10 The Whitehouse

Sea-view two-bedroom apartment in The Whitehouse development overlooking Watergate Bay, on the north Cornwall coast 3 miles north of Newquay. Sleeps four. One dog welcome. On-site parking. From £472/night. 4.9/5 from 10 guests.

Open-plan living area with fireplace and French doors to a west-facing balcony over the Atlantic. Kitchen with integrated appliances, dishwasher, breakfast bar. Two bedrooms - master and twin - each with en-suite. Underfloor heating throughout. BBQ and garden access. Established gardens run down the slope to the beach (400m).

Watergate Bay is a 2-mile arc of sand - one of the longest north-coast beaches. The Watergate Bay Extreme Academy on the beach runs surfing, kitesurfing, waveskiing, and stand-up paddleboarding sessions. The Beach Hut restaurant sits on the sand for lunch; Jamie Oliver's Fifteen used to be here (now closed, but the site's still there). RNLI lifeguards in summer.

Worth flagging: Boardmasters Music Festival takes over Watergate Bay each August. If you want this apartment on Boardmasters weekend, book before Christmas. If you want quiet, book anything else. The festival brings raised noise and traffic for roughly 4 days.

Coast path walks: north to Mawgan Porth (2.6km, wider and quieter) along high cliffs with views toward Bedruthan Steps; south to Whipsiderry (2.2km, low-tide caves) and on to Newquay. Newquay (3 miles south) has the Fistral surf scene, the airport, and the zoo.

Best for: couples or two couples sharing who want a beach-and-balcony holiday with each pair having their own bathroom. Watersports types. Less good for: anyone who dislikes crowds in summer - Watergate Bay is a busy Cornish beach, especially August.