I remember holidays in Cornwall. I remember the bad weather, the surfing, the Cornish Rattler, the drive, the traffic. I also remember looking at houses that surrounded the beaches, thinking 'gosh wouldn't that be a nice place to live', as I trudged through the merciless rain, carrying a surfboard, heading towards a carpark.
One such house, that I feel I almost certainly did see and certainly did think 'that would be a nice place to live', would have been Constantine Cottage, on the more easily accessible north Cornish coast, a few miles west of Padstow. Sitting on the edge of a cliff that overlooks the whole of Constantine Bay, the traditional stone-and-slate property was originally a fisherman’s cottage. It has been tastefully extended over the years since it was built — in 1824, according to a plaque. It is for sale with Savills for £5 million.
On the open market for the first time, the property has been a labour of love for the current owners, who commissioned an interior designer and architect to 'realise their ambition to create a bigger, lighter, more modern and efficient interior'. That they certainly did, with the 2,680sq ft of living space a symphony of Cornish contemporary comfort and modern touches.
Decorated and arranged as a holiday cottage with a dining table to seat 10, four double bedrooms and a bespoke fitted kitchen, the whole house has been cleverly updated by the current owners, resulting in a large, light and modern interior. Outside is a single garage and beach paraphernalia can be stowed in a lockable surfboard-and-wetsuit store. Mature hedging, shrubs and wooden fencing protect the garden from the Atlantic winds and a sandy cove is accessible via steps installed by the vendor.
Padstow and its various amenities are within three miles, while the nearby village of St Merryn offers shops, a primary school and two pubs. Trevose Bay Golf and Country Club is at the end of the lane, providing high-end dining and a very challenging but well-rated golf course.
Additional reporting by Arabella Youens
Credit: Knight Frank
An island retreat with 27 bedrooms and a swirling staircase on the Queen of the Hebrides
Islay House on the Isle of Islay is a hotel with enormous potential to become an awe-inspiring home.
Credit: Hamptons
A contemporary Sussex home with a cinema room taken from the First Class section of a Jumbo Jet
The aviation-themed cinema room is not the only stand-out feature of this £3.5m property. We lift the lid on why
Credit: Savills
A gorgeous old rectory which featured in a Thomas Hardy Novel, for sale in one of Dorset's most deliciously-named villages
Melbury Bubb House is up for sale in a tiny village in Dorset. Penny Churchill takes a look.
From organic pools to £100k huts, the seven trends defining the housing market today
From natural swimming pools to shepherd's huts with six-figure price tags, there are all sorts of things which are getting
-
The transformative renovation of a Grade II-listed property with an 'unusual footprint'Having inherited this fine London townhouse, the new owner asked Sims Hilditch to help refresh the interiors, resulting in a youthful, yet elegant kitchen.
-
‘One of the most effective pieces of propaganda ever made’: the Bayeux Tapestry heads to Britain for the first time in almost a millenniumA historic agreement between this country and France sees the 225ft-long tableau — which may have been made in Britain but has been in France since 1077 — arrive at the British Museum in Autumn 2026.
-
The Good Life 2025? A development promising 'Britain's greenest homes' blends zero carbon, organic allotments and a touch of luxury in the Kent countrysideHartdene Barns, sitting on a disused dairy farm in Kent, is a vision of what sustainable living one day mean for all of us.
-
Breathtaking views and gardens that run down to the water's edge at this delightful home in CornwallThe Garden House in Polruan sums up the appeal of waterside living. Penny Churchill steps inside.
-
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.
-
'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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
