Myrtle Cottage Cornwall

Myrtle Cottage sits in the small fishing village of Porthallow, sleeping four across two bedrooms just 150 metres from the beach and well placed for exploring the Lizard. Amble down to the pebble beach to swim, snorkel, paddle board, or picnic, or head further along the coast to Porthbeer Cove (6 miles) and Kennack Sands (8 miles). The South West Coast Path passes almost exactly midway along its route here, with St Keverne for groceries and Porthallow's own pub for an evening pint. The Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek is 9 miles away. A third beach, Porth Saxon, is 2.6 miles beyond Ponsence Cove for a quieter stretch of sand.

The ground-floor accommodation centres on an open-plan lounge/kitchen/diner with a wood burner and open fire for autumn and winter evenings, bookshelves, and an L-shaped sofa. The country-style kitchen has cream cabinets, wooden work surfaces, a dishwasher, a washing machine, and a dining table. Upstairs, a double bedroom and a super-king-size room with zip-and-link beds (twin on request) share the family bathroom with its freestanding bath.

The garden is open and includes a stream, so children need supervising, and it's a good spot to watch the sun go down with a last cup of tea, or a cocktail. Two dogs are welcome, wifi runs throughout the cottage, and parking is included for one car. The cottage is looked after locally by host Amanda. The cottage itself has no sea view, so guests wanting one from the windows should look higher up the valley. Best for couples or small families wanting direct beach access and coast-path walks in both directions; less good for larger groups needing more than one parking space or a second bathroom.

Nearby: Porthoustock Beach (1.1 miles) and Ponsence Cove (2.2 miles). See our Porthallow guide for more beaches and walks in the area.