Jopes Mill and Lodge

Jopes Mill is a two-bedroom cottage converted from a Grade II listed watermill near Looe, sleeping four with two bathrooms. It sits on 5 acres of private riverside garden, lake and woodland in the Seaton valley.

The mill workings and waterwheel have been kept, with the old machinery room now used as the dining room. A wood burning stove backs up the oil central heating, with free wood supplied, and the second bedroom converts between a queen bed and two twins. Jopes Lodge, a converted artist's studio with hardwood floors and its own terrace above the River Seaton, stands nearby as part of the same holiday let. Guests reach both along a single-track lane.

Hessenford, the nearest village, is about a mile and a quarter down the lane, and its pub, the Copley, serves food most evenings. Downderry Beach, a sandy beach with a cafe, is roughly 3.5 miles away, and the A38 is two minutes from the gate for onward trips into south-east Cornwall, including Kingsand and Cawsand on the Rame peninsula.

Best for two couples or a family wanting a quiet countryside base with access to both cottages. Less good for anyone wanting to walk to a beach or pub, since both are a drive away.