Brackley House
3115St Mawes / Sleeps 4 + cot*
7 Nights from £476
The location of attractions is intended only as a guide. Distances are 'as the crow flies'.
Nearest pub
The Rising Sun St Mawes (150 yards)
Situated on the picturesque harbourside at St Mawes, you can pop in for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or dinner. Daily specials and local fresh fish a speciality. The view across the bay towards Falmouth is stunning.
June 2021
Pub/ hotel
Menu was less varied than previous visits, missed the sizzling prawns.! Food was enjoyed, but a little expensive.
Nearest beach
Harbour Beach St Mawes (200 yards)
St Mawes' Harbour Beach comprises of a shingle foreshore meeting the sea. Sit on the beach and skim stones on the surface of the water, or watch boats bob and gulls swoop. Within walking distance of the village's key facilities, you can enjoy all the comings and goings on the beach whilst making the most of all there is on offer in this picturesque fishing village.
June 2021
Harbour Beach
A shingle beach with walkway and steps over the harbour wall. A lovely spot to sit and watch the boats go by and such clear water
Nearest walk
St Mawes Headland Walk (300 yards)
Start from St Mawes harbour and head up towards the castle. Follow the coastal path for about a mile, taking the right hand fork which takes you inland to the A3078. Turn right and in 100 yards pick up another path on the left. The path then doubles back on itself for another 100 yards and then turn left past Boslogga and Percuil River. Follow the riverbank back towards St Mawes. Enjoy stunning coastal views on this 3 and a half mile gentle trek.
Nearest town
St Mawes (¼ mile)
Gazing out over the River Fal towards Falmouth, St Mawes is undeniably the picture-perfect Cornish town. Situated within the Roseland peninsula, only a short drive from local beauty spots St Just in Roseland, Portscatho and St Anthony, St Mawes combines the very best of the Cornish coast with the stunning surrounding countryside. With its shawl of beautiful blue water, guests to the area are able to make the most of the village’s nautical connection. Whether you love boats or beaches, there is something to suit everyone. A ferry regularly runs between St Mawes and Falmouth, and there are sailing and fishing trips available for those looking for a bit more action. Two lovely, safe-swimming beaches sit on either side of the St Mawes harbour, and with Porthcurnic and Pendower beaches nearby, you can treat yourself and relax in the sand.
There’s plenty to enjoy around the harbour too, whether you just want to watch the boats and yachts pass by, wander through the streets shouldered by traditional cob cottages, or find a nice café or restaurant with delicious food. Tempting shops and attractive galleries line the streets and St Mawes castle, open all year round, perches dramatically at the edge of the bay, so you can enjoy not only the abundance of natural beauty but the wealth of culture and history.
Throughout the seasons, St Mawes remains consistently charming and welcoming; cold pints in the warm summer sunshine to retreating from the crisp winter air and snuggling up beside an open fire in one of the village’s pubs. With so much to do and see St Mawes will surely capture your imagination and secure a place in your heart.
May 2022
Lovely day in April
We visited St Mawes on a day which showed it off to it's best. We walked to the castle and round the corner enjoying the views. Hopefully when the impact of covid is over there will be more cafes open and places to sit out along the front.
Also nearby
The Hidden Hut (2 ½ miles)
A beach cafe in the most rustic sense - a beachside shed with some outdoor seating. It is a National Trust-owned hut, but run by a local couple who provide 'Feast Nights' - now made famous by their appearance on ITV's 'Cornwall with Caroline Quentin'. You need to buy tickets, but the hut is generally open to everyone, except during the winter, so check times on their Web site.
August 2022
Best Tomato soup ever tested
Wow what a place! Nestled behind the beach and within walking distance. Absolutely amazing food, the menu is mouthwatering! Don’t be put off by the queues, service is very quick. We had the tomato soup and it was ‘the best tomato’s soup ever tasted’ ! Such amazing flavours! Definitely worth a visit! Beautiful views too! Well done the hidden hut and keep up the good work!
June 2022
A lovely experience
We can now see why this place is so popular! The service is excellent very friendly staff who take a minute to ask you about your visit while serving you. The food is beautifly cooked all be it presented in a takeaway box or cup the taste is incredible. My husband opted for the smoked beef chilli I had the Dahl served with flat bread both delicious. It was towards the end of our holiday otherwise we would have had lunch there every day.
March 2022
visited in March
Windy, sunny and busyish. Interesting changing lunch menu which comes in cartons you can take away or eat on site. Also usual snacks and drinks. No need to book in March.
October 2021
Hidden Gem
Lovely little walk from the car park where you come across some steps, if you then take the steps immediately going up you then come across the stunning Hidden Hut, where the food is fantastic, may be a little pricey, but so worth it, especially sitting on the benches
October 2021
Amazing
We visited the Hidden Hut whilst on holiday last week. Gorgeous food. We had the watercress soup which was scrumptious. Really recommend a visit.
October 2020
Hidden
What a surprise . Very popular so be prepared to queue but you can enjoy the view of Porthcurnick beach and headland.
Excellent customer service.
September 2020
Very interesting
Worth a little walk.
Very enterprising!
November 2019
A little gem
What a wonderful beachside find. It is super popular now so expect to queue, but it's is completely worth it with exceptional food, and a great beachside location. You won't regret a day out here. Check the website for opening times/days.
September 2019
Great food overlooking the beach
Not just another beach front cafe. This place is possibly the best beach cafe/restaurant going. Great food and atmosphere. Really hits the spot. You will not be disappointed and worth the effort.
August 2019
Mrs Jarvis
Really fantastic food, great service (despite the length of the queue). You must visit!
June 2019
Perfect situation and great food
If you didn’t already know it, this a now a justly famous spit just above a lovely Cornish beach.
Splendid food - some fusion inspired and some more typical local Cornish. Great atmosphere. Also they have now a great Hidden Hut cookbook. Such a happy mix of photos and recipes!
April 2019
lush nosh
definitely recommend for a yummy beachside lunch
August 2017
Being relatively local to the area, we felt it was time to see if this often-mentioned beach cafe lived up to it's reputation....and it did! On a sunny August Sunday, the beach was busy and so was the Hidden Hut. Be prepared to queue - for quite a while - but once you've selected which of the mouthwatering options to go for, you've plenty of choice of places to sit and enjoy the really well cooked food and the amazing location. No doubt this will be the first of many visits to come!
November 2016
Wonderful location
Perfect for coffee and cake, overlooking Porthcurnick beach.
November 2016
Stunning place for a delicious lunch! Pricey but great quality. Locally sourced and freshly made. Busy on Bank holidays but worth the queue. Soups are always fabulous as are the pasties, pulled pork baps and sausage rolls. We were lucky enough to get tickets for a feast night once and it was a most memorable and special event. Check out their Facebook page https://en-gb.facebook.com/thehiddenhut/
Trebah Garden (6 ¼ miles)
Family and dog-friendly, Trebah covers 26 acres, converting a small corner of Cornwall into a sub-tropical paradise. Located above the Helford River, every inch of Trebah is covered by lush vegetation, with 100-year old rhododendrons, magnolias and camellias kicking off the season with an explosion of colour.
August 2022
Wonderful garden
This beautiful garden is a must-see.
June 2022
Just wonderful
See above
April 2022
Lovely day out
We had a lovely day at Trebah in March. There were lots of colourful Spring plants including all the rhododendrons, camelias and magnolias, and a sea of fascinating gunneras that were starting to come out. When they are fully grown, the leaves can reach 2.5m across and there is a gunnera passage where you could walk underneath them. There’s also some giant bamboo and many interesting paths up and and down to the beach. We had a lovely lunch in the cafe and all in all, a great day out. Check the website and make sure you book in advance as they were only accepting pre-booked visitors. Also check the cafe closing time on the beach (ice creams etc) as it closed at 3pm when we were there.
March 2022
Wonderful exotic gardens
We visited in February and were surprised by how warm and mild the atmosphere was in the gardens. What a wonderful variety of plants, shrubs and trees! well laid out paths allow the visitor to wander around the grounds to access different view points. The beach at the bottom of the valley was a lovely surprise. We particularly liked the water feature cascading down the valley.
Excellent cafe in a delightful light and airy modern building. The entry fee is reasonable and good value for money.
September 2021
An enjoyable afternoon out
Thoroughly enjoyed our time at Trebah, September was a good time to visit as the hydrangeas were flowering beautifully. The beach was lovely as was the delicious ice cream!
September 2020
A disabled persons opinion
I was really looking forward to visiting Trebah but was really disappointed, I was only able to go out of the reception building in my wheelchair when I was faced with the most sever decline and was told that it was like that all the way. It was very unsafe for me to go any further, so had to turn round and go out of the gardens
August 2020
Beautiful gardens and beach
Well worth a visit. Really incredibly, calming gardens with excellent covid measures in place to feel safe. The private beach is just lovely, worth the short queue to get in (controlled by a traffic light system to ensure not too many people are on it are time). Nice cafe with gluten free options. A very good day out, would highly recommend.
May 2020
Best gardens to visit in the area
If you like to visit gardens then this is one of the very best in the area. We prefer it to the nearby Glendurgan gardens, though Glendurgan is run by the National Trust so you can get in for free if you are a member.
November 2019
LES CALDER
Excellent lovely gardens which as NT members (although Trebah is privately owned)
out of high season, can be viewed for very reasonable cost.
Best more natural gardens in the area in my view.
September 2019
Wonderful Gardens leading down to a lovely beach.
These gardens are truly fascinating and beautiful. We loved that the dog was welcome even in the cafe and the food and drink were all really good, healthy, well prepared and delicious.
September 2019
Impressive gardens and picturesque beach
Beautiful gardens. Very pleasant staff and good food. The private beach was very picturesque. Would recommend.
September 2015
You won't be disappointed
What a wonderful place to lose yourself in nature discovering plants I had never seen before and some looked like they stepped out of Jurassic Park! We stayed into the evening for a fantastic Miracle Theatre production in the Amphitheatre called The Magnificent Three which was absolutely brilliant, great story, great cast and highly recommended, I will be looking out for their next production. Overall a very pleasing day with ice cream on the beach too, what more could you want!
July 2014
A mini paradise
This was such a wonderful find. A complete tropical paradise hidden away down the creek. You really feel like you have disappeared to a magical world here and it's a great place to escape. Beautiful water gardens and walks through the woods, which eventually lead down to a private secluded beach. Would happily come here time and again. Lovely cafe as well and there's also a cafe on the beach.
July 2014
Nice family day out
We visited the gardens on Father's Day (three generations of us!) and it was a lovely day out. It was interesting seeing all the exotic plants and following the path through the gardens to the private beach at the end where an ice cream sat on the beach is a must! The adventure play areas within the gardens were great for the kids.
June 2014
We hadn't heard about Trebah before we arrived but it proved to be a fabulous day out and the gardens were very special. Better than Eden in some ways and the weather on the day was perfect.
The walk down to the bay was superb. Also enjoyed the shop, cafe and garden centre.
May 2013
We have been to Trebah several times in the past, but the garden was at it's loveliest this time, with loads of spring flowers as well as the rhododendrons etc.
December 2012
I love trebah
Trebah is a brilliant day out, and the beach is gorgeous!!
September 2012
Trebah Garden
A really delightful garden with much to see. Although steep in places, there are plenty of benches to rest before venturing further.
The glimpse of the sea as you wend your way through the garden is really beautiful and really well worth the trip down to the bottom.
Well worth a visit time and time again.
June 2012
Gets better every time
We love Trebah Gardens, they are also dog friendly, though unfortunately we did see evidence that some dog owners were not respecting the fact that clearing up is a must if this is to continue. We really enjoy walking around the gardens and always spend at least three hours doing so. Always something different to see. Already looking forward to our next visit.
May 2012
We enjoyed that they are clearly continuing to develop and work on the garden in the 5 years since we last visited. Cafe very good and plenty of sheltered outdoor space. Plenty to see in May and an icecream on the beach was a great treat.
May 2012
Trebah Garden
Wonderful garden especially in May when we were there. A beach with a cafe half way round and the ubiquitous crab sandwiches in the cafe near the entrance. We could have spent a whole day here.
September 2011
A great place to visit. Even on a dull day this provided some great views and a fascinating range of plants. The beach was an added bonus. The restaurant provided a good range of dishes, including some gluten free choices.
September 2011
I can only endorse all that has been said before - the gardens are magical and inspirational, with a wonderful collection of hydrangeas as well as a magnificent bamboo thicket. The beach is a dear, with lovely views across the water.
September 2011
I can only endorse all that has been said before - the gardens are magical and inspirational, with a wonderful collection of hydrangeas as well as a magnificent bamboo thicket. The beach is a dear, with lovely views across the water.
July 2011
Worth a visit, even on a wet day. The cream tea in the cafe was so good there is no chance it could ever be matched anywhere else. Enjoyed the shop too. We spent 2 hours in the property although it's not all that large, including time at the cafe. It's advisable to go early when it's really quiet.
August 2008
Suitable for young and old
I would recommend this garden for anyone. The walks around the garden can be taken at any pace and are endlessly fascinating for young children as well as older relatives. Even those who may not be as agile as they once were will be able to manage a good deal of the garden and there are plenty of places to stop, admire the view and rest. The staff are very helpful, always ready to discuss an unusual plant and the cafe is run by a group of very cheerful women, who provide simple but delicious food.
August 2008
A beautiful place, starting with formal gardens at the top, winding down through subtropical exotica to a small beach. We once went there on a winter's day where there was snow at the top of the garden and brilliant sunshine once you went through the doorway onto the beach; my children said it was like going into Narnia!
August 2008
July 2008
July 2008
Walking
Trebah Gardens are excellent for all the family - there is also a beach below for children to explore. Kids can take part in the quiz as they walk around the gardens which makes for a more peaceful time for the parents!
The Plume of Feathers (2 miles)
A traditional pub in the heart of the village with a real fire. Under new ownership, pay them a call and say hello. Limited parking is available nearby and additional spaces can be found in nearby car parks.
June 2022
Lovely, welcoming pub
We’ve had several meals here, plus visits just for a pint. All the staff are very welcoming and friendly! Very dog friendly, just a very lovely, traditional pub, well worth a visit, or two.
December 2021
Everyone should visit
We enjoyed a lovely evening and the food was wonderfull, it was so good we went back for a seconded evening on a sunday and can only highly recommend there sunday roast.
November 2021
The best food locally
Cosy country pub. Warm welcome. Absolutely fantastic food. Think of pub fayre but cooked to perfection and upgraded to 5 star
July 2021
The Plume
Love this pub. Due to restrictions this year, we could only have takeaways, but great choice and service.
October 2020
Plume
Gorgeous inn , very friendly and efficient staff . We ate here Dinner 3 nights and had one breakfast excellent food . Would certainly return .
September 2020
A good experience
Well organised for Covid times.
Drinkers outside, enjoying the good weather.
Tables for meals well arranged inside.
September 2019
The Plume of Feathers
A lovely welcoming pub serving delicious food. We were made to feel very welcome by the landlord, and although busy, managed to find us a table on both occasions we ate there.
September 2019
Fish n chips supper
Warm welcome and delicious fish and chips.
July 2018
Great pub
Friendly staff
Sweets machine kept children happy
Dog friendly
Great food, (though expensive)
Outdoor and indoor seating
Right in the centre of village
August 2014
Proper Pub!
Great old school pub, with a good atmosphere, food and beer. They way pubs used to be.
Falmouth (2 ¾ miles)
When booking a Falmouth holiday cottage you won’t be disappointed with this maritime treat. The location is stunning, with winding streets and terraced roads of shops, cafes, bars and cottages - all snuggled between the palm fronted beaches along Falmouth bay and its famous harbour, overlooked and protected by Pendennis Castle and its sister castle on the opposite side of the river at St Mawes. You can leave your car at the holiday cottage as everything is on your doorstep. Or, take the river taxis up to Truro or across to St Mawes and spend time exploring another part of the Cornwall. Falmouth is well placed for discovering all of west Cornwall.
Falmouth’s maritime history is unique. Having the third deepest natural harbour in the world, it became the centre of the postal network to the British Empire and the first place news was landed before spreading across the land. It is now often the start or finish point of various ‘round the world’ record breaking voyages and the Tall Ship’s race, one not to be missed. Today Falmouth is home to the National Maritime Museum, which is well worth a visit, as well as a plethora of watersport facilities. Holidays can easily be spent sailing, fishing or diving in the bay or up the river.
A Falmouth holiday could not be complete without visiting at least one of the many galleries. Falmouth Art School was founded there in 1902 and many of the students have never left, resulting in a vibrant art scene. Much of it is inspired by the locale, the scenery is inspirational and the way of life allows for many a story to be told through creative means. Pick up a Cornish memento to take back with you and provoke happy memories for years to come.
Being on the coast, there is a family friendly shoreline to enjoy. All four beaches; Castle, Gyllyngvase, Swanpool and Maenporth, are sandy and sheltered from the swells and prevailing wind, perfect for a family holiday in Falmouth. They also have rock pools at low tide for the kids (and dads) to explore to their heart’s content when they’ve finished building sandcastles and eating icecreams.
If you’re staying in one of our dog friendly Falmouth cottages you will be spoilt for choice as you are never too far from a rural walk. From the coast path with its panoramic sea views to the many footpaths criss-crossing the surrounding countryside… take your pick!
July 2020
Ian McGrath
Liked the idea of shutting down the High Street to traffic between 10.00-16.00, which gave more space for pedestrians still nervous following lockdown. Recommend Harbour Lights Fish
March 2015
falmouth to st mawes
Would recommend the boat trip across to lovely St Mawes, pretty harbour town, great pub lunch in the Rising Sun conservatory....
January 2015
Winter break
Falmouth is good to visit any time of year and we have been in all seasons. Our recent visit in January was excellent. We found plenty to do despite some very mixed weather. As oldies we went to Rick Stein of or a vintage lunch served on Tuesday's until March very busy and cheap. We also visited Pendennis Castle and the Maritime Museum for another oldies lunch (Wednesday's) which included admission to the museum. The view on the Fal is lovely and we visited Newquay and Perranporth which out of season have beautiful deserted beaches to walk on.
February 2013
Falmouth and surrounding area
Falmouth has something for everyone ~ great beaches, great boating, good choice of restaurants and great accommodation. Easy access to other villages and lots going on ~ one great high street with everything you can imagine. ~Would recommend Amanzi restaurant ~ great place to eat with a South African twist.
Try visiting Mylor Harbour just a couple of miles away, great for walking and eating too. Dogs are welcome at many places in the area which is a bonus......having just spent a few days there in February will be returning again in June.
July 2012
Something for Everyone
Falmouth really does have something for everyone. Having just spent a recent week of mixed weather we were never stuck for something to do, even if it was just wandering and enjoying the bustle of local life. Everyone working in the shops, cafes, restaurants and local attractions were friendly and clearly enjoyed their work, which in turn made us feel welcomed.
Trips to St Mawes and the Roseland Peninsula via the chainlink ferry or by boat make for enjoyable days out.
We also enjoyed dinner and a concert at the Princess Pavillion, with its beautiful gardens that lead down to the seafront.
Hope to visit again soon.
July 2012
The National Maritime Museum is a superb informative way to spend best part of a wet day, as the number of families and school parties evidenced. As re-entry is free for a year after the initial entry fee we decided to browse the exhibitions for part of the morning, exited for lunch at nearby Rick Stein's Fish and Chip restaurant, which was delicious if a little expensive, then re-entered the Museum to finalize our tour. The Spring/Summer Search and Rescue exhibition was of particular interest as we support the RNLI.
November 2011
Best town in Cornwall
Falmouth is a very honest town, un-spoilt and un-commercialised, and as such I would rate it as one of the best towns in Cornwall. We have stayed here on holiday many times in various properties, and there is always plenty to do here, which is especially important with 3 young children in tow!
The maritime museum is definitely worth a visit if you are here, this is a high quality attraction which puts some of the other so-called landmark attractions in the county to shame (Land's End to name one). You could easily spend a whole week in the town itself without venturing further afield.
Avoid restaurants such as Stein's fish & chips, and venture into the heart of town for more authentic and better value food. Short ferry rides to St. Mawes and Flushing are great fun, you can even take a ferry to Truro on the high tides.
If beaches are your thing, then Gyllngvase beach is an un-spoilt beauty and is wonderful at any time of the year.
If you like pubs (and who doesn't) then go to the Chain Locker, this is one of my all-time favourite pubs and must surely be one of the best in the country. The quayside location, and the quite excellent beer, rate it very highly. The Boathouse at the top of the High Street at the entrance to the town is also excellent.
Harbour Lights Traditional Fish and Chips (2 ½ miles)
This is a great place to enjoy traditional fish and chips and you can either eat in and enjoy the stunning views across the harbour or take away. This restaurant has a handful of awards for its food and environmental awareness.
July 2020
Ian McGrath
Excellent Fish and Chips, with delivery service included, which meant the food was hot and ready to eat when delivered to your door. Used them a couple of times during our visit as quality was very good.
October 2019
Take away a delight
One of the best fish and chip shops I have eaten from - super service with click and collect, a must try - you won’t be disappointed👍
October 2013
The best Fish 'n Chips
Here I found the best Fish and Chips during my 2 weeks holiday in Cornwall. Friendly staff, very good service, a wonderful view of the harbour. Absolutely recommended.
September 2012
Excellent Fish & Chips
Really good fish & chips, excellent service & a great view of the harbour
April 2012
Top nosh!
Perfect fish and chips, beautifully cooked. Friendly staff provide good service, with a wonderful harbourside location. Recommended.
September 2011
Really excellent fish & chips. Good service
July 2011
Follow the locals for the best fish and chips in town, not to mention a restaurant with breathtaking sea views.
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