10 Cannery Row

Three-storey waterfront townhouse on Hayle Estuary. Sleeps six across three bedrooms with three bathrooms. Floor-to-ceiling glass on the living floor, two balconies. 10-minute walk to Hayle Towans Beach along the promenade. Dog-friendly.

Top-floor master suite (king) with a loft view back over the main living space. Two ground-floor bedrooms: a super-king with a private terrace over the water plus shower room, and a king with family bathroom across the hall. Dishwasher, washing machine, WiFi, parking.

Hayle sits at the start of a 3-mile stretch of sand and dunes running from Hayle Towans to Gwithian and Godrevy. The Godrevy lighthouse (on the island offshore) was Virginia Woolf's inspiration for To the Lighthouse. Grey seals haul out on the rocks below the cliffs; the RSPB reserve on Hayle Estuary itself (5 minutes from the door) gets rare migrant birds in autumn.

Beach walking from the front door: out onto the promenade, across Hayle Towans, then on to Gwithian (the surf beach, lifeguarded summer) and Godrevy (dog restrictions lift October to Easter). Porthkidney (1.2km, across the estuary via Lelant) is the calmest swim on this coast.

St Ives is a 15-minute drive (or a 20-minute St Erth-St Ives branch line train from Hayle). Carbis Bay (10-minute drive) sits between. On the south coast (15-minute drive), St Michael's Mount at Marazion is the tidal castle on an island. Food: Salt Kitchen Bar, Cove Café on the beach, Birdie's Bistro and The Old Forge in neighbouring Lelant.

Best for: families and friend groups (3 bedrooms/3 bathrooms, one bathroom each), dog walkers, birdwatchers. Less good for: anyone wanting door-step beach access - the 10-minute walk is along the promenade and not step-free everywhere.