It was love at first sight when owners Darrel and Lucy laid eyes on this idyllic spot. Tucked away in the north Cornish countryside, Merlin Farm sits in the hills above the tiny village of Mawgan Porth. A pretty wooded trail leads you down to its beach, a wide but sheltered gold-sand bay fringed by caves and rock pools, popular with surfers and families alike.
Old farm barns have been transformed into 3 attractive Eco-Cottages, with floor-to-ceiling glass fronts giving spectacular valley views, and the more private and detached stylish Trevone Cottage. Each eco-cottage has a small enclosed courtyard, Trevone has a larger lawned garden. All have underfloor heating, a wood-burning stove and Egyptian cotton bedlinen. You feel like you’re staying in a boutique hotel but with the flexibility of self-catering; plus it's perfect for those wishing to get away from it all (Cornwall can be busy at times). But best of all are the eco creds: ground-source heat pumps, high-spec insulation, solar-powered hot water (in the Eco-Cottages), and electricity is generated onsite via solar PV panels in the field.
Highs
- The owners' friendly manner, helpful local information and tips
- Large open-plan kitchens with high-quality gadgets and equipment; cooking is a pleasure
- Great for young families: essential baby equipment to borrow; it's a quiet and relaxing environment yet just a 15-minute stroll from the beach
- Miles of countryside and coastal walks from the doorstep
- Plenty of eateries and pubs are within walking distance
Lows
- The Eco-Cottages are joined but staggered with high willow secludes; for more privacy opt for the detached Trevone Cottage
- You need a car to get to supermarkets so stock up on your way here or pre-order groceries to be delivered
- Very patchy WiFi
- The long farm lane is pot-holey, so you'll need to drive slowly
- Note that dogs aren't accepted over the summer holidays
- Travel cot
- High chair on request
- Changing mats
- Toddler toilet seat and step up
- Potty
- Baby bath
- Fire guards on request
Some equipment may need to be requested in advance
Experienced and CRB checked babysitters are available by arrangement
Baby monitors to borrow (except in Trevone)
- Plastic crockery and cutlery and sippy cups
- Grassed picnic area
- Woodland walk to the beach
- Pony in the field
- Sandy beaches, rockpooling and surf lessons
- Newquay has a swimming pool, Waterworld, with slides and more, for rainy days
- The Eden Project or Lost Gardens of Heligan are an hour's drive
- Boutique Cottages
- 4 cottages for 2-4
- Self-catering (+ walk to restaurants)
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Babysitting
- Creche / Kids Club
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Communal lawn area
- Electric car charger
Rooms
There are three eco-cottages, adjacent to each other. Two are identical, with 2 bedrooms (a double and twin/double) and 2 bathrooms apiece, an open-plan lounge, diner and kitchen. The third (Constantine) differs slightly as its upstairs twin bedroom has a lower ceiling height so only works for children, and it has just one bathroom. All have bi-fold glass doors opening onto a gravel patio garden; wood-burning stoves are a treat in the colder months. Decor is simple but stylish – creams, browns, chic lighting. Coastal artwork by Darrel’s late father, artist David Wheeler, adds splashes of colour.
Set apart from the others, the detached stone cottage Trevone - a converted barn - is bigger and more private, plus it has a large lawned garden. Its 2 bedrooms are light-filled, with colourful cushions and throws, and it's all on one level.
White travertine bathrooms are a highlight in all cottages, with waterfall taps, free-standing baths and drench showers.
Features include:
- Bathrobes
- Fan
- Hairdryer
- In-room treatments available
- Iron
- Tumble dryer
- Washing machine
- WiFi
Eating
Open-plan kitchen diners are fantastically kitted out with Smeg appliances including a blue retro fridge (Eco-Cottages), double oven and dishwasher. And you'll find everything you need to to cook: Sebatier knives, a wide range of utensils and lovely ceramics. There's a table for 4, plus outdoor furniture for sunny days.
A welcome tray of tea, coffee, sugar, milk and shortbread awaits. There are supermarkets within a short drive (Sainsbury's, Asda and Tesco can deliver, too), and a minimart opposite the beach sells a wide range of groceries and has a cash point.
If you want a complete break, you can order fantastic frozen meals from local company Angels in the Kitchen in advance, and they'll be waiting in your freezer: lamb tagine, steak and ale pie, amaretto and apricot crumble, that sort of thing. A local Thai restaurant can deliver fresh meals.
Within walking distance are Mawgan Porth's cafes, and the adult-only Scarlet hotel, whose restaurant is headed up by Michelin award-winning chef Ben Tunnicliffe, and the foodie mecca of Padstow is just 14km away.
Features include:
- Dishwasher
- Fridge
- Full kitchen
- Hob or stove
- Kids' meals
- Meal delivery service
- Microwave
- Oven
- Restaurants nearby
- Toaster
Activities
- Learn to surf at Mawgan Porth (the boys at Kingsurf school will have you standing up in no time!), or take kids rock-pooling
- Stroll or hike along the miles of country and coastal paths
- Visit Cornwall’s other beautiful beaches and coves – Watergate Bay, just 5 minutes away, has a watersports centre for surfing, kite surfing, wave-skiing and blokarting, plus a mile of golden sand backed by dramatic cliffs. There's great surfing at Newquay, too
- Nearby Padstow, where Rick Stein's seafood eateries are located, is a charming old fishing town with narrow cobbled streets crammed with boutique shops, restaurants and places to buy fresh fish or pasties
- Competent sailors can hire vessels in Padstow for a day on the open sea. Beginners can take sailing lessons in Rock
- Hire bikes (which can be delivered to you) and cycle the beautiful, flat and car-free Camel Valley Trail along the riverside
- For a day trip, the spectacular Eden Project, a dramatic global garden with 3 giant biospheres of tropical and temperate plants, is just a 30-minute drive away
- There are 2 great day spas nearby: the Scarlet Spa at The Scarlet hotel and Ocean Spa at Bedruthan Steps hotel; or book a spa treatment in the comfort of your cottage
- An 18-hole golf course and fishing lakes with tremendous views are adjacent to the farm. There's a riding school nearby, too
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Cycling
- Fishing
- Golf
- Hiking
- Historical sites
- Horse riding
- Kitesurfing
- Museums / galleries
- Plantlife / flora
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Swimming
- Windsurfing
Best Time to go
The cottages are open all year and the North Cornwall coastline is stunning whatever the season. High Season is May-September, and Cornwall's beaches can get busy in July-August. We went in March, and again in September, and both times the weather was beautiful and the beach almost deserted.
Our Top Tips
Don't miss Scott & Babs' wood-fired food at Retorrick Mill. A converted stable with bunting, mismatched furniture and an open-fire, it's truly unique with a friendly atmosphere, and the rustic food is fantastic. Think spit roasts, home-smoked fish and delicious salads.
Location
Merlin Farm is just off the North Cornwall coastal road, halfway between Newquay and Padstow in the southwest of England. It's 83km from Plymouth and 260km from Bristol.
By Air
The nearest airport is Newquay, served by flights from London Gatwick, Dublin and Manchester. Exeter and Bristol are larger airports, and it's an easy drive from either. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.
From the Airport
You'll want a car to explore the area, though you could manage without one. See our car rental recommendations. You can park by the cottages.
By Train
Regular trains leave London Paddington and Bristol for Newquay (4 hours from London, 2 from Bristol) and Merlin Farm is a 15-minute drive from the station.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.
More on getting to the UK and getting around
Airports:
- Newquay 3.5 km NQY
- Exeter 144.0 km EXT
Other:
- Beach 1.0 km
- Shops 1.0 km
- Restaurant 1.0 km
Our guests' ratings...
Based on 1 independent review from i-escape guests
Feedback is only from guests who have booked and stayed through i-escape