Spring Tide

Four-bedroom beach house in Porthtowan, the surf village 4 miles north-west of Truro. Spring Tide sleeps 8 across four en-suite bedrooms, with a dog-friendly garden and BBQ. The sand is a short walk down the hill.

Inside, the kitchen-diner runs the length of the ground floor with an electric oven, dishwasher, and an island that seats two more on top of the eight-place dining table. The sitting room has a corner sofa and two armchairs. A ground-floor wet room handles the post-beach rinse. Upstairs, the four bedrooms split as one king with en-suite, one twin, one double, and a fourth - all bathrooms refitted in recent years. No private parking, so unload at the door and use the village car park 200 metres away.

The Blue Bar overlooks the sand and runs all year. The Unicorn pub sits in the village. Walk south on the South West Coast Path for two miles to Chapel Porth and the Wheal Coates engine houses on the cliff above - one of Cornwall's most photographed industrial ruins. North along the path takes you 3 miles to Portreath. St Agnes is 4 miles east, with Driftwood Spars Brewery and Trevaunance Cove.

Best for groups of eight or two families sharing, surf weekends, dog owners. Less good for guests who need on-site parking or a sea view from the windows.