Merryn Cottage, St Merryn

Cornwall. Sleeps up to 6

A beautiful home that’s ideal for families, Merryn Cottage, in St Merryn on the North Cornwall coast, can accommodate up to six guests. A spacious garden, games room and luxurious interiors are just part of this property’s considerable appeal, and it’s all just a 5-minute drive from Padstow.

There is plenty of outdoor space to enjoy at Merryn Cottage – you have a lawn area, table and chairs and a barbecue and fire pit. While there is still private parking for two cars on site, the garage has been converted into a games room with a ping pong table, darts and a keyboard, creating a nice space for kids to escape to.

The rest of the house provides ample opportunities to relax, with a stylish, cosy lounge offering lots of seating by the fireside. This room is equipped with a wood burner and 56-inch Smart TV, and there’s Netflix, games and books for your entertainment. You also have another snug upstairs with a PS4 and big TV.

A dining area with French doors out to the garden is just steps away from the well-equipped kitchen. With a washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher and fridge freezer, it has everything you could need, along with a breakfast bar for informal dining.

All three bedrooms are upstairs, with the master featuring a super king-size bed and en suite shower room. Another room has a king-size bed and Smart TV, while the bed in the third can be configured as either a super-king or two singles. A luxurious bathroom with a bathtub and separate shower can also be found on the upper floor.

The village of St Merryn has great pubs and restaurants, lying just a short drive from the numerous bays which line this part of the coast – Trevose, Harlyn and Trevelyan among them. Within 10 minutes you can be in wonderful Padstow, made famous by Rick Stein, whose gastropub, The Cornish Arms, is just a short stroll from your door. Just 18km down the coast, you have Newquay and, to the north, the beautiful Port Isaac isn’t too much further.

A stone’s throw from the pretty port of Padstow with its Rick Stein eateries, the village of St Merryn is the ideal base for exploring Cornwall’s north coast and further afield. Positioned between Newquay and Port Isaac, the village is only a 35-minute drive from the Eden Project and St Austell too.

Several charming beaches are clustered around St Merryn. You can explore Constantine, Porthcothan and Harlyn Bay, or the golden sands of Blue Flag Trevone Bay. Look out for sheltered Mother Ivey’s Bay, the sand dunes of Treyarnon and the lengthy Chapel Bar, just a 10-minute walk from Padstow.

In town, check out Rick Stein’s ‘The Seafood Restaurant’, as this is the original restaurant opened by the Steins in 1975. A relaxed place with a seafood bar and lovely upper terrace looking out over the Camel Estuary, this riverside restaurant is understandably popular.

Less than 15 minutes’ drive away, there’s the Camel Creek Adventure Park if you fancy a day of theme park-style thrills, as well as an indoor climbing centre. The National Trust site at Bedruthan provides some stunning coastal views, while the Japanese Garden at St Mawgan is a peaceful oasis. From here, you’re not too far from Newquay, with its stunning Atlantic surf, zoo and aquarium.

Further south, you can make your way along to the scenic St Agnes Heritage Coast and eventually to Penwith, where Sennen Cove and Land’s End are among the must-sees. A little further on at Porthcurno, you’ll find the open-air Minack Theatre and the PK Museum of Global Communications. It will take around 80 minutes to reach Land’s End from St Merryn, while the southerly Lizard Point is a similar distance away.

In around one hour you can enjoy the ever-popular St Ives, where Porthminster Beach and the Tate St Ives gallery are among the highlights. Other attractions around the region include the Flambards Theme Park, just outside Helston. As well as an outdoor play park with all sorts of rides, this park is famed for its Victorian village and wartime-themed exhibits. The iconic St Michael’s Mount is about 20 minutes from here, at Marazion.

Two of Cornwall’s other big-name attractions both have a garden theme. While you are sure to have heard of the Eden Project with its biodomes, you may not know about the Lost Gardens of Heligan. These delightful gardens near Mevagissey cover 200 acres and include areas known as the Productive Gardens, Pleasure Grounds and Jungle – a wonderfully tropical garden complete with a 100 foot-high Burmese rope bridge.