LaStorione
July 2012
I stayed here in August 2011 and had a wonderful week. The cottage is comfortable, if a little old fashioned in terms of furniture, but is spacious and has everything you need for your holiday. But the thing that makes it special is the real welcome you get from Janet and Reg, the owners, who live next door. They are really friendly and even their little dog wants to say hello. There's a welcome pack of groceries to greet you and you're given free run of the garden, which is a truly lovely place to sit on a sunny evening with a glass of pear cider looking over the village rooftops to the sea.
Porthpean is a tiny village with no amenities but St Austell is 5mins down the road with everything you need. And what you get in compensation is true peace and quiet, and just a short drive from everywhere that you could want to visit; The Eden Project, Lanhydrock, Polperro, Fowey etc. I recommend Lanhydrock in particular. It's stunning, even on a rainy day!
Porthpean beach is down quite a steep hill so getting back to the cottage will test your leg muscles and lungs. But it's worth it as the beach is very secluded so it's a nice place to walk down to in the evening. And by the end of the week you'll be striding back up that hill! You can go down by car if you want but the road is very narrow.
So if you want a holiday with total peace and relaxation but within striking distance of lots of resorts and attractions I really recommend you give this place a try.