Egloskerry

Four-bedroom house on Clifden Drive in New Polzeath, sleeping eight above Baby Bay on the north Cornwall coast. Polzeath Beach is 400 metres downhill - lifeguarded in season with three surf schools on the sand.

Sleeping is across a super-king en-suite, two doubles with shower en-suites, and a twin. Five bathrooms in total, including a wet room and separate WC, which is more than most groups of eight will need. The open-plan kitchen has an induction hob, American-style fridge-freezer and Nespresso machine. A games room runs football table, snooker and a home cinema projector for evenings in.

Outside is a built-in barbecue, garden furniture and a hot outdoor shower for rinsing wetsuits. Heating runs on a geothermal system, with Sky TV throughout and iPod docks in each room. Honest caveat: no off-street parking - on-street only, which can be tight in August. Greenaway Beach (rockier, quieter) is 0.9 miles south, Daymer Bay is 1.2 miles, and the coast path north reaches The Rumps Iron Age cliff fort in about an hour. Rock and the Padstow ferry are 3 miles south.

Best for two families sharing or a multi-generation group who want bathrooms-per-head and indoor entertainment for wet days. Less good for guests who need guaranteed parking on the doorstep.