Carvossa

Carvossa is a three-floor cottage in Marazion, sleeping 5 across three bedrooms with one shared bathroom. The first-floor living area has sight lines across Mount's Bay to St Michael's Mount, the National Trust island connected to the village by granite causeway at low tide.

The kitchen sits on the first floor, well equipped for self-catering groups. The sitting room has both a wood burner and an open fire - useful for shoulder-season and winter stays when storms come in off the bay. Wi-Fi, dishwasher and washing machine are provided. Three floors plus one bathroom for five people is the honest catch: morning queues are likely with a full house, and the stairs may not suit anyone with mobility limits.

Outside, a small courtyard garden with an outdoor shower makes the cottage practical for sandy returns from the beach. There is a barbecue for summer evenings and off-road parking. Dogs are welcome.

Marazion Beach is 800 metres on foot, with the seafront pubs and cafes nearby - the Godolphin Arms is the obvious one for Mount views and a pint. The Marazion Marsh RSPB reserve, Cornwall's largest reedbed, sits behind the village. Perranuthnoe Beach is 1.3 miles along the coast path, and Penzance is 3 miles west for the Scilly ferry, mainline trains and a working harbour.

Best for couples-plus-friends, three-generation trips with one shared bathroom, and dog walkers wanting a near-beach base. Less good for two families needing two bathrooms or anyone with knee problems.