Penpol is a large, excitingly modern house in Cornwall's Med, which revels in its harbour views and its abundance of natural light. The outside is white wood, the interior totally re-invented, which belies its Victorian origins. You and your guests can enjoy a stunning interior, designed with no expense spared. There are slate floors throughout the ground level, tongue-and-groove painted bathrooms and striking colour schemes in bedrooms and living areas. At the back of the house, a huge sun terrace with fabulous views is crying out for early evening bottles of wine. From here, steps lead down to shrub-filled garden and a courtyard with a pond and bronze central fountain, within the walls of a former stone chapel. The location is fab, just two minutes' walk from the village pubs, cafés, shops and harbour.
Penpol has been designed for groups on hoilday to relax and have fun in. The property is fully insulated, high quality and elegantly simple. Leave your coats, boots, wet dogs in the hallway and step into the living room with its custom-made granite fireplace (wood burner), comfy seating, flat screen TV. From here you can stroll out onto the terrace.
The big fitted kitchen/dining room also opens with large doors onto the terrace. It's worth being here just to enjoy cooking with such green valley views! The room is sleek and efficient, and has a three-oven Aga, a central work island, granite worktops and a walk-in larder.
Further ground floor rooms include a utility room with two washing machines and tumble dryers; and a cloakroom.
The first floor has two large bedrooms, both with TVs, wonderful views, and en suite bathrooms (suites with roll-top baths and showers). One is a 6' double, the other a twin with two chair-beds, making it fun for a group of youngsters. A few more stairs lead to another twin room, again with TV and en suite roll top bathroom.
With eight accommodated in this part of the house, there's room for four more down in the garden house. This is down 16 steps from the main terrace, and it has its own terrace and superb views. There's a galley kitchenette (dishwasher, washer-drier, combi-microwave, fridge, no cooker) and two en suite bedrooms – a double and a twin.
Six TVs (satellite available)
Blu-ray
DVD
iPod dock
Freezer
Two fridges
Two microwaves
Two washing machines
Two tumble driers
Three dishwashers
All linen and towels (please bring beach towels)
Off-road parking
Baby sitting available.
Central heating
Groceries can be pre-ordered from the owner, and ready meals are available by arrangement, as is professional catering.
Mevagissey is one of Cornwall’s most magical fishing villages with a big, busy harbour, shops, pubs and restaurants. Penpol stands right on the harbour front, inches from the water. Fishing trips and boat cruises (seals, dolphins and occasionally basking sharks) are available from the pier.
There are sandy beaches half a mile away, and gorgeous cliff and headland walks. It's two miles to The Lost Gardens of Heligan, six miles to St Austell (for town attractions, plus golf and tennis) and nine miles to The Eden Project.
Airport: Newquay (23 miles)
Station: St Austell (6 miles)
Here is Cornwall's Med, the county at its warmest and most sheltered, where you'll find sailing boats, harbour villages and the clearest of light. You'll also find creeks and tidal waters penetrating deep inland, into woods that are silent except for birdsong. Wonderful gardens open to the public grow things that live nowhere else outdoors in England. The region is particularly wonderful in rhododendron, camellia and magnolia time, from March to the end of May.
Highlights include Truro (Cornwall’s capital), with its 20th century cathedral; Falmouth, resort town and cargo/cruise ship/yacht port, superbly sited; and the glorious Helford River. Trewithen, Trelissick, Glendurgan, Trebah, Heligan (Lost Gardens of), and Caerhays are amongst the finest gardens. In the very middle of Cornwall, Lanhydrock house is very special, as is its garden. This is perhaps not the greatest area for beaches, but there are good sandy ones near Veryan and Portscatho, in St Mawes, and around Falmouth and the mouth of the Helford River. Not to be missed are St Just-in-Roseland’s churchyard and, within easy reach, the Eden Project.
From £1,765 per week low season to £3,825 high season.
New Year 2011 week still available: £3,500 (£292pp) from Wednesday 28th December
Christmas and New Year: £3,500