Whether it’s the glorious white sand beaches, the acres of countryside seemingly designed with outdoor sports in mind or the world-class seafood restaurants, there’s little not to love about Cornwall. If it’s on your bucket list but you’ve left it a little late to secure a room in one of Cornwall’s best luxury hotels, don’t panic. The county is full of cute holiday cottages and grand home rentals that offer self-catered accommodation with five-star style. Here are the best holiday homes in Cornwall to book now. 

Tregwylan, St Mawes

Boasting beautiful panoramas overlooking the Fal Estuary – Cornwall’s largest and most scenic river – there are few better places to book in the county than Tregwylan. This detached residence, situated just steps away from St Mawes Castle and close to Falmouth and the Lizard Peninsula, sleeps up to eight guests with four bedrooms and five bathrooms. Step inside to discover a gorgeous open-plan living space that not only features state-of-the-art entertainment gadgets such as a Sonos sound system, but invites the outside in with huge bifold doors that reveal a spacious outside deck. 

Designed to help visitors embrace the Cornish way of life, start your day with a morning coffee on the terrace before cooking up a storm of locally-sourced seafood thanks to the new kitchen garden. Head into St Mawes, which is just minutes away, to discover an array of Michelin-worthy restaurants and beautiful boutiques, or venture further afield to visit beaches fringing the Roseland Peninsula and take to the waters on the iconic St Mawes Ferry. It doesn’t get much better than this. 

From £2,400 per week. 

Cottage Orné, Looe

Images: Rebecca Hope Photography

Having only opened last month, Cottage Orné is gearing up for its inaugural season in serious style. Offering design-led hideaways, a swimming pool, shepherd’s hut saunas, spa hut, wellness space, and a creative studio within a beautiful 17^th century hamlet, take your pick of 14 cottages which all hark back to its former life in Tremaine Green: a working farm rich in character and stories that has been reimagined by owner India Serlin and her family.

Each cottage – ranging from the seven-bedroom Manor House to dog-friendly Cobbler’s Cottage which sleeps four guests – interiors have been individually designed by Studio Alexandra. Playing on its French name Orné, meaning adorned, expect spaces that are full of personality complementing the centuries-old details, with some opening onto private gardens and featuring outdoor Japanese wood-fired baths. Landscaped gardens by Chelsea Gold award-winning Darren Hawkes and vast wildflower meadows and even a tennis court complete this unique setting. Plus, with historic fishing towns of Looe, Polperro and Fowey just a stone’s throw away, we’d certainly recommend being among the first ‘in’ this summer. 

From £150 per night. 

Laflouder Thatch, Mullion

The charming Laflouder Thatch in the historic village of Mullion has a traditional rustic feel that will make you feel like you’re stepping into a period drama. Whether admiring the far-reaching coastal vistas on the Lizard Peninsula from the comfort of your living room or strolling along nearby beaches, Laflouder Thatch’s location is unmatched, with nearby Mullion boasting traditional pubs, sea-view restaurants and art galleries. 

Inside the thatched cottage, there is plenty of space to socialise, from the cosy living room with a log burner and games room – or take things al fresco thanks to the gorgeous garden room and dog-friendly outside space. Here, you’ll find the heated outdoor pool which also boasts those aforementioned views and the self-contained annexe which can sleep two with its own ensuite and kitchenette. Back at the main property, the first floor houses three bedrooms adorning individual bold palettes, while the master suite can be accessed via its own staircase.

From £2,450 per week. 

The Net Loft, Trevone Bay

Images: Alexander James

Sandwiched in between Padstow and Harlyn Bay on Cornwall’s north coast, The Net Loft’s interiors pay homage to its former life as a boat and fishing store. Designed by British studio Hám, the cottage features an eclectic mix of antique and custom-made pieces, with stand-out features within the two-bedroom property including a timber-clad Captain’s bed, an outdoor copper bath and a cinema room perfect for hunkering down on a cosy evening. 

It is the ideal base to make the most of surfing at Harlyn Bay’s Surf School and wild swimming in Tinker Bunny’s Bathing Pool, the largest natural swimming pool in the UK. Plus, as it’s situated just steps from Trevone Bay, don’t miss hiring sea kayaks from local beach stores and exploring the numerous coastal walks on your doorstep. Finally, for foodies, the nearby town of Padstow offers plenty of gorgeous restaurants and pubs to whet your whistle. 

From £1,400 per week. 

Salt Spray, Porthleven

Sitting just above the water’s edge in the quaint town of Porthleven, Salt Spray is the spot for watching sunsets or storms, boasting a 50-foot, glass-fronted balcony with low-slung seating for those who don't mind being kissed with sea spray. The property nods to its former lives as fisherman’s cottages and a net loft, having been transformed by local architects RA Design to retain much of its original charm while embracing a contemporary chapter. 

Boasting three bedrooms and bathrooms, the property is perfect for entertaining, thanks to its open plan kitchen, living and dining area with large picture windows and vaulted ceilings offering undisturbed ocean vistas. From its doorstep, venture onto the South West Coast Path which leads directly onto Porthleven Beach a few steps away, with Gunwalloe and Praa Sands a little further afield. Just 10 minutes away lies the town of Porthleven, where you can indulge in local shops, galleries and world-class restaurants; we’d recommend a meal at Kota Kai for Asian-inspired seafood dishes, or The Square for fantastic fine-dining. 

From £4,500 per week. 

Lower Marsh Farm, Saltash

We can’t think of anything more quaint and quintessentially British than holidaying on a former daffodil farm on the banks of the River Tamar. Lower Marsh Farm, which was once part of the estate of the Duchy of Cornwall, has since been converted to offer a variety of self-catering accommodation, the most luxurious of which is Kingfisher Barn.

Housed in a converted traditional stone barn, it offers space for up to eight people across two floors. Its unusual design sees a top floor dominated by a lofty open kitchen and living area, perfect for gathering in after dark, while the home also has a private hot tub, outdoor dining space, barbecue and herb garden. If you can drag yourself away from the barn, however, Lower Marsh Farm’s 40 acres of land offer plenty to keep guests entertained. Ramble through the Salt Marsh Nature Reserve, try your hand on the tennis and basketball courts, or take part in a foraging workshop. The farm also offers in-room spa treatments, a menu of home-cooked meals to be delivered to your barn as well as wine and gin tasting sessions.

From £570 for a three-night minimum stay.

Botelet, Fowey

This beautiful estate in the heart of rural Fowey has been owned and cared for by the Tamblyn family for more than 150 years and, in recent years, has been opened up to the public to offer the ultimate in old-school relaxation. Three self-catering cottages and a yurt are available but the best of these is undoubtedly the Manor House. A Grade II-listed building that was recorded in the Domesday Book, it has been sensitively renovated to provide elegant accommodation for five, including a pretty sitting room and dining room with piano. There’s also a private walled garden with a dining area where your only visitors will be a passing chicken or two. 

It also makes for a great setting for memorable family holidays, where youngsters can be let loose in the surrounding fields, play on the trampoline in the orchard behind Manor Cottage, dip their toes in the nearby stream that runs through the woodland, and meet the estate's free-roaming chickens. For parents, there’s also a treatment room for bespoke massages as well as a range of wellbeing courses and workshops, including meditation, yoga and sketching.

From £200 per night with a two-night minimum stay.

Manor House, Tresillian House, Newquay

If you’re the kind of surfer that prefers to return to a four-foster bed and rolltop bath, rather than a converted van, the manor at Tresillian House is for you. Built in 1846 on a 22 acre parcel of bucolic land just two miles from the coastline, the main house, along with the apple store and laundry outhouses, have all been converted into some of the finest private rental homes in Cornwall. Bedrooms, which can accommodate up to 18 people, are decked out with White Company bedding while Ren skincare products line the bathroom shelves. 

The Manor House is the largest of the three and features sumptuous decor very much in keeping with the Georgian architecture of the building. The centrepiece of the house is undoubtedly its 20-seat formal dining room, which begs to host some seriously memorable dinner parties, while a large kitchen with dining space and walk-in fridge provides everything the budding chef in your party needs. There’s also a cosy library, elegant drawing room overlooking the house’s famed landscaped gardens and lakes (ideal for afternoon tea and cocktails) and a large terrace primed for long lunches when the sun is shining. If your idea of a great British staycation comes straight from an Agatha Christie novel, this is the house to book.

From £6,400 per week.

Treverra Cottage, CK Rock, Rock

The past few years has given rise to a new kind of hospitality that walks a fine line between hotel and holiday rental – and CK Rock excels at this low-key luxury. Located in the popular North Cornwall resort of the same name, not far from Polzeath, a stay at CK Rock's Treverra Cottage is the definition of added value.

On arrival at this chicly minimalist stay, you’ll find a welcome package of kitchen basics, natural toiletries and homemade cake and jam. Rented on a weekly basis, a mid-week clean comes as standard, as do all towels and linens (so no need to lug your entire bathroom down the A303) while the 14-acre estate is also home to an outdoor infinity pool with views over the Camel Estuary, a jacuzzi and tennis court. The cottage itself, meanwhile, can sleep up to 10 in modern surroundings characterised by white-washed walls, wooden floors and colourful antique soft furnishings.

From £1,800 per week.

Read more: The best UK beach holidays for summer staycations