Welcome to Cornwall’s biggest private estate, where 600 acres of woodland, pastures, streams, lakes and gardens are yours to roam at leisure. I felt like lady of the manor as we bumbled along the private driveway - a long meander through the fairytale scenery. If only we’d come by horse-drawn carriage to arrive in true style! We pulled up at the handsome stone manor house, a rhododendron bush loaded with pink blooms framing the grand entrance. Weddings and formal events take place here, but it’s what lies above that piques our interest: a cluster of cute, self-catering cottages which lord it over the grounds likes the birds of Boconnoc’s dovecote (yes, there are actual white doves living in it). Each house has been decorated by leading designer Sarah Fortescue (whose family owns the estate), her playful and daring taste inspired by the vivid blooms of the gardens.
Elsewhere on your private estate (max capacity: 50) there’s a deer park, a tennis court, a dainty church, and an old Stable Yard that’s been fashioned into a socialising area with bar and games room. Boconnoc feels like an exclusive mini village - there’s even a post box - but the atmosphere is relaxed and not remotely stuffy. It’s a soul-cleansing place - the air is so clean here that a rare form of lichen thrives in the woods. Bring the family or a group of friends for a celebration, day-tripping to Fowey and the pretty beaches of Cornwall’s south coast, and then returning to cocoon yourself in nature. Cycle through the deer park, take a boat out on the lake, stroll the pinetum - carpeted in bluebells in May - and let the kids run free. Barbecues and pizza nights make for fun evenings together, and there’s a kitchen garden where you can forage for your ingredients. You’d never believe all this lies in waiting just a few km from Lostwithiel and the south coast. What a way to experience Cornwall.
Highs
- The amount of private outdoor space you get here is astonishing, comprising gardens, a lake, a deer park, a river and woodland
- The range of cottages will suit varying group sizes - from families of 4 to parties of 14 (or more if booking multiple cottages): it's the perfect set-up for a big celebration or gathering
- This is an incredible place for kids, with wide-ranging facilities incorporating a games room, sports equipment, a craft room, a gypsy caravan and a tennis court
- Although it’s a self-catering place, friendly staff are on hand should you require anything during your stay
- Lots of Cornwall’s best attractions are nearby (Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Fowey)
Lows
- Hard to find. Satnav takes you in the wrong way, and you'll need to navigate a maze of dark lanes to drive out for dinner
- Boconnoc is also a wedding venue, so some summer weekends are blocked out (the houses aren’t available then, so you won’t be sharing the space with wedding guests)
- The interiors, particularly in the Dairy House, are bold and eye-catching rather than classically elegant
- The coast isn’t far away but the country lanes make access to beaches a little slow
Best time to go
The houses are open year-round. High season (and wedding season) in Cornwall is May-Sept, but each month will have its charms. We visited in spring and were amazed by the blooming gardens - azaleas, hydrangeas, bluebells - but autumn would be very pretty too, the woods turning auburn. Summer is ideal for making the most of the great outdoors, and the secluded grounds mean you’ll avoid Cornwall’s crowds in school holidays. There’s plenty of appeal in winter, too, with wood burners in the houses, and ice skating at the Eden Project.
Our top tips
When it comes to catering, there is lots of produce on your doorstep. In season, you can pluck what you want from the kitchen garden and help yourself to eggs from the estate’s chickens. Lostwithiel has a good deli called Bellamama, a butchers, and a fish and chip shop. Your kitchen will be stocked with basics like milk, tea and coffee, along with Cornish biscuits and a bottle of wine. Chefs are available on request. Supermarkets can deliver here. If you find yourselves in Fowey, go for lunch at trendy North Street Kitchen - we had a fantastic meal of small plates while overlooking the water.