Merlin Cottage

Stone cottage in Lostwithiel, sleeping 5 across three bedrooms - one double, one twin, one single. From £459/night. Rated 4.2/5 from 15 reviews. Lostwithiel was Cornwall's medieval capital and the town still has a distinctive character: antique dealers, a weekly farmers' market, and the River Fowey running alongside.

Inside, a wood burner anchors the sitting room. The kitchen has a dishwasher and the property includes a washing machine. One bathroom serves all three bedrooms - the single configuration suits mixed-age family groups rather than couples. No hot tub or pool.

Outside, a tree-surrounded garden has a paved terrace with BBQ, positioned for group meals in the warmer months. One dog welcome. Off-street parking on-site. Readymoney Cove, the sheltered sand-and-rock beach at Fowey, is 6.9km south via the B3269. Carlyon Bay, a longer sandy beach near St Austell, is 8.1km east.

Restormel Castle, a 13th-century circular stone keep managed by English Heritage, is just over a mile from the town centre. The Eden Project is 5 miles west. Fowey itself - a working estuary town with a strong literary connection (Daphne du Maurier lived here) - is worth a half day. Best for families or small groups wanting a rural inland base with good access to south Cornwall. Less suited to guests who want a beach within walking distance.