Avoca

Avoca is a detached bungalow on Trewint Lane in Rock, sleeping 7 across 2 bedrooms with 1 bathroom. The garden is a practical feature on the north Cornwall coast - somewhere to shake out wetsuits, dry kit, and eat outside when the weather holds. Wi-Fi, parking, dishwasher, and washing machine are all included. The property has 28 reviews on Sykes.

Rock sits on the Camel Estuary, sheltered from the Atlantic swell, and the estuary beach here is popular with dinghy sailors and paddleboarders. The foot ferry to Padstow runs regularly in season, with the crossing taking around 10 minutes and landing at the harbour. Rock's own village shops and restaurants are within a short walk of the bungalow.

Daymer Bay is 2km north - a wide sandy beach with calm water and a car park. The poet John Betjeman returned to Daymer Bay throughout his life and is buried at the nearby church of St Enodoc, a short walk inland. Polzeath is 3.2km and handles the surf well on a westerly. In Padstow, the Camel Trail starts at the harbour and runs 18 miles along the old railway bed to Bodmin Moor.

Best for families or groups of up to 7 wanting a north Cornwall base with easy access to both a calm estuary beach and surf. Less suited to those wanting a larger property or a beach directly on the doorstep. Thursday changeover.