Spring comes early on the Lizard Peninsula, which, thanks to the warming effect of the Gulf Stream, boasts the balmiest climate in Britain. Sub-tropical vegetation grows along the cliffs, and primroses and foxgloves are about to flower in the hedgerows and on the clifftops of the spectacular Heritage Coast, which runs down the western edge of the peninsula from Porthleven to Enys Head – just beyond Lizard Point, the most southerly point of the mainland.
With much of the Lizard coastline heavily protected, both for its raw beauty and the richness of its flora and birdlife, houses with direct access to the sea rarely come onto the market. One has now come up with Savills in Truro, however, at a guide price of £2 million: Polbream, in Mullion, some eight miles south of Helston.
This extended former farmhouse sits on its own headland, Polbream Point, and faces south over Polurrian Cove, the National Trust-owned Mullion Island and out across the sea to the west.
Also owned by the Trust is much of Mullion Head, home to breeding colonies of kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots and black-headed gulls, and the historic stone harbour of Mullion Cove.
Polbream, for sale for the first time in 20 years, stands in just under six acres of terraced gardens and land.
The house itself offers 3,379sq ft of family accommodation, including two reception rooms, a kitchen/breakfast room, a study, five bedrooms and five bathrooms, with most rooms enjoying breathtaking views out over the coastline.
But while the house is nice it’s undoubtedly the setting which will attract most buyers. Historically, the towering cliffs and jagged rocks of the Lizard’s coastline, which bars the way in and out of the busy Fal estuary, had a fearsome reputation as a graveyard for ships, the scene of many a maritime disaster.
Nowadays, the wilder Atlantic west coast is a haven for the discerning, hardy few who appreciate its staggering views, quiet surf beaches and secret coves. The more protected east side offers shelter from the prevailing winds and fewer opportunities to surf, but many more family-friendly beaches.
The deep, sheltered valleys, ancient forests and safe waters of the Helford River and Loe Pool, which form the northern boundary of the peninsula, encouraged the rich and famous to build holiday homes there in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
However, with no railway to lure travellers beyond historic Helston, Britain’s most southerly town, in Victorian times, few were inclined to venture farther south.
Even today, the narrow lanes of the Helford Valley tend to discourage weary family drivers from going the extra mile.
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Credit: Knight Frank
The best country houses for sale this week
Catch up on the best houses that have come up for sale via Country Life in the last few weeks.
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Brideshead Revisited (again): The 10 scene-stealing British country homes from film and televisionWhat do an enigmatic Caped Crusader, a sopping-wet Mr Darcy and Lord Eddard Stark of Winterfell have in common? Believe it or not, British country houses.
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Sophia Money-Coutts: Is it ever okay to throw your dog a birthday party?Sir Lewis Hamilton did it, so why not throw a birthday party for your canine companion, Sophia Money-Coutts asks.
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A 500-acre estate that spent 11 centuries in the same family, for sale for only the second time in its historyIn the beautiful hills of north Wales the Garthewin estate has come up for sale, including a great country house once restored by the architect who created Portmeirion. Penny Churchill takes a closer look.
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'The city has always held an important creative space within our design studio': A luxury townhouse in Tokyo, courtesy of Aston MartinA new four-storey property in the Omotesandō district is the first single home private residence by the British ultra-luxury performance brand.
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The Mediterranean Magic of MaltaWith historic charm, picture-perfect beaches and a welcoming approach to newcomers, Malta represents an appealing option for Mediterranean property hunters. Holly Kirkwood reports.
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Four country houses with their own tennis courts, as seen in Country LifeIf Wimbledon has put you in the mood for more tennis, Annunciata Elwes is here with a selection of homes with their own tennis courts.
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The majestic New Forest estate formerly owned by a billionaire adventurer — famous for driving 'the world's fastest kettle' — has come up for saleGreat estates in the unspoilt setting of the New Forest are always a welcome sight on the market, and Newton Park is a wonderful example with a sad story to tell. Anna White tells more.
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A Hampshire Manor for sale that dates back to the days of Alfred the Great, with the most beautiful staircase we've seen in yearsThe ten bedroom property features an indoor swimming pool, jacuzzi, spa complex and stables, and it was restored by the same architect who worked on Downing Street.
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The new property hotspots where you can have it all: Beautiful houses, great schools and idyllic lifestyleAcross the country people are selling up and heading to the towns where there's no compromise on dream homes, outstanding schooling and the good life, according to analysis from two of Britain's top estate agents. Anna White explains.
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Where Venice once ruled: The roving Venetians left handsome imprints across the Greek world, from its religion to its rambling villasMatthew Dennison explores the lingering traces of Venice's vanished empire — and the best places to buy where it once stood.
