Seasteps

Seasteps is a four-bedroom townhouse sleeping eight in central Fowey (pronounced "Foy"), with private steps from the lower level straight down to the River Fowey. The waterside access is the distinguishing feature - useful for paddleboards, kayaks or just sitting on the foreshore with coffee. Guest reviews average 9.4 from 14 stays, which puts it at the top of the Fowey set.

Four floors, four bedrooms, two bathrooms, with a fully equipped kitchen, dishwasher and washing machine. A wood burner in the main living space makes shoulder-season stays workable. The layout suits two families together or a single group of eight - at GBP 893/week low season, that's about GBP 16 per person per night. Note the four floors mean a lot of stairs; not workable for anyone with significant mobility limits.

The cottage allows dogs and includes on-site parking - both rare in central Fowey, where street space is scarce. Town Quay and the Polruan passenger ferry sit a few hundred metres along the waterfront. Readymoney Cove and St Catherine's Castle are 15 minutes' walk through the town. The Eden Project is 8 miles north, the Lost Gardens of Heligan 14 miles, and Lanhydrock 12 miles.

Best for two families or a multigenerational group who want central Fowey with the river at the back door. Less good for anyone wanting a single-storey layout - it climbs four floors.