor heated swimming pool and you are even allowed to bring your dogs along. It will cost you between £2,000 and £4,000 per week.
Edingtonhill House, Berwickshire, Scotland
If you are on the lookout for a beautiful holiday home in the Scottish borders then Edingtonhill House, a striking holiday house might be an option.
You will get use of seven bedrooms, including a master double with balcony and en suite, and a large kitchen with oil-fired AGA.
There will be plenty of opportunities to relax with your own indoor heated swimming pool and sauna plus a children’s play area, all at a cost of between £1,995 and £4,895 per week.
Eriviat Hall, Conwy, Wales
When you are considering shelling out up to seven grand a week on your holiday it’s going to have to be out of this world.
Well, Eriviat Hall is actually in Wales but it falls into the bracket of breath-taking holiday homes. From the moment you enter the main gates and make the journey along the long private drive you know it is a special place.
The hall is more than 150 years old with plenty of period features but lots of mod cons too. You can relax in an indoor hot tub or retire to one of nine bedrooms. You can even wander the spacious grounds and admire the deer roaming all around.
The Tallow Factory, Essex, England
Few places in the UK can match the wonderful landscape on the Suffolk and Essex border – the so-called ‘Constable Country’ which inspired many of the celebrated painter’s best works.
Now, imagine a 16th century timber-framed holiday cottage sitting in the middle of it. You could be thinking of the delightful bolthole of the Tallow Factory , which can sleep up to a dozen people in five bedrooms.
It has a spacious dining and living room and a comfortable lounge area leading out to a stunning enclosed garden. And, of course, there will be miles of unspoilt countryside to explore around the cottage.
Luxury Devonshire Barn, Devon, England
If you have set your sights on a holiday in a luxury barn conversion then you might be tempted by this fantastic Devonshire Barn .
It has a stunning open plan living area with lounge, kitchen and dining space and amazing views across the picturesque Axe Valley.
All six bedrooms have en suite facilities and LCD televisions and it’s a historic property with plenty of character, with exposed stone walls and wooden beams.
At £3,600 a week it is not cheap but you wouldn’t expect it to be when you are hiring out a holiday home to remember.
By Nick Rennie