This little holiday cottage sleeps four in style, and comes complete with a private hot tub, open-plan living room and kitchen, and contemporary log burner. With use of extensive shared stream-side grounds, a private secluded garden and parking for two cars, you are in tranquil countryside but moments from Newquay with its beaches and attractions.
Tucked away in the blissful Cornish countryside, a very short drive from Newquay, is Gwills, a tiny hamlet in a wooded valley by an ambling river. Set in the grounds of an old farmstead here you will find a collection of self-catering holiday cottage. One of these is Gwills Cottage. Complete with private spa garden, it’s newly built yet traditionally styled, offering a delightful blend of eclectic country chic and contemporary comfort. Gwills Cottage is set opposite Gwills Cabin which sleeps two, making a great base for an escape with friends.
Inside Gwills Cottage
You’ll approach Gwills Cottage down a winding country lane, over a little bridge, and pull in to the gravelled driveway through gates. Stepping in through five-metre bi-fold sun doors you’ll be welcomed by a generous open plan living area, designed with relaxing holidays in mind. You have two sink-in leather Chesterfields, and a wall-mounted smart TV, a stylish multi-sided log burner, and a dining table to seat four. There is also an impressive kitchen, with a large central island and four breakfast stools, a range cooker with induction hob, coffee machine, fridge freezer, black butler sink, and all the appliances you could wish for, topped off with timeless granite counter tops with feature inlays of wany rustic oak. Alongside the kitchen area is a handy utility room with washer/drier and storage space.
Moving to the bedrooms you have two king-sized rooms. Both have ample storage including wardrobes. One looks over the shared lawns, and other looks out to your private rear garden where the hot tub is. A fully tiled wet-room with power shower completes your internal accommodation.
Your garden and the shared areas
To the front of Gwills Cottage you have a west-facing terrace with table and chairs for al fresco dining, as well as a gas barbecue-grill. To the rear is your east-facing private spa garden — it’s bordered by trees on two sides, and is secluded and private with a small lawn and hot tub. The grounds at Gwills extend to an acre of lawns, leading to the river (which is in fact the upper stretch of the River Gannel). You have shared use of a trampoline and rope swing, and have free access to all the space. Jen and Nick, the owners here, live in the old farmhouse on site and have friendly dogs and children, as well as cats, and sometimes goats and alpacas. They will respect your privacy of course, but are usually on hand if you want help, local information, or even a cream tea.
Out and about
You are a five minute drive from Newquay with a different beach every day of the week if you get easily bored. Book a surf lesson, go for a paddle or an open-water swim, or just hang out and relax. Newquay has a growing reputation for restaurants to suit all tastes, whether you want Michelin starred fine dining, or grab-and-go street food. The area also has an array of visitor attractions – again, there is something for everyone. Our guests particularly enjoy the beautiful Elizabethan manor house of Trerice and the delightful and ultra-family-friendly Lappa Valley (the secret world of play and trains). Sustrans National Route 32 of the National Cycle Network (part of the Cornish Way Cycle Route) passes a few metres up the road, making this a great base for a cycling holiday, plus of course you have countless of miles of coastal path heading east towards Watergate Bay and Mawgan Porth or west to Pentire and Holywell Bay.
Right here in the hamlet you may be able to buy breakfast eggs from the neighbour’s hedge — and back across the bridge (but out of sight) is a small holiday park where you can use the on-site shop for basics and use the small bar. On the country lane back to Newquay is one of the area’s best farm shops with brilliant locally grown food and a great little café.
Things we love…
This is a very relaxed and chilled out secret spot, and you can be as friendly and sociable, or as private and discreet as you wish. Head out to a local beach — choose from one in town like the iconic Fistral with all amenities, or award-winning Crantock, or head for the wilds and check out delightful Polly Joke (access by foot only, and worth every step). Head home and you’ll be amazed that Gwills is so close to Newquay. We love how intimate and local it all feels, and you can pick up all the provisions you need from the farm shop, and chef it up, River Cottage style, in your cottage by the little river. Then to the hot tub for the evening, the sun dropping down behind the trees and dappled sunlight filtering thought. You’ll love Gwills, we know you will.
