Trevan House (Lundy)

Four-bedroom cottage perched above Lundy Bay between New Polzeath and Port Quin, sleeping eight with panoramic sea views from the clifftop. The South West Coast Path runs past the door, with the walk south to Polzeath taking about 45 minutes.

Sleeping is across four bedrooms with three bathrooms. The garden faces the sea, with sea views from the main living rooms. Wi-Fi, dishwasher and washing machine all included. Honest caveat: there is no on-site parking, which means unloading and then finding a roadside spot - factor it in if you are arriving with a full car. No dogs. Changeover day is Thursday.

Lundy Bay itself is a quieter sand-and-rock cove reached by a steep National Trust path - no facilities, often empty even in August. Polzeath Beach is 2.3km south for surf, surf schools and RNLI lifeguard cover. The coast path north reaches Pentire Point and the Iron Age cliff fort at The Rumps in 30 minutes, and the fishing hamlet of Port Quin in about 45. Rock and the Padstow ferry are 4 miles south.

Best for couples or two families who want a clifftop sea-view base for walking, and don't mind driving or walking to amenities. Less good for guests with limited mobility, dogs, or carloads of luggage that need easy unloading.