Beach Haven

Beach Haven is a three-bedroom house set above Polzeath village, sleeping seven across two doubles and a family room (double plus single). The cottage sits on a stepped site - access involves stairs - and at 600m from Polzeath Beach it's close enough to walk down for a morning surf.

Inside, two bathrooms serve the house - one with bath and walk-in shower, one with bath only - plus two separate WCs. The sitting room has a woodburning stove, a separate dining room seats the full party of seven, and a utility room handles laundry. Each bedroom has a basin.

The games room on the ground floor has table football, darts, and table tennis - useful on wet days or for entertaining mixed-age groups. Off-road parking takes three cars. Polzeath Beach is a half-mile sandy surf beach with RNLI lifeguards and surf schools running from Easter to October. Greenaway Beach, 0.6 miles south, is quieter with rock pools at low tide.

Polzeath village has a surf shop, a deli, several cafes, and the Oyster Catcher restaurant. Rock is 2 miles south, with a water taxi running to Padstow across the Camel Estuary in summer. Port Isaac - the Doc Martin village - is 6 miles north.

Best for: families or groups who want a surf base with indoor entertainment and space to spread out. Less good for: guests with limited mobility (the stepped access is not suitable), or those expecting a sea view.