Boatman's Steps

Polruan, Cornwall
Self-catering
+44 (0)7526 738475
Visit owner's website

From
£161 - £386
per night
From
£1000 - £2700
per week

A charming old cottage, steeped in history and in a stunning setting, close to the Coast Path and overlooking the bustling harbour at Fowey

Bed

5 beds

Bedroom

3 bedrooms

Sleeps

Sleeps 6

Children welcome
Pets welcome
Babies welcome

£161 - £386 per night

£1000 - £2700 per week

The Experience

The feel is light, bright and homely all at once. This four-storey semi-detached cottage sits high up on one of the higgledy-piggledy roads of the old village and has secret steps down to the sea for your early morning dip. You can sit outdoors all day in good weather, sunbathing and chatting with locals at the front, or watching the mesmerising zig-zag of coloured boats in the sparkling sea from the deck – binoculars await for bird spotting or closer investigation.

If you’re stuck indoors you’ll still feel happy, with plenty of seating, a merry wood-burner, lots of books and those views, moody and dramatic in bad weather. The well thought out kitchen is easy for cooks with space for joiners-in, and you eat at a long table or out on the deck with a barbecue and spectacular sunsets over the water.

Bedrooms are peaceful and pretty, one at the top with a day bed in the deep window sill. You’ll nod off listening to gulls and waves.

Boatman's Steps - Gallery

We think you'll love

  • Bringing paddle boards and kayaks – older children will be nipping down the steep steps to the sea and disappearing for hours
  • Sneaking off alone for a heavenly early morning swim then a hot outdoor shower on the terrace before breakfast
  • Joining the Coast Path, walking all day, coming back for fish and chips and a pint of local cider at the pub
Boatman's Steps - Gallery

You should know

  • Charmingly, the street is too narrow for cars. You can drop off your stuff at the bottom of the street then there is free parking (for one car) in the village car park, otherwise £30 a week
  • Well-behaved dogs are welcome at £25 each, maximum two per stay

Essentials

  • EV charger
  • Self check-in
  • Swimming pool
  • Hot tub
  • Garden
  • Open fire / woodburner
  • Breakfast included
  • Breakfast available
  • Meals available
  • Vegetarian meals
  • Oven
  • Parking on premises
  • Free parking nearby
  • Accessible by public transport
  • WiFi
  • Television
  • Central heating
  • Limited mobility
  • Wheelchair access
  • Mobile reception
  • Hob
  • Barbecue
  • Paid parking nearby
  • Air conditioning
  • Relaxation areas
  • Washing machine
  • Tennis court
  • Microwave oven
  • No smoking
  • Credit cards
  • Working farm
  • Owner has pets
  • Electricity included
  • Dishwasher
  • Pets welcome

Family friendly

  • Baby monitor
  • Books and toys
  • Children welcome
  • Babies welcome
  • Stair gates
  • High chair
  • Fire guard
  • Cot available

Nearby

  • Pub/bar within 3 miles
  • Restaurant within 3 miles
  • Shop within 3 miles

Activities

  • Bikes available
  • Food courses
  • Kayaking
  • Other courses
  • Sailing
  • Surfing
  • Wild swimming

Pricing

Nightly price
from £161
Weekly price
from £1000
Damage deposit
£300
1 Cottage for 6
From £1615 beds3 bedrooms

Information

Special offer: 10% OFF FOR SAWDAYS

Booking information

Check in
6pm
Check out
12 noon
Other details
Minimum stay: 3 nights, 7 nights in high season. Extra day bed available in one of the bedrooms. Parking for 1 car in the Polruan Village Car Park included in the price.
Closed
Never.
No smoking
Smoking not permitted anywhere in the property.
Dogs

£25 per dog, max. 2 per stay.

Reviews

We felt completely at home from the moment we set foot inside Boatman’s Steps. We were snug and warm, despite the icy blasts and occasional snow flurries outside and the constantly changing views held us captivated in quiet moments. The cottage is beautifully appointed and catered for our every need - there can be no better place to spend a bleak January week. Olly, the owner, was caring and attentive, which added to the warmth of the welcome. An altogether delightful stay.

Gill, Cheltenham

Boatman's Steps...so good we've already booked for a second holiday.

Johanna, Herefordshire

Truly stunning cottage, beautifully decorated and furnished. Wonderful views over to Fowey. Owner very helpful and informative. Cannot wait to return.

Mal, Bournemouth

This cottage looked great on the website and was in fact even better in reality. We loved every bit of it. It’s well placed in the charmingly unspoilt village of Polruan for the ferry over the water to Fowey and near to the village shop and cafe selling freshly made croissants! We spent time walking around the pretty lanes and having a drink at one of the two pubs but we spent ages just watching the comings and goings of the shipping in the estuary from the glamorous deck. This place is a gem!

Jessica, Chichester

A wonderful spot for a full-on, very English, bucket and spade holiday with family or friends. Children will be delighted with the steps down to the beach directly from the terrace, grown ups will appreciate the space, the well-equipped kitchen, the very comfortable sitting room and bedrooms and all will adore the views. A great house for walkers, beach-lovers, birdwatchers and wildlife spotters.

Nicola, Sawday's Inspector

We had a glorious stay in this beautiful house. It was spotless, comfortable and well equipped, having everything we needed including beach towels, board games, bbq etc.. The terrace is wonderful and the views are even better than the pictures! The location is ideal with shops, cafes and pubs on the doorstep as well as in Fowey, a short ferry ride away. You and your dog will love a walk to the fields at the top of the village and then onto the coastal path. Would highly, highly recommend this house and it's location!!

Jeremy, Salisbury

We had a great holiday in Polruan. The cottage has recently been beautifully renovated with amazing interiors. The views from the terrace are fabulous, and we enjoyed watching the world go by in the harbour and using the BBQ in the evenings. The location is amazing - the village pub ‘The Lugger’ does a great fish and chips and it’s really easy to get to Fowey, or go on lots of lovely walks along the coast - we didn’t use the car all week. Will definitely be booking for next year!

Venetia, London

Read more reviews

Location

The neighbourhood

The village has a shop selling most things and two pubs – The Lugger Inn serves good food. You can visit Polruan Blockhouse, take a boat trip, or catch the ferry over to Fowey for fine dining – it runs until 11pm in summer. Join the Coast Path from the end of the street, walk to Lantic Bay in an hour for a wide, sandy beach, eat pasties, spot basking sharks or dolphins, feel lucky to be here.

Local points of interest from Oliver Cassels

  • Get your binoculars ready, and watch the Troy sailing boats and Gig rowers from the deck.
  • Pick up a pasty from Kitty's (we think they're the best!) and walk to Lantic Bay for spectacular coastal views and maybe a chance of spotting dolphins, or a basking shark.
  • Head over to Fowey Hall Hotel to use the heated pool and spa!
  • Try the Hall walk to Fowey, look out for otters and kingfishers, (The river Fowey was the inspiration for the Wind in the Willows) followed by a well-deserved pint of cold cornish Cider.
  • Walk just 2 mins to pick up a delicious takeaway fish and chips from the Lugger. Curl up next to the log burner with a copy of Daphne du Maurier's real-life love story, the loving spirit, set in Fowey.
  • You'll have plenty to do in Polruan, but if you do want a fun day trip, you have the Eden Project and Lanhydrock House and Gardens < 1 hour away.

Introducing

Oliver Cassels

Oliver is from a Wiltshire farming family and is a head-hunter, and his wife Clem is a GP. They live in London and bought the house along with Oliver's brother. Oliver's mother and Clem designed the interiors which they completely overhauled as it hadn't been touched since the 60s. They come down as often as they can and love to walk and swim. They hope you enjoy it too.