Mesmerise yourself in this iconic listed home on the north Cornwall coast
Formerly a Mine Captain's home, there is something absurdly profound about the Count House in Holywell Bay.
Much has been written about what men want. Arguably, too much has been written about what men want. Even more arguably, too much has been written about men. Some men like to consider themselves as complex emotional beings, that can never be understood. I am quite the opposite. I am easily understood and my desires are very simple: I would like to live a peaceful life by the sea, where I can stand on a cliff with my arms behind my back, looking wistful.
Good news for me then, because the Count House exists. Overlooking Holywell Bay in Cornwall, it is hard to imagine a better property for standing on cliffs and looking wistful than this one. Hear the waves crash under your feet. Think deep thoughts. The bad news (for me) is that it is for sale for £2 million with Lillicrap Chilcott. My intrusive thoughts and I will be entering the lottery once again.
As well as the obviously amazing 1.6 acres of Cornish excellence that comes with the Count House, you also receive a five-bedroom Grade II-listed former Mine Captain’s house, and a separate one-bedroom annexe. I also don’t see many neighbours, so you can play your music as loud as you like, for as long as you like.
The important thing when you have no neighbours and a lovely if isolated home on a Cornish cliff is to make sure that the house itself is very nice to live in. The good news is that the property has been renovated to an excellent standard, as you can tell by the very many nice pictures accompanying this article.
Set over three floors, the property is immensely versatile, but also a bit greedy. Versatile in that there are lots of entertaining and sleeping spaces on the ground and first floors; greedy in that the entire second floor is the principal bedroom suite. Good for you, current owners of the Count House. You deserve a treat.




Is there anything nearby? Not really, no. But then that’s kind of the point I suppose. The South West Coast Path is moments from the doorstep, and the village of Holywell appears to be a reasonable walk (but a walk nonetheless). The sublime beaches of Perran Sands are directly to the south, in case you get bored of cliffs and crashing waves and fancy some sand.
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.

James Fisher is the Digital Commissioning Editor of Country Life. He writes about motoring, travel and things that upset him. He lives in London. He wants to publish good stories, so you should email him.
-
Dream of revolution inside the 18th-century villa once occupied by Napoleon's French troopsAn apartment inside historic Villa Gnecchi Ruscone is on the market and it comes with a grand ballroom rumoured to have been frequented by Napoleon.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
Get ready to get spooky in the Halloween edition of the Country Life Quiz of the Day, October 31, 2025Ghosts, ghouls and ghastly questions lurk in today's quivering quiz.
By Country Life Published
-
Dream of revolution inside the 18th-century villa once occupied by Napoleon's French troopsAn apartment inside historic Villa Gnecchi Ruscone is on the market and it comes with a grand ballroom rumoured to have been frequented by Napoleon.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
May the force be with you if you move into this London apartment block that Obi-Wan Kenobi (and Cher) once lived inOliver’s Wharf was once the residence of megastar Cher and the actor Sir Alec Guinness — as well as Mark Knopfler of the Dire Straits.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
125 glorious acres of Elizabethan elegance for sale in Cheshire that comes with a moatIs this real life? Is it just fantasy? No, it's Holford Hall.
By Annabel Dixon Published
-
Look around this James Bond-themed house for sale in Nottinghamshire and release your inner MI6 agentNow, come, come dear reader, you get as much fulfilment out of Skyfall as I do, so why don't you admit it?
By James Fisher Published
-
The eclectic New York townhouse that Lily Allen sings about in her new, headline-making album is for sale381, Union Street is on the market just days after the singer’s latest album details the alleged infidelity in her marriage.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
This Suffolk home is a perfect escape from the world and it comes with its own stretch of river and 20 acresThis idyllic home in Suffolk is the perfect village home.
By Julie Harding Published
-
The quaint Alpine village that got taken over by The BeatlesThe Beatles visited the Austrian resort of Obertauern to film their 1965 film Help!. Despite a distinct lack of prowess on the slopes, the Fab Four got by with a little help from some new-found friends, discovers Russell Higham.
By Russell Higham Published
-
The ultimate treehouse escape, where you can have a sauna and hot tub 12 metres above the forest floor, is for sale in DorsetGuy Mallinson's award-winning treehouses in Dorset are a true escape from the world. Anna White takes a look.
By Anna White Published