Self-catering operator cottages.com said it has nearly booked its entire portfolio of UK homes for August after enjoying its best-ever sales day on Saturday (27 June) when bookings were up 415% compared with this time last year.

The bookings surge came after UK and Scottish government announcements opening up domestic holidays in both England and Scotland for this summer.

Cottages.com said luxury and coastal breaks had been the top sellers, although bookings for rural homes had also risen sharply as holidaymakers looked for “safe, secluded hideaways to get away from it all”.

Simon Altham, chief commercial officer at Awaze UK, cottages.com’s parent company, said: “We fully expected the traditional holiday hotspots to do well once the easing of lockdown was announced.

“But the preference for luxury properties and the rise of the rural retreat clearly shows that safety and seclusion are still very much front of mind for those looking for a post-lockdown getaway.

“Anyone still thinking of booking a summer staycation needs to act fast to avoid missing out.

“There’s still some fantastic deals out there, but they won’t last forever – especially when customers know they’re guaranteed a full refund if they end up being affected by any future local lockdown.”

Yorkshire, Cumbria and Cornwall have seen the highest number of bookings over the past week for cottages.com, while there have been spikes in sales to the Scottish Highlands, Norfolk, Hampshire, Gloucestershire and Shropshire.