Beautiful cottages in the UK's top National Landscapes

Britain has exceptional countryside and coast. The best of which has been designated outstanding. These National Landscapes (formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty) make incredible places to call home.

The 46 National Landscapes across the UK vary in nature but have one thing in common. They’re all “places so special they have been designated in the national interest,” according to the National Landscapes Association. These natural beauty spots span the country, from the North Pennines down to the Isles of Scilly and from Anglesey in the west across to the easterly North Norfolk coast.

Whether you yearn to bathe in the beauty of a verdant forest or soak up the sea views from a chalk cliff top, these National Landscapes are enticing locations. You could make it your permanent home and include country or coastal walks as part of your daily routine. Perhaps a weekend retreat is the dream, enabling you to disconnect from work and reconnect with the natural world regularly.

Here, we showcase five excellent properties in beautiful locations with a National Landscape for a backdrop. There’s the simply stunning Cornish coast, rugged Dartmoor and the rolling hills of the Chilterns, Wessex and Surrey Downs.

Three bedroom house in Mousehole, Penzance, Cornwall

This attractive Cornish farmhouse is the stuff of escapist dreams. It’s surrounded by unspoilt countryside. It’s a ten minute walk to the beach and the popular village of Mousehole. And the home itself retains its period character and local charm (have you spotted the Cornish slate roof?), yet it’s been sympathetically refurbished throughout. Picture yourself warming up by the woodburning stove in the sitting room after a rousing country walk or swim in the sea.

The setting of Penolva Farmhouse ensures a high degree of privacy. It’s situated off a lane that’s not a through road, and mature hedging provides additional seclusion as well as a boundary to the garden. It’s a veritable retreat, surrounded by beautiful countryside and a stone’s throw from an incredible beach. Guide price: £825,000

Four bedroom house in Tring, Hertfordshire

With the magnificent Chiltern Hills as a backdrop, the charming Vine Cottage has a superb location in the pretty village of Wigginton. The characterful cottage is Grade II listed and has a welcoming country kitchen complete with Aga. The spacious sitting room has a brick fireplace as a focal point, with French doors leading out to the attractive garden.

The principal bedroom benefits from dual aspect views out to the garden, as well as an en suite bathroom. A further three bedrooms are all good sized doubles. Outside, there’s ample space for kids to play and for adults to entertain friends. Plus this serene spot lends itself to taking a moment to unwind and relax. Guide price: £1,100,000

Three to four bedroom house in Cranleigh, Surrey

If you’re looking for a rural retreat with an added wow factor, Lapscombe Lodge delivers on every level. Set high in the Surrey Hills and on the edge of Cranleigh village, the panoramic views across the countryside are sublime. Lapscombe Lodge was originally a barn, but it’s been converted into a remarkable single storey country house. It’s stylish, contemporary and secluded. Plus, there are opportunities to extend it further. Surrounded by two acres of land, it’s a rural retreat that’s only eight miles from Guildford. Guide price: £1,800,000

Three bedroom house, Newton Abbot, Devon

Set on the eastern edge of Dartmoor, and about half a mile from North Bovey village (with its all important pub), you’ll find the recently renovated Brook Cottage. The superb, stone-built, Victorian, semi-detached cottage has direct access to the moor from its paddock at the end of the garden.

The open plan living space centres around an impressive Nordic wood burning stove. Coupled with underfloor heating, it’s sure to revive you after a winter’s walk on Dartmoor. The garden has two paved terraces. One is home to a hot tub and outdoor dining area, and the other is a roof terrace. The big question is which to select for incredible views over the sprawling, surrounding countryside. Guide price: £850,000

Four bedroom house in St Mary Bourne, Hampshire

Squirrel Cottage is the quintessential thatched, English country home set at the end of a quiet lane within the National Landscape of the Wessex Downs. The cottage exudes charm and character. It’s a wonderful, private place for family life. The light and spacious living/ dining space with oak floors and wood burning stove feels incredibly inviting. Then there’s an attractive kitchen that flows on to a playroom and out to the garden.

Both the front and rear gardens are enclosed, providing ideal spaces for play as well as entertaining guests. With extensive views over the neighbouring Hampshire countryside, it’s easy to feel a million miles away from hectic, daily life. Guide price: £875,000

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