Ocean's Eleven, The Liner

First-floor three-bedroom apartment in The Liner, a modern development directly above Gyllyngvase Beach in Falmouth. The Blue Flag beach is 100 metres from the front door. Sleeps six. Private parking included.

Open-plan living-kitchen on the sea-view side with floor-to-ceiling glass and a private balcony running the length. Master bedroom with en-suite and balcony access; two more bedrooms share the second bathroom.

Gyllyngvase - "Gylly" to locals - is the largest and easiest-swimming of Falmouth's three town beaches. Sheltered, lifeguarded in summer, with a slight reef break at the west end for paddleboarders. Swanpool (800m west) has the freshwater lagoon behind it. Castle Beach (900m east, below Pendennis) is rockier and quieter at high tide. St Michael's Hotel & Spa is next door with day passes for the hydrothermal pool, sauna and steam room.

Falmouth is a working port - the third-deepest natural harbour in the world - with a university town's energy on top. The National Maritime Museum Cornwall sits on Discovery Quay. Pendennis Castle, Henry VIII's coastal fort, takes the headland behind the apartment. From the harbour, the passenger ferry runs to St Mawes across the Fal - 25 minutes, a different Cornwall on the other side. The coast path heads west to Maenporth (1.5 miles, quieter cove, beach café), then on towards the Helford River.

Food within walking distance: Gylly Beach Café on the sand, the Verdant Seafood Bar on Quay Street, Restaurant Mine in the Old Brewery Yard, Harbour Lights by the Maritime Museum (the local pick for fish and chips), INDIDOG on Fish Strand Quay.

Best for: couples or small families wanting a beach + town + harbour + gardens (Trebah and Glendurgan are 5 miles south) holiday, all walkable. Spa-pass users. Less good for: anyone wanting wild, empty Cornwall - Falmouth is busy, especially regatta weeks.