Mena Gwins

Perched on a hill above Padstow Harbour, this cottage is a superb base for a large group to explore Cornwall's culinary capital as well as the delights of the surrounding coast and countryside. Foodies can't help but feast in the town's Michelin-star restaurants, family-friendly bistros, pubs and cafes. Hiking the coastal paths and beaches around the estuary is a happy way to work off the previous day's indulgences; for the energetic, check out the hugely popular surf school at Harlyn Bay 4 miles west or hire bikes and cycle a stretch of the scenic Camel Trail. This two-storey, four-bedroom end terrace makes great use of space for a large gathering. On the ground floor, the lounge has seating around an electric fire and a TV/DVD for nights in. Off the lounge is a dining alcove with a large dining table seating eight and views of the garden through French doors. The kitchen also has views out to the garden and a breakfast bar with stools for morning coffee on the go. A utility room usefully has both a washing machine and tumble dryer and there is additional food storage in a fridge/freezer in the garage, accessed via the utility room. Also on this floor is a handy cloakroom with WC. The first floor encompasses four good-sized bedrooms, including one with a king-size bed, an en-suite shower room and TV, a double bedroom, and two twin bedrooms. Here, there is also a contemporary bathroom with a shower over the bath. Outdoors, an attractive patio seating area is flanked by mature shrubs and, combined with the dining room opening onto the patio, makes a cheerful and flexible indoor-outdoor space for entertaining.

Best for a large family or group of friends wanting space, with four bedrooms and an eight-seat dining table. Less good for guests with a dog, since pets aren't accepted, or anyone needing a ground-floor bedroom, as all four sit upstairs.

Nearby: Trevone Bay (1.6 miles) and Daymer Bay Beach (1.9 miles). See our Padstow guide for more beaches and walks in the area.