Porthilly Greys

Five-bedroom farmhouse near Rock in north Cornwall, sleeping ten with five en-suite bathrooms - a bedroom-to-bathroom ratio that is hard to find at this group size. Dogs are welcome and the enclosed garden gives them room to run.

An open fire in the main living room anchors the house for autumn and winter stays. The BBQ and garden extend things into summer. Parking, dishwasher, and Wi-Fi are all included, and the rural setting between Rock village and the coast means it is genuinely quiet without being inconvenient.

Daymer Bay is 1.5 miles - a sheltered sandy beach on the Camel Estuary that suits families with young children and dogs (no seasonal restriction on dogs at Daymer). Greenaway Beach is 1.9 miles. For surf, Polzeath is 2.4 miles with a reliable beach break and a busy surf school in season. The water taxi from Rock village to Padstow takes five minutes and runs from spring to autumn.

Best for groups of two or three families sharing, especially those with dogs, who want en-suite privacy and easy access to both estuary and surf beaches. Less good for guests looking for coastal views from the property - this is a rural farmhouse, not a cliff-top rental.