Trewhiddle Village

The holiday villas and cottages at Trewhiddle are the very definition of 'hideaway' – tucked into a woodland valley near St Austell, at the end of a long private drive. There's a peaceful, secluded country feel here, yet you're only a few minutes' drive from some of the most picturesque parts of the southern Cornish coast.

They've got you covered, whatever size or type of self-catering break you're looking for, with a whole host of two, three and four-bedroom properties available, sleeping between 4–9 people and set in landscaped grounds in various clusters. A couple of small, stone-clad bungalow-style cottages aside, think spacious, light-filled, timber-clad villas in a range of configurations. Private sun-decks, grassy lawns, underfloor heating and open-plan living areas are pretty much standard. In addition, you can choose properties with king-size beds and bunk-beds, while the bigger villas have bedrooms with upper-floor balconies, big dining areas and excellent kitchens. There's also everything else you need for a comfortable family break, from washer-dryers and wifi to sofa-filled lounges with TV, DVD and CD players. The feel and decor throughout is very 'New England', except that is for two of the villas (numbers 3 and 5) that received extraordinary makeovers as part of BBC 2's 'Interior Design Masters' programme – these are really stylish, bold and indulgent properties that would make great special-occasion holiday destinations.

Many of the villas are dog-friendly (some of the gardens are fully enclosed too), while if you're bringing the family it's good to know that there's a communal children's playground on site, plus woodland and meadows to explore without leaving the confines of the village. The south Cornwall coast near St Austell is captivating, with great nearby beaches at Porthpean and Pentewan just a five-minute hop away in the car. Or there's a short bike and walking trail, the Pentewan Trail, starting from the village, which takes you to the beach via a great pub, the Ship Inn. Neighbouring Charlestown is 'Poldark' TV series territory, while Megavissey and Fowey are easy to reach if you're after more quintessential Cornish fishing villages. Big-ticket attractions nearby (within a 15-minute drive) include the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.