For a little extra luxury on holiday, why not escape to a cottage with a swimming pool?

You don’t need to head to the Med to enjoy a swimming pool on holiday. A pool makes a great addition to UK breaks too. Whether it’s a refreshing outdoor pool that comes into its own in summer, or an all-season indoor pool that provides the perfect rainy day activity – the kids will happily splash about for hours, giving you time to catch up on some essential holiday reading from the comfort of your poolside recliner.

Aside from entertaining the children, a holiday dip offers many benefits for the adults in your party too. An hour of vigorous swimming burns up to 650 calories, making it a great antidote to any holiday excesses. It also strengthens the heart and lungs, increases circulation and blood flow, and works all the major muscles in your body – more effectively than weight training, whilst being kinder to your joints too.

What’s more, swimming has been proven to enhance mental wellbeing, which is particularly useful when you’re trying to unwind quickly into holiday mode. As you focus on your strokes, the number of lengths and your breathing, you’ll declutter your mind and wash away any remnants of stress from your everyday life.

Whether you’re booking a family summer holiday, a getaway with friends or a couple’s escape – read on for 10 of our best UK holiday cottages with a pool…

Find your perfect holiday cottage with a pool

New Forest

1. Whiteshoot Farm, Redlynch

This beautiful, characterful 4 bedroomed thatched barn conversion (sleeps 6), complete with high vaulted ceilings, offers contemporary accommodation for family or couples holidays. Set in 6 acres of grounds, it’s just a stone’s throw from the New Forest National Park. The property benefits from a zip wire, lake and superb 28ft outdoor swimming pool, heated from late April until late September. The pool is also available out of season at an additional cost of £150 with a minimum of two weeks’ notice. If you would like the pool to be heated out of season please contact the office to arrange.

2. Old Farm Cottage, Pilley

This delightful and spacious single storey holiday cottage (sleeps 8) is set in a stunning location with direct access to open forest where ponies roam freely. The property benefits from mature gardens and a separate gated pool area with sun loungers. The heated outdoor swimming pool is available 25 May – 7 Sept 2018 inclusive.

3. Normandy Garth, Lymington

This spacious, comfortable 4 bedroomed house (sleeps 7) enjoys fabulous sea views, across the Solent towards the Isle of Wight, from nearly every window. There’s no better location for a relaxing, coastal inspired holiday. The garden ends at the sea wall and from here you can enjoy picturesque walks along the Solent, taking in the salt marshes and abundant bird life on the 1 mile walk to Lymington. The large outdoor pool measures 30 ft by 15 ft and is 7ft deep in the middle.  Children must be supervised at all times in the garden as there is no restriction of access to the pool. The pool will be open and heated from May bank holiday until the end of September.

South Devon

4. Langerstone, East Prawle

This magnificent holiday house (sleeps 9) is set in a spectacular position with 180 degree views across farmland and the coastline at the most southern tip of Devon. The lively village of East Prawle is just a short walk away, and the accommodation offers a stylish, contemporary base for enjoying everything this beautiful corner of the world offers. The stunning indoor pool (8m x 4m) is heated all year round and is surrounded on three sides by floor to ceiling windows and doors that open to the sun terrace with steps down to the sweeping lawns.

5. Neptune, Thurlestone

This fabulously located, modern 2 bedroomed (sleeps 4) beachside mews style cottage, perched on the South West Coast Path overlooking South Milton Sands beach, enjoys a shared heated swimming pool (open from Spring Bank holiday to end September) and a separate small, shallow children’s pool. The property has steps straight onto the sandy beach where you can swim, sail, surfboard, windsurf or paddle a canoe. The popular villages of Thurlestone and Hope Cove with their selection of bars, cafes and restaurants are easily accessible on foot.

6. Home Cottage, Thurlestone

Situated in the seaside village of Thurlestone, this picture perfect thatched cottage (sleeps 13) boasts a superb outdoor heated swimming pool (open from May to September) and detached pool house with large sauna. Not only that, the recently refurbished dog-friendly cottage is just a short walk away from some of the prettiest beaches in South Devon.

7. Coombe Park, Chillington

This recently refurbished, 5 bedroomed (sleeps 10) former farmhouse offers a peaceful spacious retreat set down a quiet lane just over 2 miles from the beach at Slapton Sands. You can spend days without getting in the car, enjoying the large secluded gardens with adjacent stream, woodland and nearby countryside, and of course the superb outdoor heated swimming pool (from 3ft to 6ft 6in deep) available from early April to late October. The village with pub and shop/P.O. is just a half mile walk away.

8. Cotterbury, Dartmouth

This spacious, attractive 3 bedroomed (sleeps 6) apartment enjoys exceptional views over Dartmouth town toward the River Dart. Just a short stroll into Dartmouth with its gourmet restaurants and many boutique shops, galleries, cafes and riverside embankment. The apartment also benefits from two parking spaces, two private terraces and access to communal gardens and a shared swimming pool area with outdoor furniture and loungers. The pool is heated and open from Spring Bank Holiday to the end of August.

9. The Loft, Court Barton, South Huish

One of several holiday properties available to book at Court Barton. This 3 bedroomed (sleeps 8) spacious, reverse-level, modern apartment is situated in a lovely corner of Devon between Salcombe and Thurlestone, with views across the countryside toward the sea. All the cottages enjoy shared use of the newly refurbished outdoor pool (May Spring Bank Holiday to September) and indoor heated pool (all year), as well as a games room, all-weather tennis court and extensive grounds to explore. Thurlestone Sands beach is less than a mile away and the village of Thurlestone just slightly further, with its popular pub/restaurant and village store.

Cornwall

10. 2 Talland Bay, South Cornwall

This contemporary, detached 4 bedroomed (sleeps 8) property features a stunning roof terrace, reached by a spiral staircase, with panoramic views of the countryside and the sea in the distance – ideal for sunbathing, al fresco dining and unwinding in the rooftop hot tub at the end of an active day. The beautiful beach at Talland Bay, as well as two lovely beach cafes, are just a stone’s throw away. 2 Talland Bay is just one of 33 holiday properties on the luxury Talland Bay development. Many of the holiday cottages have their own private hot tubs, whilst all of them have access to a shared heated indoor pool, gym, sauna and outdoor naturally filtered eco plunge pool. To view our whole selection of Talland Bay luxury holiday cottages, click here.

Find your perfect holiday cottage with a pool