Three bedrooms: 1 x double with Juliette balcony and en-suite bath, shower over, basin and WC, 1 x double, 1 x bunk. Shower room with walk-in shower, basin and WC. Kitchen/diner. Utility. Sitting room with woodburning stove
Gas central heating
Partial underfloor heating
Electric oven and hob, microwave, kettle, Nespresso coffee machine, hot milk frother, toaster, washing machine, tumble dryer
TV
Fuel, power and starter pack for woodburning stove inc. in rent
Bed linen and towels inc. in rent
Front garden with decking, lawn, and furniture
Rear garden with patio, lawn and furniture
Outdoor shower
Sorry, no pets and no smoking
Shop 0.9 miles, pub 0.5 miles, beach 0.7 miles
Porthtowan is a small village resting on west Cornwall’s beautiful coastline, renowned for its Blue Flag beach, which at low tide exposes almost a mile and a half of fine, golden sands. Fringed by impressive granite cliffs, the beach is a popular surfing venue and is lifeguarded during the summer, making it ideal for families. Porthtowan is part of the St Agnes designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and there are some wonderful walks to be found, offering vivid scenery along the South West Coast Path, whether you choose to head east to St Agnes or west to Portreath. The towns of St Ives and Penzance, with their art galleries, restaurants and quaint harbours, are half an hour’s drive away, whilst Flambards Theme Park, The Cornish Seal Sanctuary in Gweek, and the Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station are just a few of the other diverse attractions scattered around this picturesque region. A great base for a varied family break.
With its sweeping beaches, rugged moorlands, hidden woodlands, and rolling countryside estates, Cornwall is a superb destination if you want to spend some time bird watching on holiday.
One of the best spots is Hayle Estuary Nature Reserve, managed by the RSPB. This rich wetland habitat attracts a variety of birdlife, including teals, wigeons, and goosanders. While winter offers the highest numbers, spring and early summer also bring migrant waders such as oystercatchers, dunlins, and whimbrels to the tidal pools and marshes.
Marazion Marsh, also managed by the RSPB and overlooking the iconic St Michael’s Mount near Penzance, boasts Cornwall’s largest reedbed. It’s a haven for species like chiffchaffs, Cetti’s warblers, little egrets, and grey herons. Bitterns are regularly recorded here, and birds of prey, including sparrowhawks and buzzards, are often spotted too.
For a variety of songbirds and raptors, head to the Rame Peninsula near Cawsand. This beautiful area of tidal creeks, sandy beaches, and peaceful farmland attracts goldcrests, firecrests, warblers, and buntings. You may also glimpse birds of prey such as hobbies, merlins, peregrine falcons, and, if you’re lucky, the rare hen harrier.
At Stithians Lake, a large reservoir, breeding birds like little grebes, coots, and moorhens are common. Waders such as greenshanks, ruffs, and curlew sandpipers can also be seen foraging along the muddy banks.
Not far from St Ives, St Ives Island, actually a headland between Porthmeor and Porthgwidden beaches, is a top spot for seabird watching, especially in autumn. Huge flocks of skuas, terns, gannets, fulmars, and auks pass by, alongside waders like purple sandpipers, whimbrels, and turnstones.
Finally, no trip to Cornwall would be complete without exploring Bodmin Moor. This dramatic granite moorland, scattered with ancient ruins and rich in wildlife, is especially rewarding in spring and summer, when skylarks, stonechats, wheatears, and sedge warblers arrive to breed. In autumn and winter, the moor plays host to thousands of golden plovers, along with snipes and the more elusive jack snipe.
