Talland 1

Talland 1 is a three-bedroom house on the gated Talland Bay estate, sleeping six between Looe and Polperro on Cornwall's south coast. Each bedroom has its own bathroom, which removes the usual morning queue when two families share. The beach is a five-minute walk down the lane.

The open-plan kitchen, living and dining space runs the length of the ground floor, with a dishwasher, washing machine and room for six around the table. A master ensuite, a double and a twin make up the bedrooms. Estate access includes a heated indoor pool, an outdoor plunge pool and a shared hot tub - the pool is shared with other estate guests, so it can get busy in school holidays.

Talland Bay itself is a south-facing cove with sand and rock pools at low tide, plus two cafes (one on the sand, one above at the Talland Bay Hotel). Polperro is 1 mile west along the coast path; Looe sits 3 miles east via Hannafore. Dogs run on the beach year-round here - no summer ban, unlike most Cornish beaches.

Best for two families sharing or one family wanting bathroom-per-bedroom comfort and pool access. Less good for groups wanting a private pool or a quiet retreat in August, when the shared facilities are at their busiest.