The Old Bakery

With the cobbled streets and jumbled buildings of old Fowey crowded in on each other, you need a bit of elevation to appreciate its beautiful setting, overlooking the harbour and river estuary. That's where the exceptional Old Bakery apartment scores highly, occupying the upper floor of a historic building right in the centre – below, on the ground floor, is Crimpers Cottage, which has the same style and vibe, and a private courtyard, but not the views.

And the views from the Old Bakery really are wonderful, with an open-plan lounge that opens its full-length windows onto a Juliet balcony – looking out over the rooftops to the sparkling waters of the estuary. The scenery almost seems to come into the room, and it makes a terrific place to start the day with a morning coffee or end it with a sundowner.

Decor throughout is crisp and modern, with wooden floors that sweep through the whole apartment. There's a breakfast bar and small, open-plan dining area, though the pubs, cafes and restaurants of Fowey are literally just outside the door and down the street. There's enough space for two couples or a family to spend time here, with two bedrooms sleeping four people – one king-sized, one superking (this is a zip-link and can be separated into singles), and both sharing a well-appointed shower room. Only one of the bedrooms has an estuary view, so fingers crossed you get the first choice.

As for location, it could hardly be better for a mix of historic ramblings and coastal strolls. Fowey itself is a gorgeous place to wander, while the coastal path leads to nearby coves – and with more fabulous views as you walk. The nearest sandy beach is a ten-minute drive away – there's no parking at the apartment, given the nature of the streets, but you'll be able to find a nearby car park easily enough, and you can get a parking pass for the duration of your stay.