Riverside at Helford

All the privacy of your own large house but with none of the work!

The Riverside is a pretty, whitewashed, cottage-style house, beautifully furnished and brightly decorated.There are plenty of welcoming little touches, including fresh flowers and toiletries to make guests feel totally pampered.

Whether you stay on a self-catered or catered basis, Mary will come in daily to clean and make your beds plus you can use the boats on the glorious Helford river. These are included in the price, and given the level of comfort and facilities, this an excellent value holiday.

If you go for the catered option, cooked breakfasts and dinners will be served every day except one (staff day off). In other words, you are free from shopping and cooking!

The Riverside sleeps 16 when booked on a self-catering basis, and 14 when catered. Please note that four beds are suitable only for children.

The big sitting room with large cottage windows has an open fire and views over the creek to the village beyond.

here are six double or twin ensuite rooms for adults, and two small bunk rooms ideal for children. The master bedroom is worth a special mention, particularly for its bathroom with free-standing bath and separate power shower on a beautiful wooden floor.

ou don't have to fill the house, as for the catered option guests are charged on a per head basis (minimum 8, or 6 in low season). Children's discounts are generous, and only one group can book the house at any one time.

If you are being catered for, the cook will discuss the menus with you at the beginning of the break. Children can either eat with the adults or be served an earlier supper. Everyone can eat in the fabulous new kitchen/dining room which is warmed by an Aga. There is also a handy back kitchen facility with a Miele dishwasher, fridge, freezer and double sink.

The house has a TV, DVD player, video, music system, board games and phone, a separate laundry room for guests' use and a well-equipped kitchen (Aga and companion cooker etc). There is also a drying room where you can hang sailing and other outside gear.

The Riverside's boats are all available at no extra cost between April and end of October: a Cygnus 19 riverboat, a Wayfarer and a Laser 1 sailing dinghy.

Children are very welcome - baby listening devices are available - but the property cannot accept pets.

Activity weekends and workshops, and business breaks (for groups of colleagues on brainstorming/teambuilding exercises) are well catered for.

The house is on the edge of Helford village, a peaceful little community built around a creek on the Helford River. The village is refreshingly free of tourist trappings. Beyond lies the rest of the Lizard Peninsula, one of the least spoilt parts of Cornwall.

A large group will feel perfectly private at the Riverside - it is set in delightful terraced gardens and the pretty terrace has a wonderful long table and sun umbrellas. There is a further lawn with picnic table by the car park

Staff can point out far more than a week's worth of things to do in this part of Cornwall, whether sailing, tennis, fishing, golfing, riding, diving, walking or simply relaxing on golden beaches. Guests can explore the Helford River in their 'own' 19ft motor launch boat; or potter about in one of the Riverside's dinghies. The Cornish Coastal Path is just around the corner. Then there are gardens like Trebah and Glendurgan; the Eden Project an hour away; historic monuments and houses; museums; the fabulous Kennack Sands beach; theme parks and activity centres for children; and an indoor swimming pool in nearby Helston.

Self catered breaks range from £600 for 3 nights to £2,900 for a week, with prices varying during the year.

Catered holidays start at £340pp for 3 nights and go up to £560pp for a week.

Price always includes bed making and cleaning, and use of the boats.