Southcliff

Built on a steep hill and bounded by water on three sides, Polruan's headland position once made it an important lookout point, and its views of the coast and across the harbour to Fowey still draw visitors today. There's only one road into the village, passing 8th-century St Saviour's Ruin on the way to a historic quay that recalls Polruan's fishing and boatbuilding heritage. A passenger ferry crosses the river to Fowey, a medieval market town with narrow lanes and Cornwall's smallest castle, St Catherine's. Follow the South West Coast Path a mile east and you'll reach Lantic Bay - a seldom-busy beach with clear water, good for paddling and picnics. The Eden Project is 13 miles away.

This four-bedroom holiday home makes the most of its position on the seaward edge of the village: in the lounge, a huge picture window floods the room with light and looks across the lawn to the coastline beyond, where sofas sit in front of the TV alongside a stone fireplace and wood flooring. The kitchen/diner has space to work, chat and dine, with windows onto the garden. A utility room and cloakroom complete the ground floor, along with a twin bedroom and tiled shower room for those who'd rather not climb stairs. Upstairs, a family bathroom and separate WC serve the double and twin bedroom, while the main bedroom has a king-size bed and en-suite shower room.

The garden is laid to lawn with a large patio, outdoor furniture and a brick-built BBQ, good for breakfast alfresco or watching boats pass the coastline below.

Nearby: Readymoney Cove (600m) and Lantic Bay (1.2 miles). See our Bodinnick guide for more beaches and walks in the area.