Great British seaside breaks: 10 best self-catering

Budget chic

We\'ve selected the best British self-catering breaks for couples and families alike.

Click here to go back to \'50 great British breaks by the sea\' for coastal campsites, boutique hotels, holiday parks and bed and breakfasts

For gazing at sunsets

Fentafriddle, Trebarwith Strand, Cornwall

Outside this atmospheric barn conversion, you\'ll be met with the kind of vista cinematographers go to film school to learn about. Views are just as good from inside, too. The property sleeps eight in four tastefully decorated bedrooms and everything\'s very child-friendly. The village and beach at Trebarwith Strand are just a ten-minute stroll away.

For more information call 01840 779190, www.fentafriddle.com; from £2,000 per week.

For cosying up

Abbey View Cottage, Whitby, North Yorkshire

The three-bedroom Abbey View Cottage, as its name suggests, is a fine spot scenery-wise. But it\'s also a hugely cosy place in which to relax after pounding the town\'s cobbled streets all day. Sit around the stove in the living room and tuck into fish and chips from the Magpie Café.

For more information call 0113 244 8410, www.shoreline-cottages.com; from £615 per week.

For simple pleasures

The Shack, near Cowes, Isle of Wight

If you\'re after a nostalgic trip, then the two-bedroom Shack will be your dream holiday home. Seemingly situated in the middle of nowhere, but within seconds of sandy shores, this extended beach hut offers serious back-to-nature living - all the power comes from either gas canisters or solar panels, and entertainment relies entirely on the occupants. With a retro vibe (it\'s charmingly stocked with vintage paraphernalia, toys and games - very Enid Blyton), the Shack has been given a funky makeover - eclectic furniture, an old Union Jack masquerading as a curtain and splashes of colour to liven up the beach house feel.

For more information call 07802 758113, www.vintagevacations.co.uk; from £410 per week. We travelled to the Isle of Wight with Wightlink, which offers regular ferry services from Portsmouth to Ryde and Fishbourne, and Lymington to Yarmouth (0871 376 1000, www.wightlink.co.uk).

For surfers of all ages

Camel Point, Rock, Cornwall

Overlooking the Camel Estuary, this contemporary house sleeps up to 11 people. While more mature surfing dudes can relax on the huge terraced barbecue area with a glass of wine after a hard day catching waves on the North Cornwall coast, the younger generation can bunk up in the separate boat house, suitably equipped with table tennis table, darts and even their own shower.

For more information call 01637 861005, www.beachretreats.co.uk; from £900 for a three-night break.

For getting away from it all

Holiday Cottages, Isle of Rona, near Skye

Abandoned around 150 years ago in the infamous Highland clearances, Rona, a 20-minute bonny boat ride out of Skye\'s Portree, is still uninhabited. There are just three stone cottages, sleeping a total of eight, but the ones overlooking Dry Harbour are the most memorable. Sit outside on summer nights - the sun never sets this far north - and watch otters hunt for mussels on the beach while you listen to the sound of their feet scampering over rocks.

For more information call 01880 821133, www.isleofrona.com; from £475 per week, including return boat transfers.

For getting sand between your toes

Rye Bay Beach House, Camber Sands, East Sussex

Opening right out on Camber Sands, Rye Bay Beach House gets it right in so many ways. If you\'re after sustainability and good design, one look at the cedar shingles and solar tubes of this eco-friendly home (sleeping four to six) will please your soul. Step in and you\'ll be soothed by the spacious rooms, retro interiors and luxurious touches. But parents can breathe a sigh of relief as there\'s no preciousness attached - children are more than catered for; pets, too. Food essentials are provided, and a personalised shop can be ready for your arrival. You just need to decide whether to relax on a decked balcony or walk along the sand.

For more information call 07961 377365, www.ryebaybeachhouse.com; from £288 for a two-night break.

For escaping with friends

Longshore House, Laugharne, Carmarthenshire

Set in Dylan Thomas\' home village of Laugharne, Longshore House is a luxurious four-bedroom stone cottage that\'s perfect if you like to combine blood-pumping coastal walks with relaxed evenings in front of a blazing log fire.

For more information call 01792 797712, www.longshorehouse.co.uk. From £895 per week.

For star gazing

Old Higher Lighthouse, Portland Bill, Dorset

Once owned by birth-control pioneer Dr Marie Stopes, Old Higher Lighthouse is an atmospheric retreat. Stay in the adjacent two-bedroom Branscombe Lodge Cottage, which comes with an outdoor pool and Jacuzzi, and climb to the top of the lighthouse for 360-degree views whenever you want.

For more information call 01305 822300, www.oldhigherlighthouse.com; from £330 per week.

For watching boats go by

Slipway House, Kingswear, Dartmouth, Devon

Thanks to its enviable position on the River Dart, the four-bedroom Slipway House, on the edge of genteel Dartmouth, gives guests plenty of opportunity to watch boats glide gently by. It\'s decorated in a palette of neutral colours and equipped with all the accoutrements of laid-back living.

For more information call 01803 855282, www.bluechipvacations.com; from £486 per week.

For a stylish family break

Palm House, Southwold, Suffolk

A three-storey Edwardian terrace, Palm House makes the ideal base for a leisurely break for up to eight - and two children - on the Suffolk coast. Just a few minutes from the beach huts, pubs and shops, it offers plenty of relaxation space. There\'s even a children\'s sitting room, with its own TV, books and games.

For more information call 01502 722717, www.suffolk-secrets.co.uk; from £942 per week.