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
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