Category: Featured retreats

Walk through – Mousehole

Spanish raids, star-gazey pie and even the Mousehole cat – our walk-through Mousehole in West Cornwall has it all.

It’s easy to fall in love with Mousehole, West Cornwall’s picture-perfect fishing village and harbour which is steeped in history, legend and – today – glorious sunshine.

Check out our holiday properties in Mousehole to experience everything the area has to offer.

Retaining its original character, charm and beauty, Mousehole remains a popular holiday spot. Located three miles from Penzance, start by getting your bearings. Park along the road between Newlyn and the village itself for views stretching out over Mounts Bay to the Lizard in the distance – England’s most southerly point.

The car park on the right hand side as you enter the village brilliantly disguises the first stop on our walk from many visitors. With 180-degree seaviews from its terrace, The Rock Pool Café is a hidden gem serving coffee, tea, cakes and light meals, plus special food evenings during the summer – keep an eye on their Facebook page.

Next door, The Old Coastguard has built a reputation for great food kept simple. This is a traditional Brasserie menu that takes good ingredients and gives them a very simple but classic treatment. On a sunny day like today, drinks on the grass terrace overlooking the sea are a must.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a log burner? Check out our cottages with a log burner for a cosy getaway.

Down into the village itself you’ll find plenty of other places to eat and drink, including the Harbour Coffee and Café courtyard with its quaint white iron-wrought seating, Hole Foods Deli, The Ship Inn pub and 2 Fore Street, a vibrant and chic bistro-style restaurant with a secluded tropical courtyard out back.

Onwards and Mousehole’s small but perfectly formed stone harbour and surrounding cottages are simply beautiful. Families paddle in the safe turquoise waters of the harbour’s two tiny sand beaches and reel in crabs from their lines. Couples tuck in to fish and chips while dangling their legs over the harbour. One man is exploring the water by kayak. People drip in and out plenty of art galleries and craft shops, picking up treats for themselves and others. Idyllically, another man paints the scene on his easel from the water’s edge. We even spot the Mousehole cat perched on its own cushion taking everything in.

If you’re not familiar with the children’s book, The Mousehole Cat by Antonia Barber tells the story of Mowzer the cat and its old-fisherman owner Tom who brave treacherous stormy seas to feed their fellow hungry villagers. Inspired by Cornish legend, the story still connects with readers of all ages, new and old alike. Pick up a copy in one of the craft shops. You might even discover Mousehole’s own stargazy-pie and want to give it a try with pilchards landed from one of Mousehole’s own fishing boats.

Although it’s mid-August when we visit, we can’t fail to mention Mousehole’s biggest draw – the magical Christmas lights which run in the few weeks over Christmas and New Year. Illuminated with displays floating in the harbour and strung up high in the terraces above, the village becomes ablaze with colour, wicker lanterns and the sound of carols and fisherman shanties. A sure fire way to get you in the festive spirit – best viewed with a woolly hat on and hot chocolate or mulled-wine in hand.

Discover the top 5 places to see Christmas lights in Cornwall, where festive displays illuminate the Christmas spirit across charming towns and coastal villages.

Book your self-catering holiday in Mousehole with Beach Retreats.

Five properties for large groups

Beach days with the whole family or long and late dinner parties catching up with friends – nothing beats going on holiday with a big group of your nearest and dearest. Beach Retreats has an outstanding selection of large self-catering properties with that extra wow factor to help make your get-together in Cornwall one you won’t forget. Here are our top five large properties.

Interested in staying in our most luxurious holiday cottages? Check out our luxury coastal cottages.

Seamist, Watergate Bay

Ping pong table. Tick. TV den. Tick. Outdoor surf shower. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Architect-designed and purpose built for 2016, Seamist is a bright and cotemporary coastal pad that ticks all the boxes. Family and group holidays come easy here thanks to its eight bedrooms, a spacious kitchen, living and dining areas all finished to a high standard including Velux windows, American style fridge freezers and 50-inch HD TV. Think big barbecues on the decking, catching up with friends on sunloungers outside, or heading down the road en-masse to one of Cornwall’s best beaches – Watergate Bay – for surfing with Extreme Academy, restaurants including The Beach Hut and Zacry’s, Watergate Bay Hotel’s Zacry’s and Swim Club facilities.

The details
Bedrooms: 8
Sleeps: 16
The beach: 1000 metres
Sea view: yes
Pets: yes

Learn more about Seamist here.

 

Blue Bay, Mawgan Porth

Blue Bay is the kind of laid-back beach house where you and your friends and family will instantly feel at home. Decked out in cool blues, the spacious two-storey four bedroomed house comes with an additional four garden rooms which can sleep up to 20 people. We love the massive kitchen, ideal when cooking for large groups, the sun trap garden and the sea views from every bedroom. If you’d rather not cook on holiday, owners James and Pippa offer a selection of dining packages, or take your pick from a range of different eating places on your doorstep. Fish and chips after a day on the beach or fine-dining for adults only? Mawgan Porth has it.

The details
Bedrooms: 8
Sleeps: 20
The beach: 400 metres
Sea view: yes
Pets: yes

Learn more about Blue Bay here.

Porth Beach House, Porth

With the sand of Porth Beach just 20 metres away, large self-catering properties don’t come closer to the beach than at Porth Beach House. An early 19th-century house refurbished to a high-spec and gorgeous New England Style, it appeals to parties wanting a more homely and cosy vibe. Curl up with a book in the sitting room with views over the beach and sea while the rest of your group build sandcastles on the sand below. Life doesn’t get much better.

The details
Bedrooms: 5
Sleeps: 10
The beach: 20 metres
Sea view: yes
Pets: yes

Learn more about Porth Beach House here.

 

Breakers, Porth Beach

Featured in Ideal Homes magazine, Breakers is an ideal self-catering property for large groups, with the beach only 100 metres down the path at the bottom of the garden. The view, the space, the finish, hot tub and games room, the gardens – there’s lots to love about Breakers, but sometimes it’s the small details like wetsuit hanging, two beginner surfboards and bodyboards and X-Box 360 that make the difference. We can’t imagine you and you and your group will get bored of Porth’s golden sand and varied coastline, but both Newquay and Watergate Bay are a short drive or 25-minute walk in either direction should you need to explore.

The details
Bedrooms: 5
Sleeps: 13
The beach: 200 metres
Sea view: yes
Pets: yes

Learn more about Breakers here.

 

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

 

The Roundhouse, Porthcothan

Set in an idyllic rural location with Padstow a short drive away, families and groups staying in The Roundhouse can set their own pace on holiday. With one pub and one shop, the tiny coastal village of Porthcothan has a hidden quality which can be hard to come by on this part of North Cornwall – the perfect place for spending quality time with your friends and family and exploring one of the best beaches you’ve probably never heard.

The details
Bedrooms: 5
Sleeps: 10
The beach: 600 metres
Sea view: yes
Pets: yes

Learn more about The Roundhouse here.

Search Beach Retreats’ range of large self-catering properties.

Delve into the world of fascinating finds and foraging in Cornwall, discovering nature’s hidden treasures along the coast.

Atlantic View wins Sustainable Project of the Year

Visiting Cornwall with an electric car? Check out our holiday lets with electric car (EV) charging points.

 

Being completely reliant on renewable energy has helped our Atlantic View properties in Widemouth Bay win the prestigious sustainability accolade at Michelmore’s Property Awards 2016.

With direct access to the beach at Widemouth Bay, North Cornwall, stunning interiors and impressive eco-credentials, Atlantic View was the clear winner of the Sustainable Project of the Year at Michelmores Property Awards 2016.

Discover our other Widemouth Bay holiday properties.

The annual awards recognise both commercial and residential projects of all shapes and sizes across nine categories − with shortlisted and winning projects firmly placed in the industry’s spotlight.

Atlantic View contemporary self-catering holidays on the beach at Widemouth Bay, Cornwall from Beach Retreats on Vimeo.

Marketed by Beach Retreats and developed by Grenadier Estates, Atlantic View comprises of six self-catered holiday lodges overlooking Widmeouth’s iconic Black Rock and the lodges are completely eco-friendly with features including solar panels, air source heat pumps, solar thermal water heaters and a grass roof system to provide insulation.

Michelmore said: “Through careful design and construction, the lodges integrate effortlessly into the surrounding landscape and are sustainable, whilst offering style, function and luxury.”

Judge and highly experienced architect, Peter Lacey, described it as a great scheme, a great location and a great sustainable project.

“Atlantic View is a truly impressive and exceptional scheme blending beautifully into its landscape in a way which is seldom seen in such a sensitive light,” he said.

“It handles sustainability in all the ways you would except in terms of renewable energy and it has an exceptionally good range of sustainable features, but more particularly in this case it takes sustainability to another level – it engages with local tradesman and suppliers to ensure that everything remains truly local.”

Discover more of Cornwall and check out our 1o must see places in Cornwall.

Search for your holiday at Atlantic View, Widmeouth Bay, with Beach Retreats.

Walk through – Boscastle

We take a walk on the wild side at Boscastle, a place where moorland meets the sea.

Want to stay in a luxury holiday house with a view of the sea? Check out our cottages with sea views.

There are many sides to Boscastle on Cornwall’s far north coast: picturesque fishing village, medieval settlement, artist’s muse. It all makes for a very interesting and beautiful place for a self catering holiday.

Once offering shelter to sailors along a wild and intimidating stretch of coast, Boscastle’s dramatic coastline and quaint old buildings are the main attraction. The latter is immediately apparent as you begin to wander around, with characterful cobbled streets, wonky roofs, stone buildings and watermills lining the river before leading you towards the ocean.

Today, a few handsome day boats bob in the harbour. But Boscastle was once a thriving port – in one year alone nearly 200 ships called on their way through delivering supplies from including timber from as far as field as Canada.

Boscastle’s tortuous harbour entrance means that sailing vessels always required assistance to enter, usually by ‘hobbler’ boats manned by oarsman and other men on shore tethered to the boat with ropes.

Goods were eventually hauled up its steep hills by teams of horses once kept in what is now the youth hostel. Other buildings such as the lime kiln and blacksmith’s forge can still be seen around the harbour today.

You can discover more about Boscastle’s history and dramatic landscape which is all detailed in the National Trust’s fantastic modern visitor centre located in the heart of the village. You also be surprised to learn how much community life is thriving since the devastating flood a decade ago. There are plenty of craft shops and cafes to visit, feeding and watering artists who have been inspired by its remoteness and rugged beauty.

Fancy staying in nearby Bude? Just 30 from Boscastle, Check out our luxury holiday lets in Bude.

With King Arthur’s Tintagel just down the coast, this is also a land of myth and legend. Housing the world’s largest collection of witchcraft artefacts and regalia, the Museum of Witchcraft in Boscastle has been entertaining visitors for more than fifty years.


Walking towards the sea, the imposing cliffs of Penally Point and Willapark guard either side of Boscastle harbour. Watching the boiling seas around the Island of Merchard between the two – and the two blowholes spitting out at low tide – it’s not hard to feel the otherworldly aura of this stretch of coast.

The best way to finish a walk-through Boscastle is to continue along the coast path, past stomach dropping steep cliffs, up to the white-washed lookout tower. From here there are fantastic views of the coast all the way down to Tintagel – guaranteed to blow the cobwebs away.

Feel the love at Harbourside Cottage in Boscastle, where charming coastal views and cosy interiors create the perfect romantic retreat.

Search for your self catering holiday in Boscastle with Beach Retreats.

One-of-a-kind self catering properties

There’s a lot to love about our self catering properties at Beach Retreats, aside from their tempting beachside location and high-quality interiors. We pick three of our favourite one-of-a-kinds.

Interested in staying in our most luxurious holiday cottages? Check out our luxury coastal cottages.

The private roof-top terrace


Trethvor, Fistral Beach

Here’s how a typical day goes at Trethvor. Fresh coffee and croissants on the terrace overlooking the sea at Fistral. To the beach. Lunch in the sun on the terrace again. Back to the beach. A holiday book on the sunlounger on the terrace. And finally cocktails on the terrace as the sun sets over the sea.

Trevthor is situated between Fistral Beach and The Gannel near Newquay. Three bedrooms, sleeps seven.

Book your stay at Trevthor.

Want to stay in Fistral? Have a look at our luxury holiday cottages in Fistral.

 

The prime village position


Harbourside Cottage, Boscastle

Harbourside Cottage should be renamed Harbour-village-and-beach-side. This cosy Cornish cottage is positioned right in the heart of Boscastle with its village amenities, shops, cafés and craft shops a few steps away. The river and harbourside are a few more steps away, and the beach not much farther after that. Ideal for couples looking for a romantic bolthole.

Harbourside Cottage is situated in Boscastle in North Cornwall. One bedroom, sleeps two, pets welcome.

Book your stay at Harbourside Cottage

 

The sense of scale and space


Seamist, Tregurrian near Watergate Bay

Seamist is a brand new purpose-built property designed with larger groups and families in mind. Let your party play ping pong the games room, curl up with a film in the private cinema or join friends for dinner on the 3-metre dining room table. Or, take it outside for a garden BBQ and all the fun of the sand, sea and surf at Watergate Bay just down the road.

Seamist is in the village of Tregurrian, near Watergate Bay. Eight bedrooms, sleeps 16, pets welcome.

Book your stay at Seamist.

Search for your self-catering holiday with at Beach Retreats.

Experience luxury living at its finest with our Penthouse Edit, showcasing the most exquisite and stylish penthouse retreats available.

Cornish Saints

Our 17 Village properties at Watergate Bay are each named after a Cornish saint and place name – except one… We trace their names and learn some Cornish geography and history along the way.

Explore seaside dining at its finest with Beach Retreats’ curated list of top 5 restaurants in Watergate Bay.

Cornwall is often referred to as the land of saints. It’s no surprise then that many Cornish place names derive their name from the saints who went on to found churches here and in other Celtic lands such as Brittany in France. Let’s meet some of them.

Visiting Cornwall for a workcation? Have a look at our holiday lets perfect for extended stays and working.

St. Mawes

The fishing town of St Mawes on Cornwall’s south coast is thought to have taken its name from the Celtic Saint Maudez. He is believed to have settled in Brittany where he founded a monastery on the Island of Saint-Maudez with his two disciples, Saint Budoc and Saint Tudy, also Cornish place names.

St. Breock

St Brieuc became the first abbot of Saint-Brieuc in Brittany in the fifth century. Churches in England, Ireland, and Scotland are dedicated to this early Celtic saint, including the parish church of St Breock in Cornwall, just west of Wadebridge.

St. Minver

The village of St Miniver, inland from Rock on the north Cornish coast, centres upon St Menefreda’s Church – the origin of the present day name Saint Miniver who was one of 24 children of St Brychan, a fourth-century Welsh saint and king.

St. Winnow

The stunning isolated church of St Winnow overlooks the River Fowey. It is named after Saint Winnoc or Saint Winwaloe.

St. Endellion

Travel four miles north of Wadebridge and you’ll come across the pretty village of St Endellion near Port Isaac. It takes its name from Saint Edelienta, another child of King Brycha and sibling of St Miniver. Today, Saint Endellion Church brings together musicians from all over the world for superb festivals at Easter and Summer.

St. Blazey

The small town on Cornwall’s south coast takes its name from Armenian Saint Blaise. The Eden Project is close by.

St. Issey

You’ll find St Issey, named after the Saint Yse or Ida, just outside of Padstow. Yet another child of St Bruchan.

St. Merryn

Located between Mawgan Porth and Padstow, Saint Merryn is disputed to be named after a Welsh priest or monk named Maraunus or Maruan. Either way, it has seven beautiful bays nearby: Porthcothnan, Treyarnon Bay, Constantine Bay, Booby’s Bay, Mother Ivey’s Bay, Harlyn Bay and Trevone Bay.

St. Breward

On the western side of Bodmin Moor is the village of St Breward, deriving from English Saint Branwalader. He also gives his name to Saint Brelade in Jersey.

St. Erney

The village of Saint Erney in between St Germans and Saltash in south east Cornwall is thought to be dedicated to St Ternius, Terney or Erney. Widemouth Bay is nearby, as is the Port Eliot Festival.

St. Agnes

The original name of St Agnes was ‘Brynick’, a Cornish word meaning pointed hill, thought to be St Agnes Beacon. Officially named after the female Roman martyr Saint Agnes, you’ll find four unique beaches close by: Trevaunance Cove, Trevallas Porth, Chapel Porth and Porthtowan.

St. Ives

Named after the arrival of the Irish princess Saint Ia, today Saint Ives is well known for its pretty cobbled streets, fishing harbour and artistic community.

St. Mabyn

The Cornish female Saint Mabena gave name to this small village east of Wadebridge.

St. Buryan

Situated five miles west of Penzance, it is named after the Irish Saint Buriana. The picturesque coves of Lamorna and Porthcurno, home to the Minack Theatre, are a short drive away.

St. Levan

Saint Levan, a small hamlet situated near Porthcurno in west Cornwall, was probably named after Selevan, a Celtic form Solomon). The pretty coves of Porthchapel and Porthgwarra are close by.

St. Mawgan

The origin of the name St. Mawgan is unclear. Mawgan and Meugan are both place names in Cornwall (St. Mawgan is just up the road from Watergate Bay) and Brittany, and Meugan in Wales. It is believed they refer to one or two saints from the fifth or sixth century.

St. Denzel

The odd one out! Denzel is the only village property not named after a Cornish saint but we love it all the same.

Explore and book your holiday at The Village, Watergate Bay.

 

Want to explore our holiday lets in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

Walk through – Bude

Just a ten-minute drive along the winding coast road from Widemouth Bay is Bude – a surprise gem of a town. Join us on our walk-through.

Arriving in Bude via the windy coastal road from Widemouth Bay is worth the trip alone, but families will be surprised just how much there is to do in this small seaside town in North Cornwall.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a hot tub? Check out our cottages with a hot tub for a relaxing getaway.

Bude Tourist Information Centre is a good place to set off from, with plenty of parking and the canal and waterfront within a short walking distance. Bude TIC can book any number of activities on offer, such as surfing, SUPping, sailing, windsurfing, archery, rock climbing and lots more – take a look.

We’re immediately drawn to the waterfront lined with shops, cafes and restaurants. Allow yourself time sit back, relax and take in the slower pace of life.

Bude sea pool

Bude Farmer’s Market runs every Friday throughout Summer from 10am-3pm – a fantastic little market held on the Green overlooking with waterfront with a selection food producers, craft makers and florists regularly attending.

Rowing boats and pedalos can be hired along the Canal, perfect for a leisurely few hours on the water or for finding your own picnic spot. Cycling is also popular with a number of recommended cycle routes to Widmeouth Bay, north to Northcott Mouth and inland to the villages of Stratton and Marhamchurch.

It’s hard not to miss the tall towers of Bude Castle. Formerly the home of Victorian inventor Sir Goldsworthy Gurney, The Castle is now a heritage centre with exhibition galleries, an archive with research facilities, an education room, shop and restaurant which overlooks the water out to sea.

Onwards and Summerleaze is a beach that can keep all visitors happy. There’s crabbing on the beach into the Canal, nice right-hand waves for longboarders, a sea pool for swimmers seeking shelter from the Atlantic, and pretty pastel beach huts which you can hire for the day from Bude TIC.

Away from the water and walking into town from the top of the hill, there are plenty of shops to explore – it would be rude not to leave without some homemade fudge.

Fancy staying in Bude? Check out our luxury holiday lets in Bude.

Experience the magic of Christmas in Cornwall with our top five must-dos, from festive markets to enchanting National Trust gardens.

COMPETITION – Win a seven-night getaway

*COMPETITION CLOSED*

In desperate need of a bit of beach time? Then this competition for a week-long getaway is for you – and three friends or family!

We’ve teamed up with our friends at Visit Cornwall to offer a special seven-night stay for four people overlooking Watergate Bay on the north coast of Cornwall. Here’s what you need to know:

The beach and local area

Watergate Bay’s two-mile stretch of sand calls for you to do as little or as much as you like. Foodies will find Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall, The Beach Hut and Zacry’s catering for all tastes. Or if hitting the waves if what you fancy, the Extreme Academy surf school and hire is right on your doorstep for surfing, kitesurfing and other watersports you never knew existed.

We doubt you’ll tire of the beach, but if you do you’ll find Padstow and Newquay a few miles drive away with Rick Steins, Nathan Outlaw or other casual eating options to have your fill. There’s a spectacular coastline, or head to the south coast for a more laid-back coastal scene.

Take a look at our favourite ‘must sea’ retreats and explore our other holiday lets.

The accommodation

Your prize includes seven-nights at The Village – Watergate Bay’s new eco-development cut into the cliffs overlooking the beach. You and three others will be staying in a two-bedroomed self-catering property which serves up contemporary open-plan interiors and en-suite bedrooms. Coupled with surf stores, outdoor showers and full-width balconies, these are holiday pads you won’t want to leave.

Fancy staying in Watergate Bay? Check out our luxury holiday properties in Watergate Bay, Newquay.

How to enter

Just follow follow this link to Visit Cornwall’s website, fill in the form – it’s as easy as that. You’ve got until 30 June to enter. Good luck!

*COMPETITION CLOSED*

Discover unbeatable savings and unforgettable experiences with Beach Retreats’ exclusive special offers.

The Village Interior Design, Cornwall

We are often asked where the furniture in many of our properties is from, especially The Village at Watergate Bay. It seems that many of you want to make your holiday last a little longer by recreating a beach side home for yourselves.

Interested in staying in our most luxurious holiday cottages? Check out our luxury coastal cottages.

The Village Apartments, Watergate Bay

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

200 metres from the sand at Watergate Bay in North Cornwall is The Village built into the hill above the beach. If you would like to stay in one of our eco-homes please call 01637 861005.

Get the look of the Interior Design Masters winner with our expert tips, bringing award-winning style into your home.

Blue Bay – Catered self-catering, Cornwall

Blue Bay offers a lot more to guests than your average self-catering property. Not only does it have beautiful views over Mawgan Porth beach, it also offers an award winning restaurant service. James and Pippa, Blue Bay’s owners, are experienced chefs having travelled around the world, working in some of the best restaurants. They have fitted Blue Bay with an industrial kitchen, which guests are welcome to use, but its main use is catering for up to 20 people at a time for breakfast, lunch and dinner, if requested*.

Visiting with a large group? Discover our large holiday homes perfect for big families or friend groups.

James and Pippa offer a seasonal menu year round, from steaks to local seafood, proper Cornish fish and chips to Italian inspired pasta dishes. It’s fair to say you won’t go hungry at Blue Bay. James and Pippa go above and beyond for guests, if requested they can leave dishes in the fridge ready for guests to heat up when they arrive at the beginning of their holiday. They also offer to make up beach picnics using locally sourced food from Mawgan Porth or BBQ packs tailored to the party’s unique requirements.

The service offered at Blue Bay is truly unique and flexible. We asked James whats the most challenging request he has had since running the Blue Bay kitchen and we were very surprised by his answer.

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

‘A few years ago Pippa and I were asked to host a 40th wedding anniversary for a group of 20 guests staying at Blue Bay. We assumed they would want a full three course meal of the finest produce Cornwall has to offer, but instead they requested a meal inspired by the rations of WWII. Having never had such a unique request we spent weeks researching everything from how to use potato flour to dried egg powder. It really was a fun and interesting challenge which met high praise from the anniversary party’

The beauty behind the catered option of Blue Bay is that guests can dip in and out of the service. If they are going out for an evening meal they can just ask for breakfast, or alternatively, dive head first into the self-catered option and give James and Pippa the week off.

‘We want it to be an added extra of staying at Blue Bay. There is no pressure to have every meal catered for, in fact we love to see guests using the kitchen and creating culinary masterpieces of their own. However, we recommend everyone to try James’ profiterole mountain with lashings of chocolate sauce and sparklers for decoration’

Blue Bay is the perfect place to host a special occasion or family get together. Take a look round Blue Bay here.

Add some luxury to your self-catered holiday with Beach Retreats.

Interested in other Beach Retreats properties? Get a taste of paradise with a weekend at Porth Beach House – expect luxury, relaxation, and memories to last a lifetime with Beach Retreats.

*at an additional charge