Bakers Retreat

Freshwater Bay sits on the Isle of Wight's western coast, where the landscape rises steeply from sandy beaches into downland that's part of the National Trust's Tennyson Down and Needles Headland. Bakers Retreat is a ground-floor cottage on the owner's Grade II listed property, with parking on site and immediate access to the coastal footpaths that define this stretch of the island.

The single bedroom contains a kingsize bed; there's one bathroom with a shower, and the open-plan living space combines a sitting area with a kitchenette and dining corner. You can cook simple meals with the two-ring hob and microwave-oven, and there's a sofa bed for flexible sleeping arrangements. Heating, electricity, bed linen, towels and wifi are included, along with a welcome pack.

Less than two minutes on foot takes you to Freshwater Bay's beach itself. The Tennyson Trail begins practically from the door, leading up to Tennyson Down with its views across the Solent to the mainland. From here, coastal paths stretch for miles towards the Needles. Totland Bay, with restaurants and a café, lies under two miles away; Yarmouth harbour is roughly three miles distant. Dimbola Museum & Galleries, dedicated to photography and the Pre-Raphaelites, is also nearby. The property is non-smoking.