Rooke Cottages

There's a family history behind Rooke Cottages that means you can really trust the experience here, whether you're coming for a romantic break or a family getaway. Rob has lived and worked on the Duchy of Cornwall farm estate all his life, and together with his wife, Gill, and their daughters, the Reskellys have opened up the home they love for visitors with a fine collection of luxury self-catering properties. They know the area inside out and can point you in the right direction, whether it's a walk to the local pub or a visit to one of the famed Rick Stein or Nathan Outlaw seafood restaurants. You're just a short stroll from the village of Chapel Amble, near Polzeath, and the wonderfully rugged North Cornwall coast, with places like Padstow, Port Isaac, Tintagel and Boscastle all within easy reach.

Your base is one of seven delightful, stone cottages, starting with cute-and-cosy abodes like Honeysuckle (sleeps 2), Jasmine and Walnut cottages (both sleep 4), which are ideal for couples and small families. The other four cottages sleep between five and eight people, with the largest, The Courtyard, a particularly magnificent venue, with slender, floor-to-ceiling windows, super-king-sized and twin-room en-suites, a stylish open-plan lounge-kitchen under oak beams, and French doors leading onto a decked sun-terrace. This would work really well for a family and friends get-together, giving everyone their own private space while having enough room for convivial evenings.

But even the smallest properties are filled with charm and designed with the same high-quality fixtures and furnishings – Honeysuckle, for example, is a sun-filled bolthole for two, with wood-burner, exposed stone and wooden beams, super-swish bathroom with walk-in shower, and a lovely private garden. All the cottages have TVs and iPod docks, Blu-Ray players, private outdoor space and barbecue facilities, and if you need food-shopping or personal-chef services, you just have to ask. Six of the cottages are dog-friendly, and there is plenty of space to exercise dogs either on the farm or on the nearby beaches.

Needless to say, the surroundings soon seep into your soul. Stroll around the farm estate, walk to the local pub for a pint and a meal, go surfing at Polzeath or explore the harbour at Padstow – it's easy to see why you'd happily lay down roots here, even if just for a few days or over a summer holiday. And now you can, thanks to the Reskellys and their splendid cottages.