Riverside living in a New-England style hillside home
Where the Truro and Tresillian Rivers meet, five bedroom Rivergarth is suitably positioned to take advantage


Set overlooking the tranquil Tresillian river, with beautiful wooded riverbank beyond, five-bedroom (and aptly named) Rivergarth is a ‘stunning, extended and comprehensively remodelled detached marine residence of the highest quality’, according to agents Lillicrap Chilcott. The word garth is a Middle English one, that means gateway, defining the property as a ‘river gateway’, which certainly seems to be an accurate description.
Situated on an elevated position in the village of Malpas, a former port only two miles southeast of Truro, sensibly the property makes the most of its location by offering balconies and windows, meaning it’s almost impossible to move through the house without taking in the views. A ferry service operates from the village to the nearby Roseland peninsula and a local myth suggests that it was a crossing used by Iseult.
Medieval romances aside, Rivergarth is shamelessly modern, oozing quality, opulence and space on every floor (of which there are three). The entrance hall leads directly to the open-plan kitchen/dining room, which extends the width of the property and makes the most of the view over the aforementioned Tresillian river through floor to ceiling windows and a wraparound patio beyond. Also on the ground floor is a sitting room and living room, study, as well as a self-contained annexe with living room, bedroom, kitchen and bathroom.
On the first floor you will find all four further bedrooms, arranged in an L Shape, and all with views out over the water. The master suite is, for want of a better word, vast, boasting a balcony, views front and back, large dressing room and en-suite with all the trimmings. The remaining bedrooms (all en-suite) are of a good size.
The gardens are fully landscaped and extend to about 0.5 of an acre and, while Malpas is a quiet and small village with one pub, the town of Truro is two miles down the road, offering every other amenity that could be desired, as well as train services to London.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
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.
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
The Country Life Podcast
Listen to all the episodes of the Country Life Podcast.
The ultimate January sale? A £15 million Surrey estate that's now on the market at £6.75 million
The first big estate sale of the year is here, says Penny Churchill, in the form of Chobham Park, a

James Fisher is the Deputy Digital Editor of Country Life. He writes about property, travel, motoring and things that upset him. He lives in London.
-
How to make Eton mess strawberry blondies
Our kitchen garden cook Melanie Johnson shares a mouthwatering recipe bringing together two of the greatest foodstuffs on the planet: strawberries and meringue.
By Melanie Johnson Published
-
The deaths of Romeo and Juliet: Country Life Quiz of the Day, June 12, 2025
A Rolling Stone and a familiar-sounding place find their way into Wednesday's Quiz of the Day.
By Country Life Published
-
The reality of 20 years of house price rises in Britain, from the places that have had a charmed life to the spots where it's a struggle to move back home
At first glance the ups and downs of the property market seem to even out over time — but dig in to the numbers and you'll see wild regional variations which paint a very difference picture. Annabel Dixon analyses new research which tells the story.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
A historic Yorkshire hall, meticulously restored to its former 18th-century magnificence
Womersley Park is a masterpiece and one of Yorkshire's great historic houses. And it could be yours.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
Rowing past dreams: An idyllic riverside home with a boathouse, croquet pitch and Olympic pedigree
The Manor in Long Wittenham is a perfect Thames-side getaway. Comes with a free boat.
By James Fisher Published
-
A bucolic Sussex home that's 'like stepping into a fairytale', yet just 30 minutes from central London
Felmere House is a playground for nature and only 30 minutes from London.
By James Fisher Last updated
-
Magnificent mansions across the Home Counties, from £3 million to £14 million, as seen in Country Life
A waterside dream home and a house and estate with over 1,100 years of history make our round-up this week.
By Toby Keel Last updated
-
Vibrant colours and exquisite taste make this three-bedroom London townhouse sing
On Kennington's West Square, this Grade II-listed home is a monument to the discerning eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
Lawns, glorious lawns at this Grade II-listed home in Hampshire where a sustainable future meets a storied past
There are 'old rectorys', and then there's The Old Rectory.
By James Fisher Published
-
'A monument to Edwardian excess' that was built by the millionaire industrialist who founded Pinewood Studios
Bents House is a classic Peak District mansion which shows that good taste and deep pockets can coexist very happily.
By James Fisher Published