A beautifully restored three-bedroom seaside retreat, just footsteps from the beach, where heritage charm meets modern coastal luxury, ideal for getaways with friends and family.
Nestled in the heart of St Mawes, Mariner’s Cottage merges centuries-old character with contemporary comfort. With a white stone facade, picture-windows framing sweeping sea views and a charming flowering garden, this three-bedroom residence offers an undeniably elegant coastal escape. Alternate between two living rooms, dine al-fresco amidst fragrant blooms, and savour the soothing rhythm of waves just steps from your door.
From the moment you step through the doorway, there’s a sense of calm and timelessness, a feeling that you’ve arrived somewhere truly special.
The main living room is an inviting space centred around a decorative, original stone fireplace. Its deep sofas offer the perfect place to read a book, share conversation, or simply gaze out at the glistening blue of the water just beyond. Every detail, from the beams to the coastal-inspired décor, feels thoughtfully chosen to enhance the location.
A second sitting room provides a more relaxing retreat, ideal for film nights. Its laid-back ambience, complete with plush seating, sofa bed and soft lighting, creates an effortlessly cosy escape.
The kitchen, light and contemporary yet full of character, invites you to cook and socialise. With its high-end appliances, generous worktops and delightful Cornish crockery, it’s perfect for preparing long, leisurely breakfasts or fresh seafood suppers after a day exploring the coast. Leading directly to both the dining area and the garden, it flows naturally for sociable living.
Upstairs, three beautifully appointed bedrooms await, each styled with coastal calm in mind. White linens and soft blue accents create a tranquil atmosphere, while the windows frame enchanting sea and village views. There is a king-size bedroom, a double bedroom and a twin bedroom, all of which have access to two hallway bathrooms, one featuring a bath and one featuring a shower.
Outside, the enclosed garden offers another layer of relaxation. It’s a sun-dappled haven scented with salt air and flowers, the ideal setting for al-fresco dining.
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.
