Crackington Hideaways

Rooms

There are two options: the North Wing (sleeping 2) attached to the original farmhouse but has its own separate entrance, and The Cottage (sleeping 6), which is detached from the rest of the farmhouse.

With one bedroom, the North Wing is aimed at couples, but there’s a vast amount of space for two - you can each have your own living room if you want to! The main living room has a plump, cream sofa, great for watching films, as well as two comfy armchairs facing the fireplace. The second sitting room, or snug, is gorgeous, with flagstone floors, ancient beams, exposed brick, board games and books everywhere – this would make a lovely reading room. Steep stairs lead up to the shower room and bedroom, with a kingsize bed that can be split into two if desired. Outside, you get a charming, enclosed courtyard garden, with a table and chairs, sunloungers, potted plants, and a pretty flowerbed. Note that the garden is overlooked by the farmhouse, but the owners give you plenty of privacy.

The Cottage has far-reaching views over the hills and feels marvellously private. Although it has four bedrooms, the owners advise that no more than six guests should stay at one time in order to avoid feeling too cramped. The cottage has three double bedrooms (one can be set up as a twin) and one single bedroom, a large family bathroom with REN toiletries, a downstairs shower room and two living rooms with log burners, and an attractive country kitchen with a retro-blue cooker. It’s a clever blend of old and new, with ancient beams juxtaposed with modern wood floors and colourful, striped fabrics.

Features include:

• Central heating
• DVD player
• Fireplace
• Hairdryer
• Toiletries
• Tumble dryer
• TV
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

Both houses have smart kitchens with top-of-the-range appliances. They feature Italian slate worktops, Fired Earth tiling (striking ochre in the smaller house, pretty pale blue in the larger), big fridges, washer/dryers, dishwashers, and - in North Wing - Portmeirion crockery and Dartington crystal glasses. Basic essentials like salt, pepper and oil are provided, along with compostable coffee pods for Nespresso, tea bags and ground coffee. There’s also a barbecue for summer use.

For supplies, there’s a lovely farm shop near Boscastle, which sells local meat, veg, cheese and deli products; for more substantial shopping, there are supermarkets in Bude (20 mins’ drive). Most of them deliver. You can buy the farm's premium 100% grass-fed Ruby Red beef from the award-winning online butchers, Piper's Farm.

If you fancy eating out, nearby Crackington Haven has a village pub, the Coombe Barton Inn, and a couple of cafes. Bude has plenty more dining options – ask Gayle to recommend her favourite places. Or drive to Port Isaac (40 mins), where Nathan Outlaw serves Michelin starred seafood and Fresh from the Sea sells freshly caught lobster and the best crab sandwiches.

Features include:

• Barbecue
• Coffee maker
• Dishwasher
• Food blender
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Microwave
• Oven
• Toaster

Activities

• Walking here is beautiful. Hike a stretch of the South West coast path in either direction from the farm. The walks to Boscastle are particularly stunning (look out for seals along the way)
  
• Hit the beach: Crackington Haven (5-min drive) has a shingle and sand beach that’s lifeguarded in the summer; Widemouth and Bude (20-min drive) also have wide, sandy beaches and lots of facilities
  
• Experience the north coast’s excellent surf – boards are available for hire at Crackington; lessons are offered at Widemouth and Bude
  
• Explore the pretty village of Boscastle, set in a narrow ravine, with a small harbour and quaint, thatched cottages, or head further west to legendry Tintagel and Port Isaac, the location for Doc Martin
  
• Hire bikes and cycle a section of the scenic Camel Trail, which follows the course of a disused railway line between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow
  
• Go fishing on boats from Boscastle, or try fly-fishing at Tavistock

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Plantlife / flora
• Surfing
• Swimming

Kids

The four-bed Cottage is ideal for families. There’s a single room for kids, and one of the double rooms can be converted to a twin. The kitchen is a good size for self-catering, and there’s acres of space outside for kids to run about. The area has a huge amount for families to see and do, with walking, cycling, surfing and swimming all popular activities. For rainy days, there are plenty of books and games in the cottage, as well as a TV. A baby cot is available, plus a high chair on request.

Best for:

All ages

Distances:

• Airport: 1 hour (Newquay)
• Hospital: 20 mins (Bude)
• Shop: 10 mins

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Crackington Hideaways are on a farm just outside the village of Crackington Haven, on the North Cornwall coast. Bude and Widemouth are 20 minutes' drive away.

By Air:
The nearest airports, Newquay and Exeter, are about an hour's drive away. Bristol is two and a half hours, London Heathrow is four hours.

By Car:
You'll need a car to reach the cottages - see our rental recommendations. The cottages are four-five hours' drive from London. There's free on-site parking.

Detailed directions will be sent when you book through i-escape.