Looking for a quiet cottage in Cornwall.
 

My best friend's husband wants to surprise her with a week's vacation in Cornwall in June. She has a fantasy of renting a cute little cottage on a windswept cliff, far from any city or town. She just wants to sit outdoors and read books and breathe in the sea. If you know of such a cottage, that would be great . . . but even if you are just able to recommend a location for them, I would be very grateful!

Look up Vellan Dreath.

It is sort of valley nestling in the sand dunes overlooking Sennan Cove/Whitesand Bay. A small number of fisherman's cottages (or possibly net lofts) have been converted into holiday lets.

I stayed here in 2004/2005. The view is unbeatable. I could see the sea as I lay in bed and a lighthouse blinking in the distance.

On the downside, these cottages are expensive, the kitchens aren't great and the steep access to the valley requires you to be fairly fit. But it is a beautiful place and feels like the edge of the world (which it very nearly is!).

I am on a mobile at the moment, but will try to post links/pics tomorrow.

Check out this cool property -- it might meet their criteria (except it's a B&B). The sole house on an island with its own suspension bridge for access:
http://www.uniquehomestays.com/unique/details.asp?id=28

This one is self-catering though and also looks pretty spectacular.
http://www.uniquehomestays.com/uniqu...ils.asp?id=482
I imagine the price is quite dear, not sure .

Here are all the Cornwall cottages listed with that agency.
http://www.uniquehomestays.com/uniqu...try=6&county=2

Perhaps your friend would be interested in a place offered by English Heritage or The National Trust. Staying on the grounds of a castle, grand estate or other historic building would lend to an interesting and memorable holiday...
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...dennis-castle/
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...-mawes-castle/
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/b...iday-cottages/

The National Trust holiday cottages for ...

North Cornwall:
http://www.nationaltrustcottages.co....ch=true&r=3838

South Cornwall:
http://www.nationaltrustcottages.co....ch=true&r=1846

If they can't find the place they envision, your friend could contact Cornwall Tourism to see if they have suggestions. http://www.visitcornwall.com/

My partner and I rented this cottage in St. Mawes for a week in May. It's right on the water (can see it from your bed) and St. Mawes is SO FREAKING LOVELY. There is a balcony overlooking the bay with a chair if you'd like to sit outside. The town is quite small with just a handful of quaint pubs and shops. You can take a small ferry across the bay to the headland and hike to the lighthouse, observing the hidden beaches and scenery along the way. There are direct ferries to Falmouth if you'd like a bit more action and more selection of restaurants and shops. Could not recommend St. Mawes more.

http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/england/E1955.htm

PS - someone famous owns this house :-)

Right:-

Vellen Dreath is shown in the 5th photo in this set (mine)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4945230...7626765837439/

And on the English Country Cottages website here are a couple of the properties (sorry about the stupidly long links)

http://www.english-country-cottages....0~32~N~N~N~N~N

http://www.english-country-cottages....0~42~N~N~N~N~N

Thank you all for all the wonderful suggestions and websites and photos! My head is spinning from looking at so many beautiful cottages in Cornwall. I don't envy him having to make a choice, but I'm sure that one of these is going to be perfect for them! Many many thanks for sharing your expertise.

Have a look at these:

http://www.landmarktrust.org.uk

the duchy of cornwall also does cottages i think.

St. Mawes would appeal most to me, i think - nice walking in the area, boats to Falmouth, a little beach for swimming, some terrific restaurants, and the lovely Tresanton hotel restaurant for that special evening out.

We splurged in 2000 for a night at the Tresanton. St. Mawes is not only gorgeous, but I think we drove to Fowey from there also.

We splurged in 2000 for a night at the Tresanton>>

it is our "go to" special occasion restaurant, especially on a nice day - the view from the terrace is lovely and they do a surprisingly reasonably priced sunday lunch. ok, the bellinis and the wines from a very extensive wine list do tend to pump the price up a bit, but you can't have everything.

you can certainly drive to Fowey from there [of course, you can drive to Fowey from anywhere] - it would probably take about 45 mins as you have to go north up to St. Austell and then south down to St. Mawes - unless you are in a boat!

The Polizzis own the cottage that I linked to and of course own the Tresanton as well. We popped in there a few times during our week and really enjoyed the restaurant and drinks on the terrace.

I cannot think of a better fit, based on your terms of reference.

http://www.creeksidecottages.co.uk/a.../delta_cottage

It is where Ben Ainsley, the Olympic sailor grew up. Very quite and about 10 miles from Falmouth which is a great place.

There is a top rate "English" pub a short walk from Delta cottage. We have stayed in a couple of the other "Creekside Cottages" they too were well located for putting ones feet up and getting away from it all.

Ann

Isn't The Tresanton owned by that awful women on the telly. Must be reason enough to avoid it.

Thanks LondonYank, that's the one, the one with the nasal impediment and the self impression that wearing short skirts makes you attractive.

God help, if you bumped into her at breakfast.

Sadly, dickie, the Pandora, the pub to which you refer, burnt down a few months ago -

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-12845752

I'm not a fan of "reality shows" so i haven't see the lady to whom your refer on the telly [or indeed anywhere else1].

She certainly knows how to run a hotel though, if the Tresanton is anything to go by.

Not that it's relevant to the OP's decision making process, but the woman on the telly is actually the daughter of the woman who owns the Tresanton.

Ann

That is the third time I have been truly shocked whilst posting in these parts. First was learning for the first time of the death of Antony Mingella (my latest silly login name), the second was the death of CW and this is the third for different reasons.

Restronguet Passage forms part of who I am. We spent many a summer's evening on holiday mucking about on boats and drinking at The Pandora over the years. I love sailing on a small scale, flashy marina just are not our thing. Although The Pandora had become a little "Jack Wills" recently it still held a special place in my past. I feel as though an age old friend has died, although I am sure that it will return.

I don't wish to force any prejudiced ambitions on to my son but one is for him to become a little Ben Ainsley.

Many thanks for letting me know.

<< <i>...I am sure that it will return</i> >>

A rebuild got underway in early October and Pandora Inn plans to reopen in March 2012 - a year after the thatch caught fire.

info about the fire from their website:
http://www.pandorainn.com/news.asp?id=121

and from their Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/thepandorainn

Restronguet Passage forms part of who I am. We spent many a summer's evening on holiday mucking about on boats and drinking at The Pandora over the years.>>

so sorry to have been the bearer of such bad tidings. it had as you say perhaps lost a little of its character in latter years, and the food was a tad overpriced [£10 for a crab sandwich is a bit steep!] but the position took a lot of beating.

I hadn't heard that they had started to rebuild - I hope that they don't get held up by the cornish winter. [think rain, and lots of it].

Almost as good as the south coast of New South Wales. Thanks - saving for future reference.

Just to follow up on this . . . Thanks to bluestar for suggesting Unique Home Stays. Wow! There were so many to choose from. My friend chose The Beach Hut in North Cornwall. It's perfect. It's not until next June, but I anticipate a happy ending!!
P.S. I am saving all of the links for future reference. Such great information. Thank you all.