Treth Ha Mor

Treth ha Mor is Cornish for sand and sea, and the duplex penthouse sits directly above the beach at Carbis Bay, 0.1 miles from the sand. It sleeps five, with sea views from virtually every room. Living space is open-plan, with a sitting area at one end and a dining table for six at the other, plus a dining-area balcony.

Three bedrooms are reached by a feature spiral staircase of 13 steps, and each has an en-suite. The king-size has a private balcony and a shower, the twin has a shower, a rear terrace and can be made up as a king on request, and the single has an en-suite bath with hand-held shower. Bed changes must be requested at least 7 days before arrival; later requests may incur additional housekeeping costs.

The kitchen has a single oven/grill, gas hob, microwave, fridge, freezer, coffee machine, washer/dryer and dishwasher. Sky Q covers Sports, Cinema and Kids, and there is WiFi, a PS3 and gas central heating. Bed linen, towels, fuel and power are included. Parking is a garage for a medium-sized car, 2.1m wide, with a driveway for a longer one. A railway line runs alongside, so expect some noise. Shop 0.4 miles, pub 0.9 miles.

Check-in is from 4pm and check-out by 10am. Building works nearby should continue until spring 2027, Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturdays 8am to 1pm at worst. There are 12 steps from the driveway to the front door. The penthouse suits a family with children over 5, and is less good for toddlers, given the spiral staircase; pets are not allowed.