Charming Church Lane Cottage.
The sitting-room.
The cottage has two beautiful bedrooms.
The garden at the back is perfect for al fresco dining, complete with butlers sink! (Please note, there is no longer a barbecue).
The light and airy kitchen/dining-room.
From the kitchen you can step outside to the garden.
The dining-area.
After meals you can enjoy the odd game of chess or checkers.
The super pellet-burner makes the sitting-room warm and cosy all year round.
There is plenty of comfy seating for all to chill out and relax.
Steep twisting original stairs lead up to the bedrooms.
The downstairs bathroom - please note the bath is not full size.
Beautiful features and great craftmanship throughout.
Pretty bedroom 2.
The stylish en suite shower-room to bedroom 2.
Bedroom 1 has a super comfy king-size bed.
Bespoke shutters, exposed walls and slate sills all add to the character.
There are beautiful features throughout - maintaining the original charm and character.
The sunken terrace garden is very private and secluded.
There's even a hot and cold shower outside (not operational during the winter months) ideal for rinsing off sandy bodies and wetsuits.
The steps lead down to the sunken terrace - please take care with children on the steps.
There are fabulous beaches on this part of the coastline - Polzeath will delight all members of the family.
Pretty Port Isaac of Doc Martin, Fisherman's Friends and Nathan Outlaw fame is well worth a visit.
Hop on the foot ferry from Rock over to Padstow.
Church Lane Cottage
39872.1 miles SE of Polzeath | Sleeps 4 + cot*
7 Nights from £658
The location of attractions is intended only as a guide. Distances are 'as the crow flies'.
Nearby pub
Located overlooking the Camel Estuary and open for lunch and dinner. Reservations are required to dine upstairs but you can walk in and eat downstairs or outside.
June 2022
Fantastic, not to be missed.
We went to the Mariners last evening, much much better than any of the reviews on another well known review site. Food was excellent and for me to drink really good beer without being frowned on in a restaurant was a total winner. Wine was very nice and doesn't have to be overly expensive. Make sure you book a taxi! MJ Taxis are great very reliable.
April 2022
Pub
Excellent but the nearest pub is the Fourways just up the road, very pleasant staff.
August 2019
Sunday Lunch, Fish and Chips
This place is well worth a visit or two. The staff are welcoming and service is excellent. The food is superb, we are still talking about it!
October 2017
The Mariners
Excellent menu & food.Friendly helpful staff
Nearby beach
Only revealed at low tide, Epphaven Beach can be only accessed at certain times of the day. Make haste and visit this small but mighty little cove and take advantage of its soft sands while you can. Involving a bit of a scramble down to the beach, the ruggedly beautiful Epphaven is best for visitors looking to stretch their legs off the beaten track.
Nearby walk
If you are feeling adventurous take the route that follows the coastal path and benefit from the stunning view you will be surrounded by. Alternatively there is an inland walk which is equally attractive but less energetic and brings you to the same location.
June 2012
A superb walk, but it is strenuous, with lots of energy-sapping steps. Views from the cliffs are superb and we were lucky enough to see dolphins just below.
It's probably best to do the walk anti-clockwise. Park in the NT car park at Port Quin, turn right on the road out of the car park and after about 200m take the footpath on the left, next to some cottages. The path across the fields is easy, except for one short sharp climb near Port Isaac. Return via the coast path - twice the distance and 10 times the effort. Wear good shoes and take water if the weather is hot.
September 2011
A beauitful coastal walk from Port Quin to Port Isaac about 6 miles, the coast line just takes your breath away. Then arriving at Port Isaac for a well deserved Ice Cream on the beach. The walk back was done in half the time with finding the shorter walk over fields which was just as pretty.
Nearby town
Across the estuary from the famed Padstow, there are lots of lovely holiday cottages in Rock waiting to be enjoyed. Located on the banks of the River Camel, the sandy stretch along the river is a beautiful holiday setting, with views across the water and plenty of activities to enjoy.
Rock is considered to be a high equality holiday destination with a higher percentage of millionaires living here than anywhere else in Cornwall. The shops tend to reflect this, and the town is home to one of only two Michelin Starred restaurants in Cornwall, The Black Pig.
Being a waterfront town, there are lots of activities accordingly, but the main draw is that the water is unusually calm and clear. The sheltered location makes it ideal for small craft so sailing and boat charters are big business. All forms of watersports abound with skiing, windsurfing, canoeing and rowing to angling and fishing trips - but no surfing!
If you prefer to stay on land, the Rock Sand Dunes that border the beach are listed as an Area of Specific Scientific Interest thanks to the local vegetation and geology. The walks along them are picturesque and interesting, leading to St Enodoc Church (the resting place of Sir John Betjemen) with views out to Doom Bar, and carrying on as far round as Daymer Bay - a family friendly wide sandy beach.
If you ever get bored of how the other half live, watching stunning sunsets in the mild climate of this area, you can pop over to Padstow > on the foot ferry for the day - water taxis also operate if you want to stay out a little later. Otherwise, stay in one of our Rock cottages at the end of June and enjoy the Rock Oyster Festival, ‘a mid-summer celebration of food, music and art’.
Also nearby
This 15th Century village pub was once home to the masons and craftsmen who constructed the nearby church of St James the Great. Today, you will find a welcoming bar and restaurant, with blazing fire in the winter, and a large beer garden for those balmy Cornish summer evenings. Look out for the resident ghost.
July 2023
Great Meal
Lovely quaint country pub with excellent menu, our food was excellent, great service and we would definitely go again.
September 2022
Trying to be something it's not
Lovely traditional pub but not serving traditional pub food.
Expensive and menu more suited to city restaurant.
July 2022
Hot day
Lovely sheltered garden under trees.
May 2022
Excellent pub
The food was very good and the staff friendly and efficient. It is in the middle of the country so you need a car to get there. You need to book to be sure to get a place.
October 2021
Fantastic Dinner
We went to the St Kew for dinner, and what a dinner! Lovely atmospheric rabbit warren of a building, warm and smokey (check the menu!). Food and drink were both excellent, and the staff friendly and helpful
June 2021
Sue
Due to COVID, we booked the St Kew Inn well in advance of our stay at the Carriage House.
The pub is within walking distance from the Carriage house, down hill all the way, but consequently up hill all the way back!
The food was delicious, service extremely good, and a bonus for us was meeting our waitress, Faye, who happily gave us some suggestions as to what to do whilst visiting Cornwall. The first was to cycle the Camel trail from Wadebridge to Padstow. It was a truly stunning way to visit Padstow. And on our second visit to the pub Faye suggested we could visit Charlestown. Again, we are so grateful for that advice. We wouldn’t have experienced either had it not been for Faye.
The ‘fish of the day’ was well worth it too!
We felt very safe, and all the measures to ensure that guests met the government guidance were in place. Thank you to all at the St Kew Inn.
May 2021
Hidden Gem
We had two meals at St Kew Inn whilst on holiday in Cornwall and thoroughly enjoyed both meals. The service was attentive but not intrusive, the food was absolutely delicious and there is a good choice to choose from. Good beers and good prices too, if we go back to Cornwall we will definitely be booking a meal at St Kew Inn.
October 2020
St Kew Inn
Excellent food and friendly service to our party of six. Would recommend fish meal of the day.
October 2020
P Boorman
excellent food very friendly staff
January 2020
Very good food
Lovely food. Service was a little slow at lunchtime but they were aware of this, apologised and tried to resolve.
August 2019
So good we visited twice
Superb food, varied menu, good service. We were a group with 4 vegans and 2 carnivores and we all thought this Inn was top notch.
July 2019
A must visit
Fantastic pub, great menu for veggies, beautiful garden and loads of space
May 2019
Excellent Food
The St Kew Inn does excellent food. It is not cheap but very good value for money. My wife said that the hake she had one evening was the best fish she had tasted for many years - cooked to perfection. You need to book early to get a table in the restaurant, but can also take pot luck in the bar where the tables are not reserved. The staff are very friendly and helpful.
May 2017
Best pub in the arae
Excellent pub food. Best in the area. Good real ale and great pub food consistent performance and very popular so need to book in season.
September 2012
idyllic country pub
A warm welcome and helpful staff. The food was great - the haddock kedgeree was worth the trip alone.
June 2009
Great country pub
Great atmosphere and food. Nice seating inside and outdoor summer barbeque.
February 2009
Beautiful and Atmospheric
Picturesque 15th Century village pub serving beer from wooden barrels and excellent homecooked food prepared to order by hosts Paul Ripley and Sarah Allen. One of the most beautiful and atmospheric pubs in Cornwall.
- Mr and Mrs Whitten
When you think of a Cornish seaside destination, images of Port Isaac will come to mind. A quintessential Cornish fishing village, it is a popular holiday destination so there are plenty of self catering cottages in Port Isaac to choose from. With fisherman’s cottages forming narrow winding streets leading steeply down to the stone walled harbour, dotted with colourful vessels of all shapes and sizes. In fact many of the streets here are so traditional and narrow, including the aptly-named ‘Squeezebelly Alley’, a car is not an option so leave it behind while you take to exploring the architecture by foot. Many of the old buildings are listed as being of historical importance and certainly add to the ambience. The fishing industry is still at work here, left over from its days as a busy coastal port in the mid-19th Century.
The inspiration for many a painting, there are plenty of photo opportunities to be had with the lobster cages and wooden rowing boats along the harbour wall. Set down on the seashore, the surrounding area is very hilly and steep, which allows for far reaching views, and several pretty streams wind their way down to the waterfront. Take a boat trip for a spot of sea fishing or just a scenic float-along during the holiday season or walk along the coastal path for panoramic sea views and dramatic cliffs.
The village of Port Isaac, is now most recognisable as Port Wenn, thanks to being chosen as the setting for the television series, Doc Martin. However, many other movies and tv programs have been filmed here such as ‘Saving Grace’ (again, starring Martin Clunes) and ‘Amy Foster’ with Sir Ian McKellen. It was also frequently used as a set for the Poldark series. The locals are very welcoming and are a tourist attraction in their own right with the formation of Port Isaac’s Fisherman’s Friends - a group of Cornish shanty singers with a strong following.
A holiday in a Port Isaac cottage will be an excellent way to explore the north coast as there are many good beaches nearby such as the surfing beach of Polzeath and the family-friendly wide stretch of sand at Daymer Bay, which is also dog-friendly. It’s only a short drive to bigger towns such as Padstow, famed for its Rick Stein dominated restaurants, and Tintagel with the historic castle ruins. Being on the north coast, it is close to the Camel Trail which follows the River Camel to Padstow, an excellent cycling, walking or horse riding route.
October 2022
Quaint
Lovely little place, well worth the visit.
September 2022
Lovely village
Very interesting and lovely to see all the places from 'Doc Martin' TV series, and learn how it had helped the village with funding. Got quite busy and didn't find any nice tearoom for a coffee, the only one was full.
October 2021
Would recommend!
Coastal walk to Portquin is very strenuous but excellent on a clear day!
Would recommend Nicky Bs pasty shop rather than others!
Obviously is a tourist trap so can get very busy and parking is a significant walk from the harbour.
August 2021
Boaty speedboat
Excellent trip along the coastline
September 2012
Just like it is on the telly!!
Port Isaac is truey lovely to visit whether you are aware of the Doc Martin show or not, but if you love the show a visit here is a must!
June 2009
Doc Martin Filming in Port Isaac
They are presently filming a new series of Doc Martin in Port Isaac so keep your eyes open for Martin Clunes and the rest of the cast and crew. And when you get home it's great fun to spot the scenes you saw being filmed!
The Camel Trail is a 19 mile route that follows the beautiful Camel River from Padstow, where it joins the sea in a wide estuary, to Poley’s Bridge inland, where it is merely a stream running through woodland. En-route at Nanstallon you will also find the Camel Trail Tea Rooms. Bikes are for hire from either Padstow or Wadebridge and it's a brilliant area for bird watching. Visit Wenfordbridge in spring and delight in the profusion of daffodils, snowdrops and primroses.
October 2021
Atlantic Coast Express Buffet Car
The Camel Trail is brilliant for cycling or walking but whatever you are doing, make sure you stop by the Atlantic Coast Express Buffet Car, which is located by an old quarry site, halfway between Padstow and Wadebridge. The owners have lovingly converted an old railway carriage into a brilliant buffet stop. The best coffee, cakes, ice cream and other snacks you'll ever have! Not open Fridays - but everyone needs a day off!
July 2021
Good cycling by the river
Bodmin to Wadebridge leafy and easy to travel on dedicated path. Access to Camel valley vineyard. Have to use bike lanes on roads to cross Wadebridge. Several bike hire spots in Wadebridge, cycle path to Padstow is much busier and needs more care. Couple of coffee stops on trail nearer Padstow.
April 2012
Wadebridge to Padstow
The Wadebridge to Padstow section of the trail is about 6 miles. Whilst you can hire bikes easily in Wadebridge the largely flat walk, which would be possible with a pushchair, makes a lovely walk. New views open up as the Camel twists and turns and the slower pace means you can spot the wildlife en route. Set off after breakfast and you will be in Padstow for lunch. A bus to Wadebrdge leaves Padstow from the old railway station on the half hour and will take you back in about 20 minutes.
August 2011
Wonderful off road cycling venue, undisturbed with beautiful views and mostly flat easy cycling.
August 2011
Tranquil Trail
The four mile Helland to Bodmin section of the Camel Trail is much quieter than the Wadebridge to Padstow section. Park for free at Helland and follow the trail through peaceful woodland catching tantalising glimpses of the river through the canopy of trees. Wildlife abounds in this tranquil spot. Before leaving Helland go and have a look at the medieval Helland Bridge which spans the upper reaches of the River Camel.
August 2008
The Camel Trail
The trail is best explored from the Pooley Bridge end which is just 2 1/2 miles from daydream cottage. Shell woods are great in the autumn and cool and shaded during the summer. Wonderful for picnics by the fast flowing river.
Explore the magnificent Lanhydrock House. Steeped in history and encompassed by flowing grounds, the castle allows visitors a sneak peek into the lives of both the aristocracy and the servants who lived there. Bikes can be hired to explore the ancient woodlands and peaceful riverside paths, too.
October 2023
Lanhydrock
Very interesting Victorian house in lovely surroundings. The guides and volunteers were very knowledgeable and helpful. A very enjoyable visit.
September 2023
Amazing!
Beautiful preserved stately house and garden. Staff helpful and so well run by the National Trust. Well worth a visit.
August 2022
Excellent Dog Walks
The walk through the woods from The carpark at Respyn to Landhydrock house for a coffee is excellent. Our dog enjoyed the river and the shade of the woods.
June 2022
Mrs French
Fantastic place to spend a day
May 2022
Beautiful gardens
The guides in the house were very friendly and knowledgeable. The gardens in spring are beautiful with bluebells everywhere and the spring bushes in full bloom.
June 2021
Beautiful and interesting
Well worth a visit. The National Trust as usual have brought this lovely house and gardens to life making it an interesting place to visit
September 2020
Very interesting visit
Excellent for walks and bike trails .
Close to Bodmin but unless you like the steam railway nothing there.
September 2019
Great place, nice house
Top!!!!!
May 2019
A good day out
Lanhydrock House and Gardens are well worth a visit. The house is interesting and well presented and the gardens were a mass of colour when we visited. There are also plenty of woodland walks for those who like to be energetic
April 2016
So good we went twice :-)
We're NT members so usually visit nearby sites when on holiday. Highlight of this property was the amazing mountain bike trails. We'd brought bikes with us, but did hire mountain bikes for some. Friendly and helpful staff and well marked trails made it the highlight of my 7yo's holiday! We also enjoyed gardens (including Easter egg trail) and house
September 2015
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the historic Lanhydrock House. First we used the cycle paths which the children (aged 5 and 8) really enjoyed. We then visited the house and gardens and were taken back in time. The children loved following the trails and it kept them entertained. The staff were extremely helpful. A great place to visit.
November 2014
Well worth a visit
Lanhydrock has something for everyone. The house is really interesting and the friendly guides are knowledgeable about its history. Although I didn't visit the formal gardens on this occasion, I did join an organised estate walk, which was led by rangers who were most informative and, again, very friendly. We had lunch in the restaurant, which was tasty and fairly priced. We would certainly recommend a visit.
March 2013
Lanhydrock House and Estate is between Bodmin and Lostwithiel The National Trust House provides a wonderful insight into local history and you can also walk the estate, free of charge, by parking in the car park down by the river, close to Respryn. River side footpaths take you through wooded areas which are covered with wild flowers.
After a good walk you can drive towards Lostwithiel, on the back lanes, to the Duchy Nursery for lunch. Not only is it a pleasure to wander among the plants and trees but the shop and restaurant are designed to add ambience to the whole experience. 5 star
April 2012
The house and grounds are beautiful, quite a sight as you walk down the drive from the car park. The grounds themselves offer lots of different walks, but the one that goes down to the river then back through the woods is my favourite.
October 2008
Lanhydrock
Magnificent late Victorian country house with expensive servants' quarters, gardens and wooded estate near Bodmin.
Visiting this house entails a drive, but it will provide you with a full day out. The house itself is fascinating, mostly because it has been wonderfully Victorianised in every detail - the kitchens, dairy and pantries are extensive - and the history of house, as well as that of the last generation of Robartes to live at Lanhydrock, gradually unfolds as you move around the house (with, of course, the help of National Trust volunteers). There are various options for lunch (picnic, cafe, restaurants) and the grounds are a joy to wander around afterwards. There are quizzes for children and the option of driving right up to the gate if a member of your party can't manage the walk down the drive.
- J Wallwork
July 2008
Popular Lanhydrock
Well worth a visit for the grounds as well as the house. The kitchens are a real eye opener with all the old utensils. Walk down through the grounds to the River Fowey and the beautiful old Respryn Bridge. If you prefer you can drive down and park beside the bridge. Lovely walks beside the river.
Nestled at the foot of Polzeath village, Polzeath Beach is one of the few beaches in Cornwall to enjoy Blue-Flag status. Popular amongst surfers for the quality of waves, Polzeath is also a great family beach. Extending half a mile or so at low tide, Polzeath Beach offers plenty of space for everyone to find their own little patch. This is not so much the case at high tide though as the sea returns to cover most of the sand. Lifeguards are on duty in the summer and there is a seasonal dog ban in place.
July 2021
Good waves - can be a bit packed
Great Sandy beach with good waves. Areas for surfing/body boarding can get very busy.
August 2013
Excellent beach. Watch the tides if you have younger children as when the tide is out there are lots of rock pools and safe , warm lagoons to explore! Great waves for body boarding.
September 2012
Great for families and surfers, but not my cup of my tea at all. Too busy and difficult for non-surfers to swim.
July 2011
Sandy Beach, wonderful for young and old alike
This beach is fantastic, we have been to many beaches throughout Cornwall and found this beach one of the best. It is perfect for young children (we have 3), nice sandy beach with lots of little rock pools over by the rocks to explore and for the kids to have fun. A surfers haven, my father and oldest boy took up surfing here and loved it. There are shops, toilets and places for food and drink a few moments walk away but it is not over crowded. Easy access for elderly and disabled too. A real holiday feel. Well worth a visit.
July 2011
A Great Beach for Children, Dogs & Surfers
Not only a beautiful spot, but a fantastic beach for children. The rock pools that form around the edges of the bay create warm pools that are great for exploring & wallowing.
Just wrap up warm as the wind is always a bit more prominent here - hence the great surfing opportunities!
June 2009
The essence of the seaside
The most perfect beach. A deep sandy bay fringed by rocks on each side. When the tide is out it leaves large shallow pools of water that are lovely for children. Also a surfing magnet.
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