Kokova Magazine

By now many of us have either booked our 2017 holidays or are in to the planning and looking forward to a dream destination. But if you are like us and crave something different, make 2017 the year of discovery with Host Unusual. Uncover holiday homes in UK destinations that put you one step ahead on quirky landings.

Pembrokeshire is host to our first quirky landing, where in the southern region of Wales you will find the peaceful eco-friendly sanctuary of Apple Camping, and the most extraordinary of accommodations in the form of a converted Jet Star. Set amongst a selection of yurts, the Jet Star offers original 1970s features, with the addition of a first-class double bedroom. Pembrokeshire offers easy access to coastal routes and stunning views for long walks and lazy days. And when you come in to land for the evening you will find that the Jet Star retains all its original switches and controls, allowing your imagination to flow as you fly off to sleep.

A bit closer to home for us, we discovered Secret Shelters, one of Sussex's hidden gems and authentic glamping experiences. And if you want to holiday like a harvest mouse then the spherical Tree Tent is the perfect solution to your holiday search. The first of its kind in the UK, this tree house comes with three single built-in beds, a campfire area and a unique view out to South Downs National Park.

If the novelty of glamping is wearing thin then take a look at the new trend of Champing at Champing™ Fordwich. Take a pilgrimage to St Mary the Virgin in England's tiniest Kent town, just three miles from historic Canterbury. Church camping is revolutionising the traditional camping break, giving you exclusive use of some of the UK's greatest listed buildings, for the most unforgettable sleepover of your life.

Put Worcestershire back on your holiday map because you are about to discover the contemporary Rockhouse Retreat, set just a little to the south of Wolverhampton. Carved in to a rock and completely secluded from modern life, you can live like a caveman but with all the creature comforts of home. The perfect couples retreat, an escape from the norm, and probably somewhere you would be reluctant to want to leave at the end of your stay. The Rockhouse Retreat blends 300-year old original features, including vaulted ceilings, ornamental nooks and an inglenook fireplace, with modern comforts - creating the perfect romantic bolthole.

For the ultimate in stargazing, and our top pick for 2017, look no further than the Emerald Isle, with a stay at Finn Lough's Bubble Domes. Set in County Fermanagh, with beautiful landscapes, set on a peninsula overlooking Lough Erne, Finn Lough is in a prime position for stunning views, across the land and up in to the night sky.

"With 180° transparent walls, there's no better way to feel fully immersed in the beauty and tranquillity of nature. And sleeping two in the utmost comfort, a Bubble Dome has all the makings of an unforgettable romantic retreat."

With locally sourced and home grown delights waiting to great you at the start of the day in the onsite kitchen, an in-bubble telescope for stargazing and lots of creature comforts, you can spend the nights - and days - watching the other woodland residents going about their natural lives while secluded in the comfort of your own. For us - the perfect balance for any romantic retreat!

Discover more of the UK's most unusual places to stay at Host Unusual.