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.
-
You're all invited to Cecil Beaton's Garden Party
'The space given over to 'Cecil Beaton’s Garden Party' at the Garden Museum is smaller than Beaton’s own drawing room, but its intimacy is its trump card.'
By Charlotte Mullins Published
-
Chelsea Flower Show 2025: Ten things not to miss in what promises to be a superb year at the world's greatest horticultural show
It promises to be a stellar year at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Kathryn Bradley-Hole previews some of the highlights you can expect, while we take a look ahead to what Country Life will be up to during the week.
By Kathryn Bradley-Hole Published
-
Swim above the competition in London's highest outdoor pool
The new Shard Place development is the latest amenity-filled addition to the Shard Quarter
By James Fisher Published
-
Business at the front, party at the rear: Ravensbury Lodge in Devon, a four-bed conversion on the market with stunning views of the River Dart
The house in Warfleet, Dartmouth, is a waterside property with a twist — and its contrasting architectural elements are a delightful surprise.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
Laverstoke Park, the iconic home of Formula One World Champion Jody Scheckter, roars onto the market
The benchmark for the sale of the year has been set.
By Penny Churchill Published
-
No Mr Bond, we expect you to buy: Sean Connery's former villa on the French Riviera could be yours
Roc Fleuri Villa 'must be Nice's most desirable home', according to the agents.
By Lotte Brundle Last updated
-
Five Cotswold dream homes on the market from £3m to £18m, as seen in Country Life
This week we have a Cotswolds-themed rundown of some of the finest homes to come to the market in this beautiful part of England.
By Toby Keel Published
-
A modern masterpiece for sale in Cornwall that's just one mile from the beach
Hay House combines location, elegance and modern family living to create a special home for the 21st century.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rollercoaster, Bauhaus department store and Brutalist football stand top the latest Buildings at Risk List
The latest Buildings at Risk List from the Twentieth Century Society has been announced. Sunwin House department store and Blackpool’s Grand National Rollercoaster both feature.
By Jack Watkins Published
-
Lutyens's last masterpiece comes up for sale in Oxfordshire, with 27 bedrooms and a cricket pitch
Middleton Park in Middleton Stoney is a vast country home that must surely be among the nation's best
By James Fisher Published