Get away from it all at this 13th-century mill home, sitting pretty in a wooded river valley and just a five-minute drive or twenty-minute walk from Cornwall's mighty southwest coast path and the River Fowey. Inside, there's nothing run-of-the-mill about this carefully and elegantly reimagined period abode. Once you're done gawping over the magnificence of the mill's inner working (make sure to ask your host about the fascinating history), you'll love the flairs of unexpected modernity of the home's interiors. Vibrant textiles and contemporary artwork bring a dash of colour, while period features and antique furniture ooze character and charm. Sunny mornings call for alfresco breakfasts beneath the dapple of the apple tree in the private enclosed garden before an amble through the seven acres of water meadows and magical woodlands beyond. At night, rustle up a meal beneath the dramatic gabled ceilings of the sociable kitchen where cooking is a joy. Then hunker down beside the wood stove – the bookcases stuffed with classics and board games will be all the entertainment you need. When it's time to discover the beauty of the Cornish Riveria, you've picked just the right spot. Perched between the picturesque fishing villages of Polruan and Bodinnick, ​you're just a leafy twenty-minute stroll to the South West Coast Path and the Fowey River. Or, if you're keen to get within sight of the sea straight away, you can leave your car at the nearby National Trust car parks (a five-minute drive) and dive right in.

Read more