Special Places to Stay - More than a bed for the night

Dylan Thomas saw the beauty of Mousehole and declared it "the loveliest village in England". He would surely have approved too of this converted fisherman's loft. By a flower-filled courtyard Creel, an early 18th-century property, sits contentedly alongside its neighbours – but what looks like a pocket-size cottage from the outside opens up inside to airy rooms and beautiful things. There are shells, tapestries, hanging lanterns and a colourful Moroccan theme that flows into large bedrooms with luscious throws on beds and a subtly feminine touch. The kitchen and dining space fit together upstairs, while a lovely barn door cut into the low eaves leads to the sweet, shared courtyard. Even luckier, off the easy, trinket-filled sitting room, there's a small garden with two bistro chairs and a table for Cornwall's famously sunny days. The delights of Mousehole await: you can wander to the pub or listen to lobster pot-percussion on the harbour; walk to the beach; find the freshest fish that Cornwall's restaurants can offer. The Minack Theatre, Eden Project and festivals in Penzance are all within reach. Special indeed.