The Best Cottages to Book in Cornwall

These striking, triangular lodges look like giant pieces of Toblerone dotting the Cornwall countryside. Slender but tall, the two-floor properties each squeeze in two bedrooms and a fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher, microwave and fridge-freezer – some even come with an outdoor hot tub. Travelling in a larger group? Book the 14-person country house overlooking a lake. The property’s Three Lakes bar stocks wines from the nearby Camel Valley vineyard, and on-site activities include footgolf, tennis and boat and bike hire.

Shelves stacked with Jack Kerouac novels line the walls at this bright, two-bedroom property in St Ives. It doesn’t take long to share the writer’s love for the sea, with the gentle waves lapping at the sandy Porthmeor Beach right outside your window. The modern, minimalist decor sticks to the theme with subtle nautical touches. Heated towel rails and underfloor heating are a welcome winter bonus when the Cornish breeze is biting.

Sir James Tillie – an eccentric Lord who requested to be buried with his books, wine and pipe – built this manor house in 1698. Now owned by the Coryton family, the entire estate can be hired for weddings, events or large group holidays. With 11 luxury bedrooms, a large farmhouse kitchen, a dining room with obligatory chandelier and a cellar featuring a pool table and parlour games, you can live like aristocracy. Best of all, there’s a solar-powered heated pool.

A skimmed stone away from Fistral Beach in Newquay, these self-catering cottages in Cornwall are the perfect surfer’s hub. Ranging from one to three bedrooms, they come with wooden vaulted ceilings, wall panels and shutters, all painted in cheery sea green and white, conjuring visions of gnarly swells. If a summer dip is too tranquil for your tastes, head here in the winter and book one of the Storm Watching cottages for lightning-fork views over the nearby cliffs.

These five converted barns in Bude ooze Cornish charm. They can be rented individually or as one booking that accommodates up to 26 guests. Each property comes with its own distinctive personality. The Granary features a unique, upside-down layout, with the master bedroom and twin bedroom on the ground floor, and the open-plan kitchen and living room upstairs. The Ivy and Rose barns come with the additional perk of a hot tub. Pets are welcome throughout the complex.

The intricate mix-and-match brickwork is the first thing you’ll notice as you roll up the long driveway of this holiday home in Cornwall’s Polruan. The three bedrooms sleep six guests, and pets are free to enjoy the private garden alongside the kids. Bringing the outdoors in, fresh bouquets and a giant monstera plant brighten up the kitchen and living room. The double-fridge and ice maker are bonuses in the summer months, as is the parasol shading the eight-person outdoor dining table.

There are dozens of neat flourishes at this two-bedroom holiday home in Wadebridge. A wooden spiral staircase links the two bedrooms to the ground floor, where you’ll find a wicker lounge chair snug enough for two, and a turquoise, retro-style fridge-freezer. Petherick Creek runs alongside the property, views of which can be enjoyed from the master bedroom balcony or the bankside terrace with an outdoor dining table and chairs. Parking, wifi and linens are all included.

Live off the grid in a Cornish utopia at this solar-powered eco-lodge with an under-floor log boiler. Not only are you free to wander the 12 acres (5ha) of daisied woodland, but the nearby Golant Downs paths lead to the stunning port town of Fowey. Make the most of the estuary by hiring paddle boards and kayaks. Two-hour guided tours are also available to uncover hidden nooks and local wildlife. If you’re arriving by electric vehicle, charging points are provided at the property.