Review: Old Lanvean Cottage, St. Mawgan, near Newquay, Cornwall, UK

Cornwall, California, is located in the far west. A rugged landscape where the ocean washes white sandy beaches and the Gulf Stream warms palm trees. But it is a peninsula that sometimes yearns for independence with its distinctive black and white flag, its own language and unofficial ‘national anthem’. On the edge of Britain, this is an ancient Celtic region where Arthurian legends take place, most notably Tintagel Castle. are just part of mythical folklore.

In St. Mawgan, an idyllic Cornish village, the 18th-century thatched Old Lanvean is the quintessential country house. So perfect it could be on a chocolate box. Check all the boxes for a peaceful escape from the 21st century.

The story goes that the Irish pilgrim St. Mawgan brought Christianity to Cornwall. As for the name of the cottage, Lan usually means holy place in Cornish, but ‘Vean’ has been lost in the mists of time. Local history suggests that the site of the cottage was once a Christian hospice.

Today this cozy country cottage is just a five minute drive from the nearest major surfing beach at Mawgan Porth. It is also a dog-friendly beach that can be easily reached from a dog-friendly cottage.

The welcome

Emails with directions, a key box number and a notification that the cleaners have left ahead of schedule ensure a stress-free arrival.

The little house

The country-chic decor of the Airbnb superhost brings out the character of the house. It is a time warp of sloping whitewashed walls, ancient wood and undulating floors.

Although the kitchen is fully equipped, including a dishwasher and microwave, unlike many other holiday homes, you do not need a technical engineer to operate the hob and toaster.

Adjacent to the cute kitchen is a sturdy wooden table for six people. Sitting at that table, next to the router, is the optimal place to work while on vacation. On the quietest roads the rooks and the wood pigeon will be the only distraction.

In the living room, a large wooden beam hangs above a stone fireplace with built-in bread oven. With radiators keeping the whole cottage toasty warm, that cavernous fireplace now displays dried flower arrangements.

As the bright bathroom, with a shower over the bath, is on the ground floor, the first floor is devoted to two large double bedrooms. Both overlook the spring strips of blue forget-me-nots in the surrounding garden. The master bedroom has a super king size double bed and the bedrooms have plenty of storage in dark wood.

In the garden, high, thick hedges create a sunshade on the terrace, where you can eat outside at the table.

The location

At first St Mawgan seems like a typical Cornish village: 13th century parish church, cozy pub, tea room, craft shop and a ford to cross the River Menahyl. Then you come across the Japanese garden and its 20,000 bonsai trees. A little Zen island full of wind chimes, rock sculptures and moss gardens in the depths of Cornwall.

But most guests travel to this coastline full of shipwrecks and smugglers, for beaches that glisten as the tide rolls out, for the ultimate Atlantic waltz. It’s a dramatic coastline where you can kayak, paddle board, surf and swim.

A drive of less than fifteen minutes will take you to surf schools in Mawgan Porth, Newquay or Watergate Bay. Don’t forget that Fistral Beach is known worldwide as one of the best surfing beaches in the world.

The National Trust offers parking and a tea shop for visiting Bedruthan Steps. Take a walk among the purple and yellow flowers on the cliffs and look out over the rock formations.

The views of the coastline are so spectacular that most visitors are tempted to add a few kilometers of the South West Coast Path. Some even think about devoting a few months of their lives to walking the 1000 kilometers around the south-west peninsula, from Minehead to Poole.

Furthermore, Cornwall is renowned for its gardens and is around 40 minutes to both the futuristic Eden Project and the more retro Lost Gardens of Heligan, which looks back to the era of the grand estate.

Other nice touches

Old Lanvean is a place to relax for families and friends. There is a whole cupboard full of board games and DVDs.

To ensure you’re in Cornwall mode, the welcome pack includes scones, clotted cream and strawberry jam for a DIY cream tea. Cornish gingerbread, Cornish tea and Cornish drinking chocolate hammer the venue.

Costs

Prices start from £700 per week with two nights available in low season. There are still several weeks available for summer 2024 and the 2025 online calendar is now available for booking.

The best part

You don’t have to take care of yourself. A five-minute walk down a quiet private road takes you to Hawkey’s Cafe, where the cheerful owner prepares breakfast from 8am and serves snacks all day. At midday the excellent Falcon Inn is open for home-cooked lunches and dinners every day except Mondays.

At the Watergate Bay Hotel, overlooking a two-kilometre stretch of beach, Zacry’s on the Sea Wall offers fine dining with views of the horizon. While The Beach Hut, virtually on the beach, has a more casual menu.

Upstairs, The Living Space combines sun loungers on the terrace, bar stools at the bar, sofas and tables, allowing visitors to go from coffee to lunch, from drinks to dinner.

The final verdict

Selected for The times 2023 collection of “40 cool cottages for spring”, Old Lanvean was rightly recognized for its ability to retain the charm of a thatched roof with contemporary modern comfort.

Old Lanvean is a cottage for all seasons. Out of high season, it’s a cozy base from which to explore Cornwall’s charms once the crowds have disappeared: days when you’ll have beaches and miles of cliffs to yourself. In December there is the opportunity to attend the Padstow Christmas Festival.

Disclosure: Our stay was sponsored by Old Lanvean Cottage.

Michael Edwards

Michael Edwards is a travel writer from Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. Although Michael published his first travel stories almost forty years ago, he still finds new luxury destinations to visit and write about.