Group Accommodation in Cornwall: Cottages and Places to Stay

Large Group Accommodation in Cornwall

Cornwall has more coastline than any other English county and a group house for every stretch of it. The north coast, from Rock and Polzeath down through Newquay, Perranporth, Porthtowan and Portreath to St Ives, is the surf coast, and it is where most of the houses listed here are: clifftop and beach houses within walking distance of the sand. The south coast is the Helford, the Fal, the Roseland and the Lizard, warmer and more sheltered, with treehouses on the Helford at Gweek. Inland, a farmhouse at Trelowth near St Austell puts the Eden Project and both coasts within 20 minutes.

Why Cornwall Works for Group Stays

It is a long way, and that is the point: a group that has driven five hours or taken the sleeper is there for the week, not the night. The county is built for groups who want to be outdoors all day, with surf schools at every north coast beach taking parties of 20, coasteering on the Lizard and at Newquay, sea kayaking on the Helford and boat trips from Padstow and Falmouth. Then there are the restaurant towns: Padstow, Port Isaac, St Ives and Mousehole, where a big table booked early is the best night of the holiday.

Things to Do in Cornwall with a Large Group

Book surf lessons at Fistral, Watergate Bay or Perranporth for the first morning. Spend a day at the Eden Project or the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Walk a stretch of the South West Coast Path, from Porthtowan to Portreath, or round the Lizard to Kynance Cove. Cycle the Camel Trail from Padstow to Wadebridge and back for lunch. Catch a play at the Minack Theatre on the cliffs at Porthcurno, with the sea behind the stage. Cross the causeway to St Michael's Mount. Back at the house, a private chef cooking crab, lobster and mackerel off the day boats is the Cornish evening.

Eating and Drinking

Padstow has Rick Stein's restaurants and Paul Ainsworth at No.6; Port Isaac has Outlaw's; the Hidden Hut on Porthcurnick beach does feast nights on the sand in summer. St Ives has the Sloop Inn on the harbour and restaurants on the wharf. Newquay is the late night, Falmouth the student one. Every village has a pasty shop and most have a pub with a view.

Ideal Occasions

Cornwall suits summer family holidays with three generations, surf and activity weeks for friends, hen weekends built around the beach by day and the house by night, and Christmas and New Year by the Atlantic with the storms outside and everyone in.

Nearby Destinations

Our Newquay page covers the north coast around Watergate Bay and Fistral in more detail. Devon is the next county, and Somerset and Exmoor are about two hours up the M5.