Aquarius

The leafy Porthcurno Valley is the setting for a holiday amid some of Cornwall’s must-see sites, including the iconic cliff-top Minack Theatre and, beneath it, a beach that’s considered one of the best in the world, boasting fine white sands lapped by azure water. In the late 1800s, the first international telegraph cable came ashore here, connecting Britain to other parts of the Empire – learn more about this and how the village later became an important centre for telecommunications at the Porthcurno Telegraph Museum. The cliffs and coastline are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the South West Coast Path connects the village to other important landmarks including, to the west, Land’s End. To explore even further afield drive 9.5 miles to Penzance where passenger ferries depart for the Isles of Scilly, close enough to visit for a day.

Apprentices and students worked for many years at the Porthcurno Cable and Wireless training college, which is now converted to offer high-quality, characterful holiday accommodation including this lovely second-floor apartment. Step inside and you’ll find a sleek, contemporary kitchen/diner complete with all the culinary and housekeeping essentials, opening onto a sun-filled lounge with a selection of comfortable sofas and chairs – you’ll get a glimpse of the sea from here too. Three bedrooms offer peaceful nights for all; one evokes hotel-style accommodation with a double bed, table and chairs and an en-suite bathroom, while two have full-size twin beds which would be a good fit for both children and adults. One of these twin rooms has an en-suite bathroom and there’s a third separate bathroom too… so that’s one for each bedroom if you so desire!

There’s no garden here but the beach is virtually on the doorstep and there are shared tennis courts opposite available for guests’ use for a small fee.