Offshore

Ground-floor flat at West Cliff in Porthtowan, sleeping 4 in 2 bedrooms with 1 bathroom. The village beach is two minutes' walk - the road ends at the sand and the surf school runs lessons there most mornings from May to September. Rated 10/10 from 18 reviews.

The flat sits at ground level with a garden sun deck, well-suited for drying wetsuits or eating outside after a morning in the water. Inside: WiFi, dishwasher, washing machine, and parking. No dog access and no sea view from the cottage itself. The address is West Cliff - one of two roads that run down to the beach from the village. Friday changeover.

Porthtowan's Blue Bar cafe sits directly above the beach - one of the few licensed beach bars on the North Cornish coast. Chapel Porth, National Trust-managed with its famous hedgehog ice cream, is 1.5 miles south along the coast path. Portreath Beach is 4.6km north. Wheal Coates engine house, an iconic Cornish mining ruin, is visible from the coast path above the village.

Best for: couples or small families after a no-fuss surf-village base with beach proximity and a proven track record. Less good for: guests needing dog access or a sea view from the property.