Smugglers Corner, Lower Castle Road, St Mawes, TR2 5DW
This is a good sized, comfortable cottage right on the sea front. It has a gentle rather Edwardian style, having belonged to the same family for a long time. It is sympathetically furnished and restored. Smugglers Corner is on the corner of Church Hill and Lower castle road.
The sea is the other side of the wall in front of the cottage. When the tide is out there are rocky pools and sandy bits to explore. When the tide is in, the ceiling has watery reflections and the front rooms are dominated by the sense of the water - you might be on a ship.
The cushioned window seats are a perfect place to sit & gaze or read.St Mawes is a small, vibrant village with a range of good shops and some excellent restaurants. You can buy fresh fish on the quay or take the foot ferry across to Falmouth in 20 minutes. For more on the area see the local guide pages.
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- Sleeps 6 (double, twin & bunks)
- Fine, characterful house
- Sea within 10 metres!Good shopping nearby
- Dishwasher
- Bathroom & cloakroom
- On seafront
- 2 mins from castle
- Ferry to Falmouth
- Sat Changeover
- Sorry no dogs
Apartment Layout
Property layout & details: The blue painted front door on Church street leads into the hallway (beamed ceilings etc.).
From the hallway a sliding door off the hall a passageway to the back door serves as utility area with washing machine and tumble dryer.
The back door opens onto fishing cottage-type back courtyard - cobbled with beach stones and shared by three neighbouring cottages (it is secure).
The kitchen is lit from a large window onto courtyard and another onto Church Hill. There is a circular breakfast table window seat and chairs. Fitted units, ceramic hob cooker, dishwasher, the usual appliances (microwave, toaster, kettle). Pans, china and glassware. Space for eating and chatting.
Sitting room with two large sash windows overlooking water. Fireplace with electric fire. Two sofas and armchair. Dining table and chairs. TV, DVD, a selection of books, games, dvd's and puzzles.
The staircase and landing are quite spacious with oak balustrade.
The main bedroom with double bed, wardrobe, chest of drawers. Window with padded seat, harbour and sea beyond outside.
Next door the twin bedroom with 3 foot wide divan beds and again lovely window.
The bunk bedded bedroom is quite small, but the beds are 3 feet wide. Chest of drawers and deep silled window onto Church Hill. This room feels like a cabin.
At the end of the landing the bathroom is full of character - all white with the original bathtub, a modern shower cubicle with electric shower, sink and WC.
Downstairs there is a cloakroom with a second WC.
Parking etc.
From September to April it is possible to park opposite the house on Castle Road, but at any other time you will need to park in the car park which is about 5 minutes walk away. It is possible to stop outside the cottage load and unload, but not for too long in Summer when restrictions apply.
Location
Smugglers Corner Cottage is on the sea front, at the corner of Castle Road and Church Street. It is about 2 minutes walk from the small quay in the centre of the village, from where the Falmouth foot ferry departs. The quay also has a small bakery selling good pasties and a caravan which sells fish landed from it's owner's boat, plus crabs, lobsters and other tasty things caught nearby. A little further along the front, other dinner ingredients can be found at the very well stocked Spar shop. St Mawes is tiny but oddly cosmopolitan, with a couple of first class restaurants, several very good smaller ones and some characterful pubs. There are a small number shops, some rather smart, all interesting and worth a look. There is large carpark in the centre, (but discreetly tucked away) which makes up for the fact that the tiny streets are virtually impossible for cars.
Beach access
Right opposite the cottage there is a kind of mini beach - not one to spend all day on (probably) but nice to have within a minute of home. It is reached by a flight of steps opposite the cottage. When the tide is in, the cottage is the width of the road away from the sea - perhaps 10 metres. When the tide is out, it reveals rocks and pebbly areas between.This a good place for sitting watching boats, eating a pasty or rock pooling. The rocks have lots of pools and sea weedy places to investigate. The view across the inlet to the headland is lovely.
There are three shingly beaches within walking distance of the cottage, the nearest, Tavern beach is about 50 metres from the cottage in the direction of the castle (ie. west). The village beach is in the other direction at the other end of the sea front, about 4 minutes walk from the front door. Castle Cove is the other side of the castle, facing Falmouth and is probably a 10 minute walk, or you could drive and park in the car park above the beach.
A short drive east will take you to the beaches of Carne & Pendower , which at low tide join up to create a superb stretch of sand a mile long. Or nearer to home, you could explore St Anthony headland which has superb walks and several beaches. The best (I think) being Porthbeor Beach which is reached by a steep but spectacular cliff path. The headland could also be reached by ferry from the quay. Another ferry ride takes you to Falmouth and if you don't mind walking a fair way you could could combine a bit of shopping with a beach visit, there are more beaches the other side of St Mawes castle.
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