The Big Blue

The Retreat

The Big Blue is a large, contemporary beach house sleeping eight across four bedrooms in a desirable plot on Gwithian Towans. With views spanning from the dunes to the lighthouse, and just seconds from one of Cornwall’s top surfing beaches, the dog friendly property benefits from a large, secure garden and private parking. The Big Blue is a fantastic property to enjoy a relaxing, yet adventure-filled-holiday by the sea with family and friends.

The Big Blue is a large, dog friendly, modern beach house located in a fantastic, desirable area in Gwithian Towans and sleeps eight in comfort.

Inside

All on one floor, the property benefits from an open plan living, kitchen and dining area which makes it a sociable space for families and couples. With a wood burner, skylight, and lots of windows flooding in natural light into the living area, The Big Blue is an appealing holiday home for all seasons, and displays sea and lighthouse views for guests to enjoy. The well-equipped modern kitchen is a great space for keen cooks and those who enjoy to host, there’s a breakfast bar seating three, and a dining table which seats full occupancy.

The property has four spacious bedrooms: one king with en-suite, one king with basin, a twin room (which can be made into king upon request) and a bunk bed room (being a double bed with a single overhead) which are great for younger members of the family. The family bathroom has been recently refurbished and has a walk in shower and an egg-shaped freestanding bath.

There’s a handy utility/boot room which has a washing machine, tumble drier and has enough space to store all your surfboards, wetsuits and beach gear. You will find another outside bathroom to ensure no sandy footprints make their way inside the house.

Outside

The Big Blue has a large back garden which is dog secure, and also has an outdoor shower for rinsing off after a day on the beach. Whether you decide to light up the barbecue and dine alfresco from your garden, or you want to enjoy dinner from the beach with a sunset, you have dune access right from your gate, making the South West Coast Path and Gwithian beach accessible within seconds. There’s also private parking for two cars.

Things we love

Whether you decide to take a walk along the South West Coast Path, go seal-spotting, or relax in a beachside cafe, there’s plenty to do when staying in Gwithian. The A30 is minutes away, ensuring your Cornish adventures further afield are easy accessible. Although you have plenty of choice for exploring, The Big Blue is equally a fantastic house to relax at day-in day-out. If you want sea views, a spacious, modern property for quality time with family and friends, you’ve picked the right place.

Perfect location for spending all day at the beach

We had a wonderful week at The Big Blue! It is the perfect location for spending all day at the beach, whilst being able to pop back for snacks and naps! We spent our week building sandcastles, looking for fish and crabs, running from waves and flying kites, with sunny afternoon drinks and ice cream at the Rockpool! Perfect family holiday — we will be back!

The Bull family — March 2024

Stones Reef

Gwithian

Sleeps 6 Friday arrival Dogs welcome

From £1030

View Retreat

Luz

Gwithian

Sleeps 7 Friday arrival Dogs welcome

From £904

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The View

Marazion

Sleeps 11 Saturday arrival Dogs welcome

From £1053

View Retreat

Features

Retreat Features

Sea views across Gwithian and Godrevy lighthouse
Large and spacious - ideal for groups
Seconds from Gwithian dunes and beach
Private, enclosed dog friendly garden
Close to The Jam Pot Cafe and other eateries
Parking for two cars

SLEEPING

Principal bedroom: king bed with en suite
Bedroom two: king bed
Bedroom three: twin beds (can be made into king upon request)
Bedroom four: double bed with single bunk over
All bed linen and bath towels provided

COOKING & DINING

Well equipped kitchen

LIVING & RELAXING

Plenty of storage for surf equipment
Washing machine and dryer

BATHROOMS

Family bathroom with deep bath and shower
En suite bathroom with shower

OUTDOORS

Large, enclosed garden area
Picnic bench
Barbecue
Outside shower

PARKING

Private parking for two cars

BABIES & TODDLERS

Travel cot (no linen) and highchair on request

PETS

Up to two well behaved dogs welcome
Dog secure garden

UTILITIES

Washing machine
Dryer
Essential cleaning items

HEATING

Gas central heating
Wood burner

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURES

Friday standard changeover
Check in after 4pm
Check out before 10am

ACCESSIBILITY

Single floor property
Four steps from the car parking spaces to the front garden/property
One step up into the property

Location

Gwithian

The beaches of Godrevy and Gwithian Towans are treasures on the North coast of Cornwall, backed by picturesque sand dunes that run alongside them. These unspoilt, golden beaches stretch three miles along the easterly side of St Ives Bay, and as west-facing beaches they bask in the summer sun all day long. With several surf schools lining the beach, Gwithian is a surfers’ heaven and is an area perfect for those wanting to try surfing for the first time or polish up their skills!

Travel times

The beach house is about 12 miles from the nearest mainline station at Camborne. Regular and convenient services run from all over the UK.
The Big Blue is situated in Gwithian Towans, on Cornwall’s North Coast coast adjacent to the delightful village of Gwithian, just five minutes north east of Hayle on the B3301. Driving time from London is around five hours in normal traffic, while Exeter is around two hours away. We’ll send you detailed route information before your departure

Things we love

Fantastic position to enjoy sea views and rambles to the beach within seconds
Dog friendly with a spacious enclosed garden which is unique for Gwithian properties
Modern, contemporary interiors to enjoy the ultimate coastal getaway
Great for families with children, or groups of couples
Close to a number of top cafes and restaurants

The gwithian guide

Water-sports Wonderland

With its rolling waves, golden sands and stunning sunsets, Gwithian and the surrounding beaches are a watersports lover’s paradise, a stone’s throw from our Gwithian Towans holiday cottages. Seasonal lifeguards serve the beach here, so it’s a safe place for those wanting to get in the water and discover what St Ives Bay has to offer in terms of aquatic adrenaline. Take advantage of Gwithian’s decent swell and jump on a surfboard with the help from our friends at Global Boarders. When the wind whips up, you can join the kitesurfers soaring over the waves.

If you’d rather just get in the water without a board, the sea swimming is simply spectacular. Time it right and you can be out in a calm sea, watching the sun sink below the Atlantic. Or, get up with the larks to have the beach to yourself on a summer morning before even the sand has warmed up. With plenty of shallow waters and rock pools to explore it’s also the perfect place to bring the kids with a bat and ball for some simple family holiday fun.

Safe, sheltered sand pools

Our Gwithian Towans chalets and cottages make an ideal base for families. As the tide retreats back across Gwithian’s golden sands, it reveals a myriad of rock pools and sand pools that heat up under the summer sun, creating safe, warm shallows that are perfect for kids to play in. Gwithian has seasonal lifeguards too, so children can try their hand sea swimming and bodyboarding worry free. For those with a four-legged friend in tow, make for the south-westerly section of Gwithian and the beaches beyond, where dogs are free to frolic, cooling off in the many sand pools along the way.

The vast expanse of beach exposed at low tide serves as a fantastic pitch for beach games, whether it’s rounders, cricket or football. Gathering up a group of friends or family for a match is an idyllic way to spend an evening. For post-game refreshments, head up into the Towans, fire up a barbecue and watch as the sun sinks down behind the Atlantic.

Cornish walking holidays Gwithian South West Coast Path

Miles of coastal footpath

With cliff walks to the east and gentle strolls through the dog friendly dunes to the west, Gwithian has direct access to fantastic walking. Head east along Gwithian beach and you’ll discover the steep cliffs at Godrevy Head, a stark contrast to the gentle slope down to sea level found at Gwithian. Peer carefully over the edge to Mutton’s Cove to count the seals lounging on the beach below, or continue further along the cliff for stunning views of the dramatic north Cornish coastline.

These north cliffs also join up with one of Cornwall’s richest woodland areas, Tehidy Woods. Home to friendly squirrels and a great cafe, these paths provide cooler shady walking during the summer months and sheltered strolls in the winter. Walk west from Gwithian and you’ll be greeted with beach, beach and more beach, stretching all the way to St Ives. With gentle sandy tracks, quiet lanes and almost continuous views across St Ives Bay, this gentle section of the coastal footpath is dog friendly all year round.

Beaches
Food & drink
Things to do

Beaches

Gwithian

Backed by sand dunes, with a gentle golden slope leading down to clear waters, Gwithian’s lifeguarded shores are perfect for beach life. When the wind blows, watch surfers take on the Atlantic waves and kite surfers take to the air, with seasonal lifeguards looking on. If you want to test the waves yourself, you’ll find board hire and lessons, as well as kayaking, paddleboarding and coasteering, at Global Boarders, just behind the dunes. On a calm day, the waters are dotted with swimmers, families playing beach games and kids finding their feet with bodyboards.

Godrevy

With its rocky outcrops, great surf and sheltered shores perfect for sunbathers, Godrevy is the beach for those looking to find their own secluded spot of sand. Godrevy is under the watchful eye of seasonal lifeguards, so children can play happily in the sea, or explore the many rockpools and sandpools. Godrevy beach and the grassy cliff above looks out towards Godrevy Lighthouse, the inspiration behind Virginia Woolfe’s To The Lighthouse. It’s one of our favourite spots to watch the sun set, turning the sky a deep red as the sun slips down behind the lighthouse. The Godrevy Beach Cafe in the National Trust carpark is great.

Gwithian Beach and dunes, St Ives Bay, Cornwall

Hayle’s beaches

Gwithian is flanked to the east by a number of beaches that make up the three miles of sand that stretches across St Ives Bay to Hayle Estuary. Upton Towans, Mexico Towans and Hayle Beach are all dog friendly all year round, and they all interconnect as the tide goes out. The grassy dunes behind them are a perfect spot for a barbecue and there are caves to discover at low tide, just a stone’s throw from our Gwithian Towans chalets. From wartime structures to pillars used to facilitate the extraction of tin from the sand over a hundred years ago, there’s plenty to see for those who don’t fancy lounging in the sun all day.

Food & drink

Sunset Surf cafe at Gwithian beach, Cornwall

Cool cafes

Right on Gwithian’s sand, the quirky Hungry Horsebox Co is housed in a converted horsebox. They do a delicious dhal and great coffee. Set just back from the beach, Sunset Surf Cafe overlooks the beautiful beach and is a great spot for some hearty homemade food and a crisp glass of local cider. It’s also home to the surf school Global Boarders. With its showstopping views, The Jam Pot is an idyllic location for a tea or coffee stop, a mouthwatering bacon sandwich or a generous helping of cake. At the other end of the beach, the kid friendly, dog friendly and surfer friendly Godrevy Beach Cafe serves everything you’d want after a blustery beach walk or surf, from delicious breakfasts to indulgent hot chocolates. Grab a table upstairs for a brilliant view of Godrevy lighthouse.

Pubs and restaurants

A couple of miles up the road, Trevaskis Farm Restaurant is a great place for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea. Their seasonal lunch and supper menus include dishes such as crusted sea bream and lobster thermidor, and their Sunday roasts are very popular. In the centre of Gwithian, the Red River Inn is open every day for breakfast, lunch and evening meals, with plenty of local produce and Cornish ales on offer. It holds a popular annual beer festival at Easter. Behind the dunes at the far end of Gwithian beach, the Rookpool is full of sandy footed surfers and serves small bites and sharing plates, hearty main meals, such as sea platters and seafood chowders, burgers and ribs.

Eating local in Gwithian and Hayle

With two brilliant farm shops within a couple of miles of the village and delis, ice cream parlours and pasty shops in neighbouring Hayle, it’s easy to get your hands on local produce in Gwithian, from fresh fish and meat to veg and local cheeses.

Find out more about buying local with our handy Local Food Guide to Gwithian.

Things to do

Take to the water

Gwithian is one of the most popular surfing spots on the north coast, and for good reason — it regularly welcomes medium sized clean surf to its shores, so it’s brilliant for all abilities. There are numerous surf schools around Gwithian and Godrevy, including Global Boarders, which is located at the Sunset Surf cafe near the Gwithian Towans carpark. They cater to all ages and abilities, and they also offer coasteering, kayaking and paddleboard hire and lessons, too.

Paradise Park

With over a hundred species of birds, this brilliant wildlife park in Hayle is home to eagles, parrots and flamingoes, as well as Red Pandas, otters, and a petting zoo. Paradise Park caters for all ages too, with penguin feeding, a jungle train, free flying shows and the chance to hold a barn owl, make sure you check out their website to find out when these events are on. If the kids still aren’t tired out, make sure you take them to the Jungle Barn, Paradise Park’s whopping soft play area. A thoroughly entertaining way to spend a day!

Seal spotting

All year round, if you head across Godrevy Point to Mutton Cove and peer carefully over the cliff edge, you should be able to spot the herd of seals taking shelter on the beach down below. Watch them head out to sea and swim, their heads bobbing in the waves like little black buoys, or see fluffy grey pups lollop across the sand. If you’re lucky enough, you may be able to spot them in the water off Godrevy and Gwithian beaches, or take a boat trip with St Ives Boat Company and spot them lounging on the lighthouse island.

Guests Say

Perfect place to celebrate

What a week! Amazing! Fab location and ease to the sea and beaches. Great to have 'Sunset Surf' on your doorstep. We celebrated two birthdays and a wedding! House great, well equipped and comfy beds. Thank to Big Blue and owners, it has been a brilliant, fun week spent with family and the perfect place to celebrate which made it even more special as it is clearly a well loved and enjoyed family holiday home. We will be back!

The Buchan & Chaffer families — July 2024
A special place

The Big Blue really is a special place. Lovely views and great beach. Lots of surfing and games on the beach then back for hot showers in a fantastic house with really comfy beds! We had a great week and hope to be able to come back again soon.

The Hills — June 2024
What could be better!

Thank you so much for letting us enjoy a great week at Big Blue. We have done little other than a few walks, a bit of paddling and lazing in the garden. The house is looking great and is very well equipped and as I sit writing this I am looking out of your panoramic window at blue sky and sea. What could be better!

Gill & Alan — June 2024
Magnificent

Our second two week stay at The Big Blue. We love the place, as does Pawel our dog. A fantastic location and magnificent place to watch sunsets from.

Janusz, Chris & Pawel — May 2024
Perfect location for spending all day at the beach

We had a wonderful week at The Big Blue! It is the perfect location for spending all day at the beach, whilst being able to pop back for snacks and naps! We spent our week building sandcastles, looking for fish and crabs, running from waves and flying kites, with sunny afternoon drinks and ice cream at the Rockpool! Perfect family holiday — we will be back!

The Bull family — March 2024