Postcard Lodge

A detached four-bedroom house on Tinkers Hill in Polruan, sleeping eight with four bathrooms, a hot tub, and a wood burner. The property sits above the village with a garden and BBQ. One practical note from previous guests: the car parks above the village, so the last section is on foot - no direct drive to the door.

Inside, four bedrooms share four bathrooms, giving each room its own. Wi-Fi, dishwasher, and washing machine are included. The wood burner makes this work in shoulder season; the hot tub and garden BBQ extend the outdoor season at either end.

Readymoney Cove is 700 metres downhill through Polruan's lanes - a small sheltered cove just outside Fowey with a National Trust car park and direct South West Coast Path access. Lantic Bay is 1.9km south along the coast path, a wide sandy beach with no road access and reliable surf conditions. Polruan's regular passenger ferry crosses to Fowey (pronounced "Foy") in four minutes, giving access to the town's restaurants, the Daphne du Maurier Literary Centre, and the Hall Walk circular route. Friday changeover.

Best for: groups of up to eight who want hot tub evenings, a working wood burner, and the Fowey Estuary on foot. Less good for: guests expecting car access to the front door, or those travelling with dogs (no pets).