St Ia, Castle Approach, Tregenna Castle

St Ia is a four-bedroom house tucked inside the Tregenna Castle estate, the 72-acre Victorian hotel grounds that climb the hill above St Ives. The house sleeps seven across four bedrooms and four bathrooms, with views down over the bay and the estate's nine-hole golf course. Porthminster Beach is an 800m walk through the castle grounds, or six minutes by car if you'd rather skip the hill back up.

Living happens on the upper floor, where the open-plan kitchen and lounge open onto a balcony with sea glimpses. Three of the four bedrooms sit on the ground floor, opening onto a wraparound deck for breakfast in the sun. A downstairs snug doubles as a children's playroom - useful for groups travelling with kids. Sky Glass, a games console and a Bluetooth speaker cover wet-afternoon entertainment.

Guests can pay to use the Tregenna Castle facilities, which the hotel runs separately: tennis courts, spa, brasserie and golf, plus the indoor pool outside school holidays. The outdoor pool is not open to guests of the house. The walk down to Porthminster Beach and its well-known café is the main draw, with the harbour, the Tate and Downalong's restaurants all within ten minutes' walk. Carbis Bay is a mile south.

Best for: larger families and two-couple groups who want estate space and parking without giving up easy walking access to St Ives. Less good for: anyone who needs to be in the heart of Downalong, or guests reluctant to walk uphill on the return.