Rainer Rocks

Rainer Rocks is a four-bedroom house in the Pinewood development at Polzeath, sleeping eight with three bathrooms across three floors. The house accepts two pets by arrangement and has two bedrooms and a wet room on the ground floor, the open-plan living area on the first floor and two more bedrooms on the second. Polzeath is one of north Cornwall's most active surf spots, and this house puts guests 600 metres from the beach.

Inside, the house has Wi-Fi, a dishwasher, a washing machine, and off-street parking for two cars. One space is in the ground-floor car park and the other is in the next-door car park, and the merchant notes steps from that car park that may not suit guests with limited mobility. The layout across three floors suits a group that doesn't need everyone on a single level. The communal grounds and a decking area give space for outdoor eating in decent weather, and there are two first-floor balconies.

Polzeath Beach is 600 metres - RNLI-patrolled in season with surf school hire on the beach. Greenaway Beach, a quieter stretch of sand to the south, is 900 metres. Daymer Bay, the sheltered estuary bay suited to calmer swimming, is 0.8 miles. Rock is a short drive across the Camel Estuary for restaurants and sailing. Padstow - the harbour town with Rick Stein's fish and chip shop among others - is reachable in around 15 minutes by road or by the ferry from Rock.

Best for families or groups of friends with dogs who want proper surf-beach access and a comfortable base. Less good for anyone looking for a central town location.