Over three floors. Two lower-ground-floor bedrooms: 1 x super-king-size (zip/link can be twin on request) with en-suite walk-in shower, basin, heated towel rail, bidet, and WC, 1 x twin. Lower-ground-floor bathroom with bath, shower over, basin, heated towel rail, and WC. Cloakroom with basin and WC. First-floor kitchen/diner with balcony. Utility. Sitting room
The lovely Cornish village of Carnon Downs offers a shop, Post Office and pub. Not too far away is the village of Portreath with its sandy beach, whilst the city of Truro and the popular town of Falmouth are within easy reach by car as is the north and south coastline with its sandy beaches, ideal for those wishing to surf or walk the coastpath. Fans of classic cars will enjoy a visit to Perranwell Station which gives you the opportunity to hire a Morgan car for the day. Also nearby in the Bissoe Valley is Bissoe Bike Hire where you can hire a bike and enjoy the sights of the old mining works and beautiful wooded valleys as you cycle coast to coast from Portreath to Devoran or just enjoy a snack in the café. Cornwall’s only city, Truro has a magnificent cathedral, the Royal Cornwall Museum, the Hall for Cornwall, which is a theatre and concert venue, as well as a number of shops, pubs and restaurants. In Falmouth you will find a natural harbour – the third largest in the world. Here you will find boat trips up the Carrick Roads, safe beaches, the National Maritime Museum and Pendennis Castle, which was built by Henry VIII and is the town’s most popular attraction. For garden lovers, there is not only The Lost Gardens of Heligan, but Trelissick, Trebah and Glendurgan, all of which are nearby. A short trip across the King Harry Ferry will take you to the beautiful Roseland Peninsular which is well worth a visit. With the Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan and Land’s End within driving distance makes Carnon Downs a convenient base for exploring this part of Cornwall.
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.
