St Brychan

St Brychan is a four-bedroom country house sleeping eight, set in private gardens on the north Cornwall coast near Tintagel. The house was once owned by a musician and the grand piano in the living space remains - an unusual feature that distinguishes it from other large self-catering properties on this stretch of coast.

Inside, the house has three bathrooms, a book-lined lounge with an open fire, a modern kitchen with dishwasher and washing machine, and a balcony with open views. Wifi is included and dogs are welcome. The layout makes it workable for two families sharing.

Outside, the grounds extend to private gardens with rare plants, winding paths, a picnic lawn, a summer house with a BBQ stand, and a high paddock with sea views. A woodland path from the property leads directly to St Nectan's Glen and its 60-foot waterfall - a medieval pilgrimage site reachable without joining the main trail from the car park. Bossiney Cove is about 700 metres away across farmland and woods, a secluded tidal cove accessible only at low tide. Tintagel and its clifftop castle ruin is about 1.5 miles, with Boscastle's harbour a similar distance.

Best for: families or groups of eight wanting extensive grounds and a base for north Cornwall's historic coast; dog owners who want space to roam. Less good for: couples or small groups - the house suits eight and the setting is rural rather than village-centre.