Baytree Cottages - Baytree Cottage 2

You arrive at Baytree Cottage 2 into an open-plan ground floor—living space flows into a dining area, with French doors opening onto a patio and enclosed garden. A woodburner anchors the living room, where a sofa bed doubles as extra sleeping space. The kitchen has what you need to cook properly: gas cooker, microwave, fridge and freezer. Upstairs, a zip-and-link bed in the bedroom can be arranged as two singles or one larger bed, with a bathroom offering bath and shower.

The cottage is yours alone, with parking for one car on site. One dog travels free. Wifi, bed linen, towels and heating are all included; you simply pay for electricity as you use it. It sits in the village of Birch, a short drive from Colchester itself—the castle, museums and Roman remains are worth a morning, and the town has decent shops and a mainline train to London. Mersea Island, eight miles away, offers beaches and fresh seafood. The Hare and Hounds pub is 300 yards down the road. No smoking indoors.