St Mawes Retreats

Situated across the estuary from Falmouth, backed by the tranquil hills of the Roseland Peninsula, St Mawes is a beautiful, sheltered old fishing village that's become well-known as a holiday destination. Topped with a castle, it has an almost Mediterranean air when the sun is shining, and the four large self-catering properties of St Mawes Retreats – Stargazers, Moonrakers, Dreamcatchers and Shellseekers – are just the place to make the most of this magical part of Cornwall. Dotted in various locations around the village, they come in various sizes, sleeping anything between 4 and 12: perfect for families and large groups, they've been renovated with a rare thoughtfulness and style that sets them apart from the crowd; all have lavish contemporary interiors and fabulous sea views; wifi and en-suite bathrooms are standard, as are high-spec, well-equipped kitchens; most have DVD players and TVs and a couple have separate games rooms with table tennis. The same people also have a property in the nearby seaside village of Fowey. But the nice thing about all these properties is that nothing is too much trouble, whether you have a baby or childcare requirements, you want to hire a sailing boat, or you simply want to get your laundry done. Very much a home-from-home, and one of our favourite places to stay in this part of Cornwall.