3 Coastguard Cottages

Two-bathroom cottage at Portwrinkle on the Rame peninsula, the south-east corner of Cornwall that most Cornwall guidebooks forget. The South West Coast Path passes the door, and Whitsand Bay's 3-mile sandy beach is 3.1km along the cliff.

The cottage looks out over the small Portwrinkle headland and the bay beyond, with sea views from the main rooms. A wood burner anchors the sitting room for cooler evenings, the kitchen has a dishwasher, and a private garden sits at the back. Off-street parking is included. No wifi - bring a book.

Portwrinkle itself has a clifftop golf course with a licensed cafe and bar open to non-members. Crafthole village is three-quarters of a mile inland with the Finnygook Inn and Aspects restaurant. Kingsand and Cawsand - the colour-washed twin villages on the Rame peninsula - sit 8km east, with pubs, a beach cafe, and the foot ferry to Plymouth in summer. Mount Edgcumbe Country Park and its 800-acre estate are a 15-minute drive. Looe and Polperro lie 10 miles west along the coast.

Best for couples or a small group wanting coast-path walking and quiet beaches without the north-coast crowds. Less good for families wanting wifi-dependent kids' downtime, or anyone needing the beach in walking distance - it's a steep cliff descent at Whitsand and you'll want the car.