Hay House

*Brand new*
Skimming the treetops above a deep Cornish glade, this secluded modern house – with crisp lines, locally-quarried stone, and windows peeping out onto the woodland canopy – is the perfect place to gather a group for a memorable escape. Once the site of a hay barn, the build takes its aesthetic cues from an Italian Alpine farmhouse, using earthy tones and reclaimed materials to ground it in its natural landscape (the owners — a development and design duo — have had their work featured on Grand Designs, so their vision is incredible). There’s room for up to 10 people, but with 3 acres of orchard and valley to explore, 2 living rooms, and swings and nooks aplenty, you might have to ring a bell for dinner. Children will sleep soundly after days by the sea, cycling the Camel Trail and stream dipping on-site, while adults will enjoy birdsong-bathed morning cups of coffee on the patio, or indulgent soaks in the tub-with-a-view down the valley.

Walk down a bridleway to the golden beach at Mawgan Porth, where Mermaid Pools form at low tide, and gentle, rolling waves are perfect for learning to surf (experts can zip over to Newquay or Watergate Bay instead). Later, linger to watch one of the beach’s signature sunsets, then head back to the house for a candlelit Cornish feast inside or out, depending on the season, and the sound of silence.

Getting here: drive, or train to Newquay/Bodmin Parkway then taxi (15/25 mins), or fly to Newquay then taxi (5 mins)