Sandy Lodge Rock

Sandy Lodge is a 5-bedroom house in Rock on the Camel Estuary, sleeping 10 across three bathrooms. The Sandyhills address puts it close to Rock beach - sandy, sheltered, and the launch point for dinghy sailing and paddleboarding on the estuary.

The house is dog-friendly - two dogs are welcome by arrangement, but cats are not - with a garden for dogs and children to use. Two bedrooms and a family bathroom are on the ground floor, two more bedrooms are upstairs, and the fifth is an en suite double in a separate annex across the garden. A wood-burning stove in the separate sitting room anchors cooler evenings. Wifi, dishwasher, and washing machine are all included, and a gated drive has off-road parking for three to four cars. Five bedrooms across three bathrooms suit two families sharing or a group of ten. Changeover is Friday.

Daymer Bay is a 10-minute drive or a 40-minute walk away - a broad tidal bay popular with families and safe for paddling at most states of the tide. The foot ferry to Padstow runs from Rock during the season, crossing in about 5 minutes. St Enodoc Golf Club is within a short drive, and Polzeath Beach - one of Cornwall's main surf beaches - is 2.2 miles north.

Best for: large family groups or two families sharing, dogs included. Less good for: couples or smaller groups wanting something intimate - Sandy Lodge is sized for ten and at its best when full. Guests who need step-free access should check with the owner before booking.