Last minute Cornish Christmas cottages

Home to some of the UK's most spectacular coastline, lush green countryside and fascinating fishing towns – including Falmouth, St Ives and St Austell – it is no wonder Cornwall is among the most popular destinations in the country.

Throw in the surfing potential at Newquay, not to mention the rugged golf courses and sandy beaches which are scatted across the county, and you have a wonderful location packed with activities for all the family.

Cornwall is one big, beautiful playground – so what better way to spend a last minute holiday this Christmas than a break in one of the county's fantastic traditional cottages?

Here travelbite.co.uk takes a look at some late bookings still available for a holiday cottage this Christmas and New Year.

What's on offer this Christmas?

Veryan is a slightly haphazard grouping of cottages centred on an ancient 13th century church and a traditional inn.

The village retains its strong Cornish identity – described by many as 'a Cornish delight in a leafy dell' - and signs of much tender loving care are evident.

At the centre of the village is Primrose Cottage – a comfortable and recently refurbished location in a sturdy terrace built in 1850. Originally designed for the coastguards, the cottage is tucked against the cliffside in the older part of Portloe, about 300 yards from the slipway.

An outer door opens to a hillside patio garden, with three sitting areas ideal for a barbecue, linked by paths and flights of steps, all planted with mature shrubs and a camomile lawn.

The sea can be seen and heard from the terrace - it breaks on the rocks and slipway to the harbour where the fishing boats land their catch. All the beaches of the Roseland Peninsula are within half an hour's drive.

The property sleeps four and is available in the weeks beginning December 6th and 13th, with prices starting at £294. For the Christmas and New Year's Eve weeks prices rise to £534.

Over in Penzance Tittle Tattle sleeps two guests.

With panoramic sea views across Mounts Bay through a huge Gothic window, this split-level ground floor Regency style apartment is converted from the original Bell Tower; standing to one side of the oldest street in the attractive town.

Freshly renovated to provide a high standard of comfort and warmth, yet retaining the period charm and character, the property is entered through a glazed front door set beneath a stone archway which leads directly into the open plan living room and a galleried hallway.

The attractive living room has an elevated ceiling complemented by soft wall uplighting, while also enjoying magnificent views across the harbour and out over the bay through a high gothic picture window framed with floor length swag curtains.

The apartment has a paved sitting out area to enjoy the sights & sounds of the sea, harbour and St Michaels Mount.

Set at the seaward end of an old fashioned street, with a couple of nautical pubs nearby, the town has many shops and restaurants.

The nearby promenade in Penzance stretches along the shoreline from the busy harbour around to the fishing village of Newlyn providing a lovely one and a half mile level walk, and there are daily ferry services and helicopter flights operating to the Isles of Scilly.

The property is available during the weeks of December 6th and 13th, at a cost of £258 per week.

Again in Penzance, Seaspray has a magnificent sea view across Mounts Bay towards Newlyn harbour and the Lizard Peninsula, with the sea just yards away.

The light living room has some exposed beams, cream painted stone walls and a large bay window overlooking the front terrace and beyond to the sea.

Seating is arranged before the granite fireplace housing a gas coal-effect stove.

There is a double bedroom with a king-size bed and a twin bedded room with two easy chairs set in the huge bay window to take full advantage of the uninterrupted sea views across Mounts Bay.

Again the property is available for the weeks of December 6th and 13th, at a price of £316 per week. For Christmas and New Year weeks the price rises to £556 per week.

The single storey Heather Cottage is approached by a short unmade lane, along the coast road between Tintagel and Boscastle.

The cottage is close to St Nectans Glen and the holy well & Church of St Piran.

There are many country and coastal walks in the area, and riding stables are close by too.

Tintagel and Boscastle have a good selection of shops, while the nearest beach is at Bossiney Cove, which has fine sand at low tide.

For the weeks beginning December 5th and 12th the cottage costs £228 per week, while for Christmas week this rises to £306.

More Information

For more information on any of the cottages mentioned above, or to make a booking, head over to CornCott, or for more information on visiting Cornwall take a look at Visit Cornwall.

Chris O'Toole