A surfer's ideal home? The Cornwall seaside haven just yards from the beach in the village of Polzeath
Arabella Youens takes a look at the aptly-named Beach Haven, in the heart of one of North Cornwall's most popular spots.

If you are are house hunting in Cornwall, there is a general rule of thumb: the further you go down the A30, the further your money will stretch. Our recent look at the dramatic Porthledden, near St Just and Penzance, demonstrates this, with 10 bedrooms and 13,000 sq ft on sale at £5m; contrast this with Constantine Cottage, where the same budget 'only' gets you four bedrooms and 2,700 sq ft.
You don't have to be quite that rich to enjoy a house in this gorgeous part of the country, and in fact £2m will still get you a three-bedroom house in one of Cornwall’s most celebrated villages. Take the example of Beach Haven, on the relatively accessible north Cornish coast, which is on the market at £1.95m via John Bray Estates.
It's a home in the perennially popular village of Polzeath, just a few steps from the beach and right across the Camel Estuary from Padstow.
The house is up for sale for the first time since 1984, though it has been changed since then. This modest bungalow was extended in the mid 1990s and looks like an ideal holiday cottage, with a large games room and all-important wetsuit-and-surfboard store.
It sits in a tucked-away position, yet is only a few steps from the heart of the village and offers beach and sea views from many of the windows.
To the rear is about an acre of garden, including an area of mature woodland — a real rare find, according to agent Josephine Ashby. ‘Large plots so close to the sea with scope to create your own vision are extremely rare here,’ she says.
And the village itself is one of the best in the country — particularly for surfers.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
‘Polzeath remains one of the most popular surf beaches in the UK, with multi-generational appeal,’ Josephine adds.
Beach Haven is for sale at £1.95m — see more details and pictures.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Credit: Alamy
Five beautiful seaside towns in Britain where you can still find a property bargain
Places like Padstow may be priced beyond the reach of most people, but there are still places around Britain's lovely
The biggest country house sales of 2023, from the ultimate Padstow getaway to one of Britain's greatest stately homes
The Scyther: ‘We were up in arms about Poldark – his swing was all wrong’
Scything was almost forgotten until Aidan Turner’s turn in Poldark, but Nigel Adams says there’s still a place for it.
How to turn your home into a film location
Welcoming a film crew into your home can bring fame and a little fortune, says Flora Watkins.
-
The Everatti Pagoda: An electric wolf in classic combustion clothing
What do John Lennon, Audrey Hepburn, Charlton Heston, Kate Moss and Harry Styles have in common? They all owned an SL Pagoda. But they won't have owned one as nice as this.
By Adam Hay-Nicholls Published
-
'Dartmoor is the ultimate one-billion star hotel; furnished with all the trappings of the cosmos': Why wild camping matters
Lewis Winks makes the case as to why the right to wild camp on Dartmoor is vital for us all.
By Lewis Winks Published
-
'This is the most money you'll spend on anything ever': The things that really matter when buying your first home in London
It’s easy to dream of what the ideal first-home in London might be, but when the cost of living in the capital is this expensive, being near a Gail's isn't as important as you think it is.
By James Fisher Published
-
Get lost in the whispers of a running stream at a one-bedroom Cornish cottage
Formerly the studio and retreat of renowned artist Lamorna Birch, this small home near Lamorna Cove is a delight in every single way.
By James Fisher Published
-
How the high street can change for the better
The high street might not be dying, but it's definitely changing and in some places, it's changing for the better. So, what can the centre of town in the 21st century look like?
By Lucy Denton Published
-
A 17th century country house estate for sale in Yorkshire that's not too big and not too small
Take a look inside one of the finest private houses in the north of England that's perfectly manageable as a family house.
By Annunciata Elwes Published
-
Two-thirds of us buy a house and immediately set about refurbishing it
We spend more buying our houses than on anything else in our lives — yet the first thing we do on moving in is set about changing the place. Annabel Dixon takes a look at what we do and why.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
Dawn Chorus: Audrey Hepburn’s Swiss villa hits the market for £17 million and research reveals that looking at art can, quite literally, help you live longer
Everything you need to know today: The Swiss home that Audrey Hepburn lived in for 30 years prior to her death is for sale, those who regularly engage with art have a 31% lower risk of dying early and an iconic Palm Beach hotel teams up with interior designer Ashley Hicks.
By Rosie Paterson Published
-
Five beautiful homes for sale around Britain, as seen in Country Life
By Toby Keel Published
-
On Devon's Saunton Sands, the future is Ferndown
This modern masterpiece, for sale with Savills, boasts 12,000sq ft of luxury contemporary living with beach views.
By Penny Churchill Published