Where are the best places to own a holiday home?

Everyone needs to go on holiday from time to time, but if there’s a particular destination you visit year after year it’s worth looking at buying a second home there. Doing so will allow you to enjoy breaks while doing away with the expense of booking holiday accommodation.

Not only does owning your own holiday home enable you to enjoy lower-cost getaways, but, if you choose to let it out to other tourists when you’re not using it, then it could also prove to be a significant source of revenue.

Of course, it’s important to spend a little time considering what type of property you wish to buy and – in much the same way as when buying your main residence – you will need to think carefully about its location. If you are looking to purchase this kind of home, here are some of the UK destinations that are worth considering the most.

Cornwall

Cornwall is certainly a great place to buy a holiday home if you enjoy spending time by the beach. Indeed, as the south-west county’s coastline spans some 300 miles, you will never be too far from the water and you could even find a property that provides fantastic views (though you should be prepared to pay an added premium for this luxury).

Purchase a second home here and you will not only have the chance to look out to sea from the comfort of your living room, but also have the opportunity to take part in thrilling water sports. Sailing and surfing are two of the most popular activities in the county, with Newquay a particularly good place for the latter.

The Cotswolds

If you prefer to take holidays in the heart of the countryside, as opposed to being close to the sea, it’s worth looking at the second homes that are available in the Cotswolds.

This part of south-west England contains a wealth of small towns and villages – including Chippenham, Tetbury, Blockley and Woodstock – with many of these featuring quaint stone buildings. Whether you’re looking to buy a cosy cottage or farmhouse, choosing the Cotswolds as your destination means you’ll get to connect with nature and feel a world away from any stress you’ve been experiencing in your normal day-to-day life.

The Lake District

Should you be looking to buy a holiday home that enables you to escape the rat race, you might want to consider the Lake District. As you may have guessed, this region is home to a wide array of lakes, so having a property here that you can head to for weekend breaks whenever you like will definitely help you to relax.

However, if you’d rather spend your time away being a bit more active, you can easily do so in the Lake District. Indeed, one of the most popular pursuits is mountain climbing. Scafell Pike and Blencathra are just two of the peaks that can be ascended here, with the former the tallest peak in England.

No matter where you’re thinking of buying a holiday home, it’s important that you make sure it is insured properly. However, if you think that you will be able to take out exactly the same kind of policy as you have for your main residence, you’d be mistaken. As these properties are typically left unoccupied for substantial periods of time, they are often at greater risk of being targeted by vandals, while the damage created by things such as burst pipes may go unnoticed (and, as such, cause more harm) for longer.

In the event you do use a standard home insurance policy to cover a holiday residence, any attempts to claim on your plan are likely to be rendered void, leaving you to pay for repairs out of your own pocket. Choose a non-standard home insurance policy, however, and your property will be covered both when you are using it and while it’s unoccupied.