The Barn

This countryside barn is well positioned to explore the Cornish coast. Polzeath Beach is 2 miles away, with sandcastles and calmer-water swimming, and the village has a couple of restaurants and pubs. The National Trust's Pentireglaze headland (1.5 miles) and the South West Coast Path (0.5 miles) offer scenic walks, while Rock (3 miles) has a foot ferry to Padstow plus paddleboarding and other watersports. Camel Creek Family Adventure Park and the Cornish Birds of Prey Centre are both within 13 miles.

This characterful home welcomes guests with bright interiors from the second they walk in. The whole of the ground floor is open-plan with flagstone floors and high ceilings. A stylish kitchen area has all the amenities needed for picnics or hearty dinners, with plenty of surface and storage space, plus a table with four seats for eating together. A wood burner warms the sofa area, and a downstairs WC and utility cupboard complete the ground floor. A spiral staircase leads up to two sumptuous bedrooms under vaulted ceilings, both with super-king-size beds - one with an en-suite bathroom, the other with zip-and-link beds that convert to twins on request. A family shower room completes the interior.

Outside, the garden has plenty of space to sit and enjoy a summer BBQ or evening tipple under dark skies. Guests also have seasonal access to an outdoor swimming pool and hot tub, shared with the neighbouring properties, plus ample parking.

Best for couples or small families wanting a quiet countryside base with pool and hot tub access, since the barn sleeps 4 across two king-size bedrooms. Less good for guests who need step-free access throughout, as the bedrooms are reached via a spiral staircase.

Nearby: Polzeath Beach (1.6 miles) and Greenaway Beach (2 miles). See our St Minver guide for more beaches and walks in the area.