This traditional chalet-style beach house sleeps eight and is set in a small group of individual, privately owned holiday homes. With an easygoing feel, it has good sea views from private west-facing decking and is a very short stroll from Gwithian’s stunning beach as well as miles of wild sand dunes, and the Cornish coast path.
The Bees Knees is set in a quiet group of traditional beach chalets, between miles of wild sand dune and National Trust cliff-tops and just a short stroll from the most stunning Cornish beaches you will find. It is of the larger chalets found at Gwithian Towans with views across St Ives Bay and Godrevy lighthouse, sleeping up to 8 guests in 4 bedrooms. The chalet has a lovely traditional feel, but with the comforts you’d expect for modern living, offering accommodation for Gwithian beach-life as it should be — spacious, relaxed, light and friendly.
The Bees Knees is a proper chalet-style beach house, which gives it a delightfully carefree feel. At the heart of the retreat is a large open living-dinning-and-kitchen space, which extends all the way though from the decking at the front, to the very back of the property. With its wooden floors and outdoor shower The Bees Knees is a perfect luxury surf-shack, and with its cosy wood-burner and central heating it also makes a great base for winter get-aways. There are three miles of beach, and 300 miles of coastal path, right on the doorstep. So whether surf, seals or scenery are your thing, we think you’ll find that the The Bees Knees is, well… the Bees Knees
Inside The Bees Knees
The Bees Knees has been created for comfortable beach-side living. Inside you will find a generous open-plan living area with wonderful sun-doors that open out onto the front decking, with its views of the bay and lighthouse. The living area extends high into the beamed attic-space, opening through into the dining and kitchen area, adding to the feeling of light and space. The interior is geared to relaxation, with a large flat-screened smart TV and a wood-burner, two sofas and additional seating, inviting you to spend nights in. The dining area with its oak table will seat eight, and beyond that the well-appointed kitchen with electric hob and eye-level electric oven has extensive work surfaces on three sides, a lovely pine dresser, and uninterrupted views over fields to the rear of the chalets. There is also a handy utility room with washing machine and another fridge-freezer.
The bedrooms at The Bees Knees offer flexible accommodation. The ‘master’ double is on the ground floor and set slightly apart from the other rooms, which gives it a lovely private feel. It has has a king-sized bed and is complemented by an en-suite bathroom (with shower, WC and washbasin). On the ground floor there is also a standard double bedroom, as well as a twin room with bunk beds. Upstairs, and each accessed via its own staircase, are two loft-style rooms – one has a double bed with dramatic views to St Ives Bay from dormer windows, the other is a lovely quiet reading space, with the same sea views. Please note that these two rooms are doorless and open directly onto their landings — young people love them but they are not suitable for small children.
There is a newly fitted and good-sized family bathroom on the ground floor with bath and a big shower. There is also a handy utility room with washing machine and fridge-freezer, which opens to a small yard that makes an ideal ‘private area for dogs’.
Outside the property
There is a good-sized raised decking offering sea views which extends right across the front of the chalet, with hardwood table and chairs for al fresco dining or just chilling. The decking is west-facing making it perfect for watching the sun set over St Ives on the other side of the bay. To one side of the property is a shady paved space, accessed via the utility room, which makes an ideal ‘doggy’ area — whilst to the other side is an outdoor shower, perfect for getting out of wetsuits in comfort.
There are little over a dozen chalets in this well-managed location, and they are predominantly traditional, and either beautifully restored or sensitively adapted. All are privately owned and set within their own boundaries, and all are accessed via a private driveway which leads to the wild cliff-top area. There are only three rows of chalets at this point and The Bees Knees looks over the low chalets in front to the bay and lighthouse beyond. There is parking in front of the retreat for two cars.
Things we love…
From first sight you know The Bees Knees will give you a good holiday. It’s got that combination of great location, lovely building, and good atmosphere. And because the chalet is privately owned and loved by its owners you’ll also find it to be exceptionally well equipped, with abundant kitchen equipment, books, games and technology (the 42” flat-screen smart TV even has a BBC iPlayer and Freeview, and you have Denon hifi to plug in gadgets and free wifi). But the thing everyone remembers about The Bees Knees is the location — it’s got one of the best beaches in the world, right on the doorstep, with something for everyone; gently sloping so that it can offer surf and safe paddling at the same time, big enough that you can find your own spot even at the busiest time of year, facing west to steal the last rays of the setting sun every day, close enough to St Ives to be able to drive over for a nice meal, but far enough away to feel a little more secluded.
