Halfpenny Cottage

Halfpenny Cottage is a two-bedroom village property in Lelant, a quieter alternative to staying in St Ives itself. The layout sleeps four across a double and a twin with compact 2'6" beds - worth noting for anyone expecting standard single beds. A log burner sits at the centre of the living space, and the cottage comes with Wi-Fi, a private garden, parking and a welcome for dogs.

Inside, the open-plan living and dining area runs through to a kitchen, with both bedrooms sharing a single bathroom. The garden is enclosed and sized for couples or families rather than larger groups. Lelant sits on the main road between Carbis Bay and St Ives, so the cottage combines village quiet with easy access to the busier stretches of the coast further south.

The sandy beach at Porthkidney is a short walk from the door, and the RSPB Hayle Estuary reserve is under a mile away - a good draw for birdwatchers in autumn and winter. Lelant has its own branch-line railway station on the St Ives line, meaning guests can leave the car at the cottage and travel in along one of the most scenic coastal routes in the country.

The village itself has two pubs, a handful of eateries and the medieval St Uny Church. St Erth mainline station - the connection point for direct trains from London Paddington - sits under two miles away, making the cottage unusually well-served by public transport.