HOLIDAY? Even if you decide on a staycation, there are so many options nowadays, from luxury hotels with spas and superking, super-sprung beds to seaside bed and breakfasts with a full English to set you up for a walk along our lovely coasts.

But sometimes character is called for, a little bolthole that’s just a bit different from the norm, something to talk about when you get home, somewhere a Hobbit might be happy… We've found three quirky places to stay on the North-East coast that prove small spaces don’t have to mean a lack of imagination when it comes to décor…

On the waterfront

On a compact deck of just 4m x 6m, this unique accommodation at Hartlepool Marina gives visitors the sensation of floating. Akin to glamping, guests get a waterfront bolthole experience without compromising on comfort with a double bed, kitchen and wet room inside. This ‘flotel’ is perfect for keen fishermen, water-sports enthusiasts or people looking for a night away with a difference.

“I have always lived by the sea and I just thought how good would it be if you could just stay on the water without it being as cramped as a boat,” says the pod’s creator Luke Robertson. The bed is custom-made so that it fits perfectly, and there is storage underneath so no space is wasted. “You can just sit and take in the nice view, says Luke. “This pod is for two people so it’s perfect for couples who want a romantic getaway with a difference.”

Things to do: Hartlepool Historic Quay is home to the Trincomalee – Europe’s oldest floating warship – which has been restored to give visitors a taste the sights, smells and sounds of the naval yesteryear.

Prices range between £65 and £75 a night depending on the season. W: robertsonmarine.co.uk

Cabin in the woods

Take the rustic craftsman style of America's legendary great camps, mix in a good dose of Yorkshire charm, and a Star Suite is born. Here, you’ll be nestled privately, among a small constellation of seven other cabins at the North Star Club.

Weathered wood and atmospheric sepia canvases echo the breezy coastal style of the nearby Yorkshire town of Whitby. Funky lighting, barn-style sliding doors and artworks have all crafted into a quirky living space by Carolyn and Christian Van Outersterp, and give the cabin a distinct style. The king-sized bed and woodburning stove provide indulgent comfort and the tree trunk veranda is perfectly set up for enjoying the quiet of the woods.

The Star Suite’s four-poster bed and magnificent copper bath make it perfectly romantic for couples, but the bunks and sofa-bed mean you can bring up to five friends along too. A steam in the private sauna is the perfect start or end to the day.

Inspired by Christian's North American roots and his grandmother's tales of incredible wilderness camps, and guided by Carolyn's illustrious design career, the North Star Club draws you into its calming outdoor lifestyle. While seven other cabins are dotted around in their own spaces, you won't meet guests unless you head down to the Woodshed to curl up by the fire or head over to the campfire to swap stories under the starlit skies.

Things to do: There are miles of trails through the 500 acres of English woodland for you to explore.

Cabin for six from £174 per night. W: canopyandstars.co.uk

A touch of Tolkien

Children large and small, and anybody with a playful soul, will be thrilled with this delightful grass-roofed Hobbit house. Float straight into a magical story book adventure through the picket-fenced cottage garden which blooms with lupins, foxgloves, herbs and wild daisies in spring and summer.

Through the circular door, there’s a plush, Regency-inspired interior with terracotta floors, wooden beams, antique French wall lights and a flame-effect log fire. Enchanting bedrooms have cosy cabin beds up little steps and hand-made Harrison Spinks sheep wool mattresses to lull you to a dreamy sleep, while the swish bathroom has a gold Albion deep tub and a jam pan sink. You’ll feel secluded here, but owners Carol and Karl Cavendish are nearby if you need them.

Struggling at school through dyslexia, as a child Carol turned to fairytales for comfort and a love of fantastical things stayed with her. She now reads her favourites to her five children, “including The Hobbit, of course!”

North Shire, which is also home to a large holiday cottage with Narnian wardrobe called Storybook Cottage, has attracted all sorts of visitors, including the head of Oxford University’s Tolkien Society.

Things to do: Feed the farm animals, potter around the countryside, or take a picnic to the seaside.

The Hobbit house sleeps six, minimum two nights, and prices start at £81. W: northshire.co.uk