A pair of authentic millstones stand by the doorway to this luxury cottage that sits inland from the North Cornwall coast, west of Padstow and east of Newquay. However it’s a mere five-minute stroll, by means of a meadow designated as an Space of Excellent Pure Magnificence, to a browsing seaside. Appropriately, it’s a canine pleasant seaside for a canine pleasant cottage.
These millstones are proof of a water mill whose historical past, up to now, has been traced again to 1242. Then, it was given romantically as a part of a wedding contract to one among Cornwall’s nice households.
Simply past the cottage’s present boundary lies a slim packhorse bridge that will have taken milled corn on the primary stage of its journey to the outdated coastal highway. An historical leat, the watercourse that fed the mill by means of Tudor days, Stuart days and past, runs by means of the cottage backyard, crossed by a slim bridge. Inside, amongst the timbered beams and white-washed stone partitions, darkish wooden vintage furnishings provides a nod to the cottage’s historic heritage.
The welcome
Though we’re nonetheless over 100 miles away, a textual content tells us that the cleaners have departed and that the cottage awaits us, a few hours forward of schedule. Arrival directions give us the code for a key field.
The cottage
Porch pegs for coats and drying cabinets for boots sign that that is prime strolling territory.
Then it’s right into a lounge with deep welcoming sofas, a wooden burner, cabinets of books and DVDs. The cottage is distant however a cell sign may be accessed by tapping into the WiFi and a big tv gives digital entry to leisure. A hefty, secure door separates the lounge from the kitchen.
An open plan twin facet eating space can also be lit by two skylights. The big desk comfortably seats eight for leisurely lunches and lingering dinners. Porthcothan Mill Cottage invitations visitors to loosen up, to decelerate.
Adjoining is a mid-Twentieth century metal-finish retro kitchen. Based on a framed advert of an endorsement from Gone with the Wind star Vivien Leigh, a WH Paul fitted kitchen was the factor to have. Clearly, amongst the cabinets of recipe books, there’s Rick Stein’s information to seafood. Championing Cornwall’s native meals heroes, Stein is seen as a culinary saint round these elements.
A twisting staircase leads upstairs to a few bedrooms: two doubles and a twin. Driftwood, shell and wicker themed decor reminds us that the ocean is a brief stroll away.
Though the cottage is serenely snoozing by means of its fifth century, the toilet with separate tub and bathe is distinctly twenty first century.
The placement
Tucked away on the finish of a lane, there’s a far-from-the-madding-crowd really feel to the cottage. It’s possible you’ll hear owls tooting and maybe see deer working by means of the valley: though Padstow is only a 15-minute drive away.
Padstow is a foodies’ mecca with the chance to purchase the freshest of fish, lobster and oysters.
Seafood offered by these fishmongers, together with bakeries and deli, invite you to self-cater in Porthcothan Mill Cottage’s beautifully geared up kitchen. For the best of self-catering choices, decide up some World Championship profitable pasties. A dollop of clotted cream is a key ingredient in some pasties.
After all, Padstow is Rick Stein land and his Sea Meals Restaurant, is only one of Padstow’s many eateries. And with Indian and Thai choices round too, there’s extra to this beautiful port than fish and chips.
North from Padstow, Martin Clunes’ portrayal of supremely grumpy Doc Martin has introduced fame to Port Issac. Nor does Cornwall swap off its appeal on the final day of August. In Spring and Autumn, when seagulls outnumber guests on quiet seashores, when roads are quieter and parking areas extra plentiful, the county is usually at its finest. These biking the Camel Path or strolling coastal paths additionally admire the cooler temperatures.
From fifth to eighth December 2024, Padstow will host a Christmas Pageant. Though the programme is but to be finalised the emphasis is all the time on nice meals, nice music and procuring on the Christmas market.
Different good touches
An outhouse, with washer, has been transformed right into a helpful facility for storing surfboards and cleansing up mucky canines after cliff-top walks. The bathe is the place to scrub down salty, sandy moist fits.
When serving up the scones, that make up a part of the welcome pack, do not forget that that is Cornwall: strawberry jam first, topped by thick luscious clotted cream.
Via the five-barred gate there’s loads of parking for 3 or 4 automobiles, for mates or household assembly at Porthcothan for a coastal getaway.
The price
Porthcothan Mill Cottage’s on-line reserving calendar for 2025 is now out there. Lodging for six begins from £800 per week. Away from excessive season minimal stays of two nights are doable.
The very best bit
Porthcothan Mill Cottage, and notably its backyard with apple and ash bushes, is as a lot a dreamy way of thinking as an opulent sanctuary.
All through the day blue tits, robins, pheasants, crimson kites, butteries and a woodpecker household present nature’s soundtrack while you loosen up on a sunny-lounger, take pleasure in an al fresco lunch on the picnic desk or sit on the backyard seat taking within the bucolic splendour.
The ultimate verdict
Merely minutes from Padstow, the cottage is supremely properly positioned for dipping into the various faces of Cornwall.
It is a place for letting go of the world and greedy what Porthcothan has to supply: strolling, lastly taking that surf lesson, biking the Camel Path, foraging for samphire to go along with the hake you got, catching up with household and mates for a brief break or just catching up with sleep beneath Porthcothan’s darkish skies.
Disclosure: Our keep was sponsored by Porthcothan Mill Cottage.
Michael Edwards
Michael Edwards is a journey author from Oxfordshire, UK. Though Michael had his first journey items revealed practically 4 a long time in the past, he’s nonetheless discovering new luxurious locations to go to and write on.
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