Bosun's Bude

Bosun's is a converted, ground-floor annex apartment in Bude, sleeping two in a king bedroom with a hybrid mattress. Rated 10 out of 10 from 49 Booking.com reviews, it scores 10 for staff, cleanliness and comfort. Crooklets Beach is 500 metres away and Summerleaze Beach 700 metres.

The open-plan living-kitchen has a breakfast bar, sofa and flat-screen TV, plus a coffee table stocked with board games and an information folder. The bedroom has under-bed wicker storage and integral USB charging points beside the bed. A sliding door opens onto a small terrace with a bistro table and fold-out chairs. The shower room has a heated towel rail, an anti-misting mirror and an integral shaver socket, and the driveway holds parking for one car.

The South West Coast Path runs through Crooklets, an RNLI lifeguard beach used for surfing, bodyboarding and paddleboarding, with local operators offering lessons and coasteering trips. Bude's harbour and cafes are a 10-minute walk from the annex, along a route that follows part of the coast path, and Stratton sits a short drive inland with supermarkets including Sainsbury's, Co-op and Morrisons.

Best for solo travellers or couples wanting quick beach access and quiet residential surroundings. Less good for anyone bringing a dog, since pets aren't accepted at the annex.