The Hayloft At Hembal Manor

The Hayloft at Hembal Manor is a first-floor apartment accessed by an external staircase at a Cornish manor near St Austell. The vaulted ceilings and exposed beams give it a loft feel at odds with the standard barn conversion, and the property has been individually styled throughout. Two bedrooms sleep 4 - one double, one twin - in a layout that suits two couples or a family with older children. Rated 5/5 across cleanliness, equipment, and comfort from 3 reviews.

The raised garden terrace is the main outdoor draw, accessed directly from the apartment and facing south across the grounds of the manor estate. Dogs are welcome with parking included. The property is WiFi enabled, and the communal grounds of the manor provide additional outdoor space beyond the terrace.

Charlestown is 4.8km - the 18th-century harbour village that still operates tall ships from its original dock, and which serves as a filming location for period dramas. Porthpean Beach is 4.3km, a quieter south-facing cove in St Austell Bay with calmer water than the north Cornish coast. Carlyon Bay is 5.4km, with a broader expanse of sand and a golf course running along the cliff above.

Suits couples or families who want somewhere with character and good access to south Cornwall's heritage sites. The Eden Project, in the china clay country north of St Austell, is roughly 8 miles. The Lost Gardens of Heligan are under 10 miles south. Not ideal for guests who need a full suite of appliances - no washing machine or dishwasher is listed in the amenities.