Press Coverage

Cornwall: Down End Cottage, Talland Bay

A lovely rural cottage perched in a spectacular coastal setting with breathtaking 180-degree views across the Atlantic Ocean, stretching from Bolt Tail in the east to the Lizard Peninsula in the west. 4 beds, 2 baths, kitchen/breakfast room, reception, garden room, garden, garage. OIEO £1.5 million.

With the rise of WFH, developers are having to up their game with higher-end designs.

These two one-bedroom apartments are in the middle of Padstow, a few moments’ walk from the harbour. Both are popular holiday lets, and these properties present an attractive investment opportunity in this foodie paradise.

Upside: ‘Padstein’ is booming

Downside: Watch out for heavy tax rises on holiday lets

Price: £650,000 1& 2 Strand Flats, Padstow

Set on a corner plot with stunning sea views, this three-bedroom bungalow is only minutes from Greenaway Beach. Subject to planning consents, Four Winds has great potential for redevelopment. John Bray Estates – Trebetherick Cornwall – Guide Price £1,850,000

Nestled away just moments from the harbour, this charming two-bedroom bungalow offers open-plan living with views of the sea and cliffs. Currently a holiday let, it’s a low-maintenance bolthole in one of Cornwall’s most sought-after locations. John Bray Estates – Cobblers Cottage, Guide Price £350,000

A stunning cottage perched on a clifftop in one of the UK’s most sought after coastal destinations has been put on the market at £1.5million.

Down End Cottage takes the term ‘detached’ to new heights as it stands alone with uninterrupted 180-degree panoramic ocean views, offering its owners ultimate seclusion and privacy.

The four-bedroom bungalow sits within half-an-acre of private land, and offers access to a stretch of the South West Coast Path between the fishing village of Polperro and Talland Bay in south Cornwall.

The 630-mile path starts in Somerset and runs along the coastline of Exmoor, continuing adjacent to the sea as it enters North Devon and then Cornwall. It ends at Dorset’s Poole Harbour.

However, the path is invisible from the white-washed property, while walkers remain oblivious to the house above them due to its positioning and surrounding wild shrubbery.

Estate agents John Bray, who are selling the property, said the cottage is ‘completely private and seemingly suspended between sea and sky’.

Or…a plot of land in Cornwall

This pocket of Polzeath overlooking the beach is about 2,270 sq ft with power to the premises. Water and drainage are not connected but are nearby. At present there’s a shop selling surf lessons and decking on the site. The business is not for sale, unlike the land – which is leasehold with 997 years remaining – and the redevelopment opportunity that comes with it.

EPC: N/A

Upside: Great access on foot to the beach and South West Coast Path

Downside: No planning permission

Land adjacent to the Galleon, Guide Price £395,000

Cornwall , Menaring Cottage, Crackington Haven.

Lovely stone cottage with magnificent sea views in an unspoilt AONB close to the South West Coast PAth. 3 beds, 2 baths, kitchen/living room, garden patio, parking. £650,000.

Fancy having more than 7,200 sq ft of property with private beachfront access to play with? Currently used as a holiday home, Atlantic Court is a 16-bedroom house with a two-bedroom annexe and outbuildings stretching across more than ten acres of north Cornsih coaastline, studded with gorse and wild heather, on the clifftops near Bude. There’s bags of potential: perhaps you could live in it as your private home, split it up into smaller spaces or use as a commercial hospitality business.

Rock, Cornwall

This picturesque village on the north coast of Cornwall has earned a reputation as England’s answer to Saint-Tropez. Sitting on the banks of the Camel Estuary, it is surrounded by natural beauty. Rock is also a haven for foodies with spots such as Paul Ainsworth at No6 and gastropub The Mariners. However the post-pandemic years have seen a rebalance and it has seen a 32 percent fall in values, Rightmove reports.

Buy It: Trelyn, a three bedroom bungalow in Trelyn, Rock is with John Bray and Partners for £745,000

Councils are expected to lose £383m as second home owners continue to dodge paying double council tax on their properties.

Property owners can avoid the charge for both the second home premium and standard council tax by renting out their second homes as holiday lets for 70 nights per year and receiving much cheaper business rates.

Telegraph Money is campaigning to scrap the tax.

Josephine Ashby, of John Bray Estates, added that the tax was “unfair” and is causing a slump in the sector.

She said: “It’s not a one-size-fits-all tax. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Some have inherited a second property, can’t sell it and are now hit with double council tax.”

“The whole thing is causing stagnation in the system – it used to be that you were in a fantastic position with a house to sell. Now it must be well-priced and well-marketed.

“People are still buying, which is nothing short of a miracle, but it is difficult to sell – there are many more properties than buyers.”

At the time of writ­ing, Right­move is advert­ising nine clifftop homes in North Corn­wall priced at more than £3mil­lion. Film star Cate Blanchett recently spent £1.25mil­lion for the build­ing plot alone, on the cliffs above Mawgan Porth.

At almost half of the price, Atlantic Court is on a plot of about ten acres, dir­ectly over­look­ing the sea on the Coast Road of North Corn­wall.

It has private beach­front access to the cove below, and there are 16 bed­rooms and nine bath­rooms, as well as mul­tiple enter­tain­ment spaces.

THERE is also a detached two-bed­room, first-floor apart­ment. Recon­fig­ur­ing the rooms would, obvi­ously, be chal­len­ging – so it would be best to fol­low Green­wood’s advice: ‘Always employ an archi­tect. He will study the ergo­nom­ics of a prop­erty. A good archi­tect thinks in 3D.’

It is worth not­ing that Atlantic Court comes with plan­ning con­sent for res­id­en­tial use and is on sale with John Bray Estates from a guide price of £1.75mil­lion (john­brayestates.co.uk).

In a volatile world buyers must do their homework, estate agents say – while sellers need to make their properties stand out from the crowd.

Three-bedroom Menaring Cottage near Crackington Haven, on north Cornwall’s rugged coast, is for sale at £650,000 with John Bray Estates.

In a volatile world buyers must do their homework, estate agents say — while sellers need to make their properties stand out from the crowd.

Northcliffe in Port Isaac, Cornwall, has four bedrooms and is on sale for £2.25million with John Bray Estates.

For many of us, getting away for Easter means heading to the coast, so you’ll be pleased to know that there’s more of it to explore than ever before.

Last month, the King opened a new footpath which, at 2,689 miles long, is the world’s longest managed route of its kind, though work on some parts isn’t yet finished. Named King Charles III England Coast Path, it’s a continuous trail around the entire coast of England, incorporating sections that were previously off-limits. If your break gets you thinking about spending more time beside the seaside, start your house hunt here.

You’re unlikely to find a coastal getaway in a more scenic spot than Northcliffe, an upgraded, Grade II-listed New England-style house dating from the mid-1800s. Tucked away from the bustle of the village, it sits on the side of a hill gazing out over the Atlantic. The kitchen, open-plan living/dining room and garden room all overlook the harbour, three of the four double bedrooms are ensuite and the spectacular terraced garden appears to float over the water.

Cornwall: Gwynne Moor, Wadebridge. Delightful period cottage set in approx. 9acres of countryside. 2beds, family bath, kitchen, 2 receps, stables, outbuildings, garden, parking £695,000. John Bray Estates

Downsizers struggle to find future-proof homes as developers seize on generous plots.

This is certainly the case in Cornwall, which is the top location for bungalow rebuilds over the past five years.

Charlie Hambly, of John Bray Estates in Cornwall, says: “Cornwall has an unusually high concentration of bungalows because they were the building type of choice for the middle classes seeking an affordable second home near the coast in the mid-20th century.

For Sale in Port Isaac, Cornwall, £280,000

It’s impossible not to get cosy in The Shrimp, as this whitewashed fisherman’s cottage is rather compact, but its charm and location more than make up for the lack of space.

Comprises an open-plan living, kitchen and dining room with flagstone flooring, stone walls and exposed beams, a bedroom with an ensuite bathroom, and offers scope for refurbishment.

Being moments from the pretty harbour, pubs and restaurants, it’s the perfect place for a relaxing getaway.

Succumb to the charms of this cute cottage. Photo: Drew-Shearwood

In the hills above Mawgan Porth, a wonderful opportunity has come up to take on Tolcarne Merock, a Georgian farmhouse, and the 167 acres that come with it.

The property in question is a Grade II-listed farmhouse set amid rolling hills, just over a mile from the beach. And while down at the beach the asking price (of £2.75 million via John Bray Estates) would buy you not much more than a prime plot, this property offers you a Georgian house and multiple outbuildings set in 167 acres of Cornwall which are on the market for the first time in 500 years. Though the farm has been in the same family since the 16th century, the three-bedroom farmhouse is, relatively speaking, much newer. It dates back to the early 19th century and is set in a historic walled garden, which protects it from some of the wilder weather brought by the Atlantic. You shouldn’t expect too much of what lies within: as the pictures here show, a lot of TLC is needed to return this place to its glory days, although it’s entirely liveable.

Moments from Daymer Bay beach and the Southwest Coast Path , this handsome house offers panoramic sea and estuary views. 4 Beds , 3 baths, kitchen, 2 receps, garden, garage. Was £2.5m now OIEO £1.85m

The Cottage, Trebetherick

“We approach 2026 with a measured confidence shaped by experience. Over the past year, it has become clear that Cornwall continues to operate to its own logic, with buyers responding best to realism and decisiveness. Pricing has proved central to maintaining momentum, and we have seen time and again that well-judged adjustments quickly turn interest into agreed sales.

While we recognise the impact of higher taxes and wider economic pressures, demand has remained resilient, particularly for prime homes that are presented honestly. Our expansion across the Seven Bays reflects this steady appetite, as does a strong run of transactions towards the end of the year.

Looking ahead, our outlook for 2026 is grounded in pragmatism, clear advice and the understanding that real progress is achieved through engagement.

Whins  |  New Polzeath

“One property that captures this approach is Whins, in New Polzeath, offered for sale for the first time in a hundred years. It represents a rare chance to acquire a house with genuine longevity in one of north Cornwall’s most sought-after villages. Our strategy is straightforward: provide clear guidance, resist overvaluation and allow the strength of the house to speak for itself. In a market where buyers are selective and informed, transparency is proving decisive.”

The cover of Cornwall Living Magazine features Tregwyn in Port Quinn. A waterfront property sold by John Bray Estates. Photo by Drew Shearwood.

Get limber in your lounge!

Surfing is surely one of the most invigorating forms of exercise. And if you want to surf with A-listers in the UK, you will want to live in Mawgan Porth. This North Cornwall village overlooking the Atlantic breakers is where Jason Statham, Cate Blanchett, Imogen Stubbs and Chris Martin are all reported to have homes.

u are also likely to bump into Noel Gallagher and Kate Winslet, according to the locals. Oozing seaside chic, The Palm House  is typical of the uber stylish constructions that have replaced the 1930s bungalows of decades past. With landscaped gardens, it also has a wooden sauna and hot tub alongside a blackened yoga suite where you can recover from the battering of the waves.

Currently for sale in Mawgan Porth Guide Price £1,875,000 –  The Palm House

As seen in Coast Magazine:

Shearwater, The Greenaway

Treglissen, Porthcothan

Beachside Apartment, Rock

Lobster Pot, Port Isaac

The Wrens, Polzeath

Cornwall

Grade II Listed May House takes its name from Captain Thomas May, a schooner captain who survived a shipwreck in the Bay of Biscay in 1891. The 19th-century property is in Port Isaac, the coastal village that doubles as Port Wenn in ITV’s Doc Martin. More than 1000 sq. ft of living space comprises an open-plan lounge/diner with a log-burner, and a kitchen with an Aga, plus doors out to the patio terrace, where there is a wood-fired hot tub. Upstairs there are two bedrooms, one of which has a freestanding bathtub and the other and en suite.

Upside – splendid sea views

Downside – the poor EPC G rating (potential E).

Guide Price £950,000 – May House, Port Isaac

Hillsborough Farm Near Boscastle, Cornwall  –  Guide price £1,150,000

Perched on an unspoiled stretch of the North Cornwall coast, this Grade II-listed four-bedroom farmhouse comes with a one-bedroom annexe and a three-bedroom barn conversion, all beautifully presented and offering great lifestyle or business opportunities.

Rigi, Polzeath, Cornwall – Guide Price £2,500,000

Rigi presents a rare chance to secure a frontline coastal home on Tristram Cliff, overlooking Polzeath Beach, Pentire Point and the Atlantic. Set in more than half an acre, this detached three-bedroom property offers direct South West Coast Path access, with golden sands only steps away and exceptional potential for redevelopment into a landmark coastal retreat. 

The Palm House, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall – Guide price £1,875,000

Set above Mawgan Porth with serene Atlantic views, the four-bedroom Palm House is a sleek, Malibu-inspired beach retreat. Recently renovated, it features full-height glazing, stone terraces and serene interiors designed for indoor-outdoor living. With a hot tub, sauna and yoga studio, it’s a sanctuary made for relaxation.

Galtee Beag, Rock, Cornwall  – Guide price £3,500,000

Galtee Beag is an architecturally striking five-bedroom detached home, just moments away from Rock’s most popular dining and leisure facilities. Rooflights flood the modern interiors with natural light, while expansive glazing – including the mezzanine gallery’s stunning apex window – provides views across the estuary and surrounding countryside.

Tide Race, Trebetherick, Cornwall – Guide price £5,250,000

Moments from Daymer Bay and St Enodoc Golf Club, this recently built six-bedroom home has panoramic views across the estuary to Brea Hill. Its many highlights include expansive, tastefully decorated interiors, terraces and a large covered balcony, a games room and a heated outdoor pool – ideal for year-round enjoyment.

Rosemayne, Rock, Cornwall – Guide Price £795,000

Rosemayne is a beautiful four-bedroom Victorian cottage in a quiet central location in Rock, on the Camel Estuary. Its highlights include a large lounge with a log burner, exposed ceiling beams, and direct access to the outdoor terrace and tranquil private garden with a summerhouse. Ideal for use as a main home, or a holiday property.

The Carriage House is a charming three-bedroom cottage located just under a two-minute walk from the picturesque harbour of Port Isaac (home to Doc Martin) in north Cornwall.The property has been designed to blend seamlessly with its historic surroundings outside, whilst offering a modern interior within. The ground floor has a contemporary kitchen, and an open-plan living space – ideal for relaxing after a day by the sea. Upstairs there are three double bedrooms and a family bathroom. The proeprty also benefits from a parking space and a small sunny patio terrace.

CORNWALL illustrates the unjustness of the mansion tax. ‘It is unlikely to present a big problem to more wealthy owners”, says Josephine Ashby of John Bray Estates. “However the local families who have lived here for generations and are property rich, but cash poor will feel the pain.” £2million buys you a beautiful four-bedroom seaside home in North Cornwall.

CORNWALL

Porthilly Cove is home of the award winning Porthilly oysters and mussels, and it;s also a five-minute walk away fro Tewennow, a four-bedroom family home. All bedrooms have vies of the Camel Estuary. The ground floor bedroom has an en suite, and theres a family bathroom plus two separate WCs. Also on the ground floor are a sitting room, a dining room, a kitchen and a conservatory. The 0.28-acre plot features plenty of parking, two ponds and a double garage and store.

EPC D (potential D) – on a scale from A (best) to G (worst)

Upside Close to Newquay airport

Downside In need of modernising

Price £1.95 million

“You’ll get not one but three stone cottages for your money at Hillsborough Farm, less than a mile from Bpstcastle and with dramatic views of the north Cornish coast thrown in. Th emain property is the four-bedroom Old Farmhouse, which is grade II listed. The Boatshed, a studio is the smallest, while The Hayloft has three bedrooms.”

With Rachel Reeves’s November statement looming large, the autumn housing market is defined by panic, urgency and uncertainty over a possible ‘mansion tax’.

Charlie Hambly, of the Cornish agent John Bray Estates, gives as an example the seller of a five-bedroom ocean-view property in north Cornwall, who put it on the market at a 10 per cent discount on September 19 and accepted a cash offer beneath that level in late October — but on the condition that it was completed before the budget because of a desire to beat any CGT charge.

They are racing for the line. “Conveyancing solicitors [in general] are now overwhelmed with transactions that need to reach completion by November 26,” Hambly adds.

Cornwall: The Carriage House, Port Isaac. A delightful cottage, close to the harbour. 3 beds, family bath, open-plan kitchen/living room, car port. Guide Price £575,000

Battered by interest rates and now Budget jitters, sellers are increasingly being forced to slash prices.

In Cornwall, Josephine Ashby, of John Bray Estates, also believes that dropping the price can be an effective selling strategy. She was selling a four-bedroom modern house in Rock which, on sale at £1.75m, was not getting any offers. In July the price was reduced to £1.6m, a discount of slightly under 10pc; a sale was agreed in around a week.

“We have real evidence of price changes almost instantly resulting in sales being agreed,” she says. “It’s no longer enough to be best in class; prime property equally needs to feel attractively priced. The combination of both is getting buyers off the fence.”

Michelle Berriedale-Johnson turned an imposing four-bed house into a bespoke home for her needs.

Over the past couple of years Charlie Hambly of John Bray Estates in Cornwall has also noticed more downsizers hunting for homes with self-contained accommodation.
He is currently handling the sale of a £1.35m four-bedroom farmhouse near Port Isaac, which comes with a cottage and a self-contained annexe.
The owners plan to live in the farmhouse, which is smaller than their current home, and will rent out the cottage. The annexe will be reserved for family and friends but, should the time come, could become a carers’ flat.
“People really like the versatility of this sort of property,” says Hambly. “They want a house they can enjoy living in, plus the chance to make a bit of income.”

Cornwall | May House, Port Isaac £950,000

A handsome 19th century house perched above the harbour, with sea views from the first floor. 2 beds (both en suite), kitchen/dining room, reception, wraparound terrace with hot tub. £950,000; JB Estates.

Port Isaac £895,000 – Grade II-listed Leat House served as a butcher and greengrocer before becoming a charming four-bedroom home.

Three bedrooms and a family bathroom are on the first floor, and the fourth, together with an ensuite shower room, is in the converted loft.

A few steps from the village’s picturesque harbour, this whitewashed stone cottage also has an open plan kitchen/dining room with an AGA, two reception rooms, a utility and an enclosed garden with parking for two cars. From John Bray Estates.

A SEEMINGLY ordinary bungalow has puzzled househunters with its eye-popping price tag – but step foot in the garden and you’ll see why.

The humble gaff in Polzeath, Cornwall only covers 782 sq ft but will set its buyer back by a staggering £1.5million.

The rundown property comes complete with a reception room, kitchen, conservatory, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

However, the home derives its value from its location in the trendy Cornish resort and surfing mecca as opposed to its amenities.

It is being sold with planning permission to bulldoze it and construct two contemporary and energy-efficient five-bedroom homes in its place.

There are also agreements in place preventing any development from taking place between the plot and the sea, guaranteeing unspoilt views for life.

A humble bungalow measuring just 782 sq ft has hit the market for £1.5million – because of its beachside location in a trendy Cornish resort.

The rundown home sits in a prime plot in Polzeath, boasting views across the sandy beach.

It has just 782 sq ft of living space with a reception room, kitchen, conservatory, two bedrooms and a bathroom.

But the unassuming property is being sold with planning permission to demolish it – and replace it with two contemporary and energy-efficient five-bedroom homes.

It really is possible to turn an ugly duckling into a swan without a huge investment.

One property that could fall into this category is picture-postcard period cottage Gwynne Moore in the tiny hamlet of Withiel in Cornwall. This two-bedroom house not only comes with nine-acres of land but also includes a partially constructed barn conversion, stable block and several outbuildings, so there’s plenty of potential.

Set in around four acres of grounds, Hay House was designed by RIBA award-winning architects New British Design and completed last year. The main house combines reclaimed stone, zinc and timber and was built to the latest regulations and to make the most of the views.

It’s arranged over three floors, with five double bedrooms and three reception rooms and underfloor, digitally controlled air source heating. There are two tin-clad long barns and two outbuildings, one run as a successful holiday let. Mawgan Porth beach is a five-minute drive. Contact John Bray Estates

The ultra modern house is only 5-minutes from the beach.

An abundance of bargains in holiday hotspots is coaxing retirees to sell up their family homes.

Reduced asking prices are also attracting downsizing retirees from London and the South East to Cornwall, adds Josephine Ashby of John Bray Estates in North Cornwall. “We’re seeing owner-occupiers come in pursuit of the Cornish good life and a steadier market provides them with the opportunity, without having to battle against intense competition,” she comments.

Shrub Cottage was built in the 1800s as one of Port Gaverne’s pilchard cellars. Now the whitewashed, end-of-terrace property has three bedrooms and an open-plan kitchen, living and dining area with period features such as sash windows and exposed beams. There is a pantry and a log burner. It is a one-minute walk to the beach, the South West coastal path and the old harbour. Port Gaverne sits on an unspoilt stretch of the North Cornwall coast with neighbouring Port Isaac just over the brow of the hill. Shrub Cottage is on the market for £575,000 with JB Estates

With two heatwaves already under our belts this summer and more possible over the rest of July and into August, many of us urbanites might be dreaming of moving to a place that offers coastal breezes and a less pressured lifestyle. Somewhere like Cornwall….It’s hard not to fall in love with a picture-perfect house by the sea – particularly one with such a fascinating history as Shrub Cottage in Port Gaverne.

Shrub Cottage has three bedrooms and is a short walk from Port Gaverne harbour, near Port Isaac. The 760 sq ft accommodation includes an dopen-plan kitchen/sitting room with a wood burner. Outside, there’s an enclosed front garden with a patio and parking for two cars. Cornwall £575,000

Buyers love a beachside bolthole and with three bedrooms on the ground floor, this allows for an open plan first floor for partying and admiring the view of the beach just 100 yards away. There’s a parking space and planning consent to add a fourth bedroom.

Sea Breezes, Polzeath, Cornwall

A stunning waterside home sitting above an unspoiled Cornish harbour and metres from one of Britain’s most revered coastal paths has gone on the market.

The property, named Tregwyn, has stunning views of the Port Quin cove and an eye-watering price tag to match – at £1.5million.   It is also has easy access to the South West Coast Path, the 630-mile trail featured in new popular biopic film The Salt Path, starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs.

The four-bedroom, three-bathroom detached house, made from Cornish stone, boasts a whopping 2,168 sq ft of living space. Its unique features include a sea-facing patio terrace in the fenced front garden; a ‘naturalised area’ with a bench to take in the views; and land to the rear leased from the National Trust with a shed and vegetable boxes. The home also boasts a wood burner, French doors, large dining room, snug, sun room, shower room, detached garage and a gated driveway with room for up to three cars.

Just a short walk from the Camel Estuary, Torquil House, a seven bedroom Edwardian home, combines period features with contemporary comforts. Also included is a two-bedroom cottage and a private spa, all set in peaceful enclosed gardens.

Property featured is Torquil House & Little Torquil

A few steps from Rock’s golden beach on the Camel Estuary, this three-bedroom waterfront apartment offers light flooded interiors, a large balcony and panoramic views towards Padstow and the surrounding Cornish countryside.

Property features is Beachside Apartment 3

This five-bedroom property with a one-bedroom annexe enjoys sea views across Port Gaverne to Tintagel Head. It’s designed for relaxing and entertaining, with a spacious kitchen and dining area, terrace and garde.

Property featured Oyster Bay.

Whitehay has its own cricket pitch and a croquet lawn, plus woodland walks and river frontage

If the quintessential Cornish dream is what you are yearning for, this exquisite country home complete with a converted mill and a magical setting will be the only property for you.

Standing within the village of Withiel, Whitehay is set in around 65 acres of beautifully managed grounds, including parkland, formal gardens, a cricket pitch, croquet lawn, tennis court, woodland walks and river frontage. With continuous investment over the decades by each custodian, the six-bedroom property has been meticulously maintained. Dating from the 17th century, the house was sympathetically extended in the late 20th century, creating a stylish and comfortable residence, built of local stone and slate. Throughout the house traditional features abound, from flagstone floors and beamed ceilings, to wide pitch pine doors, granite hearths and lintels.

A stone porch and front door lead into Whitehay’s imposing reception hall which has a double-height ceiling and a large wood burner. The adjoining drawing room is large but comfortable and gives access to a rear hall that formed part of the original cottage and features beautiful worn beams and slate flagstones. A sitting room with an open fireplace, original cloam oven and inspiring garden views lies off the rear hall, while the farmhouse-style kitchen, fitted with integrated appliances and a sociable central island topped with limestone, forms the heart of the house. A dual aspect dining room, a studio, a larder and wine cellar, and a boiler room complete the ground floor. A wide staircase leads up to a galleried landing on the first floor.

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Tregwyn looks like something out of a film set, and it could be yours.

For an island that is inherently quite small, there sure is a lot of stuff in the UK. It’s pretty amazing, when you think about it, that you can go from the flat fields of Suffolk to the harsh mountains of the Highlands in a single day. And, from there, to the cliffs and coves of Cornwall in another 10 hours or so. There is something enchanting about the cove. It’s one of those words that sounds exactly like it should, such as ‘parched’, ‘rasp’ or ‘drench’. When I hear the word cove, I can instantly hear the gulls squawking overhead, smell the salt and see the Atlantic ocean stretching out from the cliffs underneath my feet. I would like to live in a house by a cove. A house such as Tregwyn.

For sale with John Bray Estates for £1.5 million, Tregwyn is one of those homes that I could look at for hours. With four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a small garden and plenty of parking, you will want for nothing.

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Theres a lot of potential to renovate this sunny house overlooking Port Isaac in Cornwall. Property featured is Sunnybank

Market Comment – Fabulous bargains – At the top end of the market, buyers are enjoying what Josephine Ashby of John Bray Estates calls “a rare abundance of choice and a selection of property that may not reappear on the market for generations” as owners reduce prices. And people are still buying, such as those who snapped up an off-market clifftop property in Polzeath on the first viewing.

While EPCs are becoming increasingly important for buyers and landlords due to rising energy costs and potential regulations, they remain imperfect tools that should be interpreted carefully and supplemented with expert advice.

Josephine Ashby of John Bray Estates concludes, “With the potential for legislative changes and incentives geared towards greener living, energy efficiency is likely to become increasingly important. It’s interesting to see how what was once seen as a minor detail has transformed into a fundamental aspect of sustainable and cost-effective homeownership.

“The threat of rental restrictions on properties with low EPC ratings is increasing demand for properties with good EPC ratings; those with A and B ratings are catching the attention of serious buyers for all the obvious reasons.”

Hay House combines location, elegance and modern family living to create a special home for the 21st century.

Building beautiful homes has been a rich tradition in this island for centuries, and a tradition that has been celebrated in the pages (both print and online) for more than 100 years. Looking at the beautiful Elizabethan, Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian creations, it is easy to forget that homes of significance are still being built right now.

What makes a home significant and, indeed, beautiful? Location, style and utility are three words that usually spring to mind. For a building to be great, it surely must be in a good place, look nice among its surroundings and cater to the needs of whoever lives there. One such example, built last year, is surely Hay House in Cornwall, which is for sale with John Bray Estates for £1.875 million.

This elegant detached Edwardian property has seven bedrooms, alongside a separate two-bedroom holiday cottage and detached spa suite. Available for the first time as a whole Torquil House and Little Torquil are set less than 160 metres from the sheltered dunes of Daymer Bay and the Camel Estuary. Torquil House is a fine example of a period seaside family house, set in delightful gardens and surrounded by the peace and splendour of the north Cornish coast. The poet, John Betjeman, fondly visited Torquil House during his childhood and affectionately refers to Torquil in his poetry.

With a guide price of £4,500,000, contact JB Estates on 01208 862601 for more information.

Best properties on the market.

Cornwall: The Shrimp, Port Isaac. A Grade II fisherman’s cottage located close to the harbour in the heart of this popular Cornish village. Main suite, open-plan kitchen/living room. £280,000.

Life’s a beach for anyone who has £3.15million to snap up this gorgeous Cornish cottage that has the Atlantic on its doorstep

A stunning coastal cottage with the Atlantic Ocean on its doorstep is up for sale for £3.15million. The aptly-named Beach Cottage is the ideal home for anyone who likes to be beside the seaside.

The four-bedroom property is just yards away from Porthcothan Bay on the north coast of Cornwall and features stunning sea views from all of its main rooms. It has been renovated and extended to preserve the original cottage while also providing high end accommodation. The property is on the edge of sand dunes that lead down to the beach and also has a sheltered and private garden with terrace, decking and a gate opening straight onto the beach. The house has 2,679 sq ft of accommodation with an open plan kitchen/sitting/dining room, games/TV room, utility room and boot room on the ground floor and four bedrooms and three bathrooms on the first floor. The master bedroom has a sea-facing balcony to make the most of its outstanding position. There is also an attached two-bedroom annexe that has been used as a successful holiday let and a spa suite in the rear garden with a hot tub, shower room and bar. It also has parking for multiple cars and a car port with two EV charging points.

From a four bedroom house overlooking the beach to a luxury apartment with access to a spa, here’s our pick of the lates properties for sale by the sea.

Treyarnon Bay, Cornwall Guide Price £2,750,000

Commanding an elevated spot over Treyarnon Bay, Tresco is a striking five to six bedroom modern home with sweeping coastal views. This newly built, architect designed detached property features stylish interiors and expansive sunny terraces. Just a short walk away from Treyarnon Bay Beach and the Southwest Coast Path, it’s perfect for enjoying outdoor living while taking in the scenery of the north Cornish coastline.

Polzeath, Cornwall Guide Price £2,200,000

With uninterrupted views over Polzeath Beach – family friendly and among Cornwall’s best surf destinations – Chyanna is one of three distinctive modern four-bedroom townhouses. Spread across four floors, its ‘reverse design’ maximises the views from the living spaces. Floor-to-ceiling windows and multiple balconies make the most of the light and sea air.

Trebetherick, Cornwall Guide Price £750,000

This stylish three-bedroom ground-floor apartment in the St Moritz Hotel is just moments from the South West Coast Path, the Camel Estuary and the sandy beaches of Polzeath and Daymer Bay. Featuring high-end interiors, a light and spacious open-plan living area and a terraced garden, it is currently used as a second home and holiday rental. Owners also enjoy access to the hotel’s leisure facilities including a new spa.

Port Isaac, Cornwall, Guide Price £380,000

Dating back to the 1850s Sea Holly Cottage is a charming two-bedroom home , within easy distance of the amenities offered by Port Isaac and Port Gaverne. Full of character, the cottage features exposed wooden beams and flagstone slate floors, and the interiors are tastefully designed, with natural light throughout. Outside, you’ll find a spacious and beautifuk garden and patio with glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Camel Estuary

The Canmel Estuary is one of two inland sections of Cornwall’s National landscape. Rising on Bodmin Moor as a small freshwater river, it twists and turns for some 30 miles, before opening out to form a broad, flat, half-mile-wide stretch of the estuary.

A designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty blessed with expansive sandy beaches, the Camel Estuary includes the exclusive enclave of Rock. With its larger waterfront homes and Sailing & Waterski Club, the average house price in Rock is £796K*. The estuary hasl also become a key foodie destination, thanks to celebrity chefs such as Rick Stein, Paul Ainsworth and Nathan Outlaw using Cornwall’s finest local and home grown produce.

For those who commute out of the county, there is easy access to Cornwall Airport Newquay – this serves destinations around the UK and in Europe, including London Gatwick. Plus, better links via the improved A30 give easier and fater road access. If you’re seeking a property around the Camel Estuary, visit johnbrayestates.co.uk.

The best of this week’s property for sale.

Moments from the surf of Porthcothan Bay, this is a four-bedroom beach cottage with a two-bedroom annexe. The open-plan kitchen with bi-fold doors has views on to the garden, where ther’s a spa suite with hot tub, shower room and bar. Currently a successful holiday let, it offers plenty of enticements to the visitor, from the soft sandy beach, a few steps away, to north Cornwall’s golf courses.

Second home owners are poised to fight back as Cornwall prepares to impose double council tax – leaving councillors fearing for their budget.

In Cornwall, the council is pressing ahead with a second home tax, despite misgivings on the part of some councillors that it will fail to realise the expected income.

House sales are already on the increase, according to local estate agent Jo Ashby, many of them by second homeowners reluctant to pay the extra tax.

As managing partner of John Bray, which covers some of Cornwall’s second home hotspots on the north coast, she can see a benefit to the local community from the release of properties previously owned by city dwellers far away.

“The council tax change has triggered a huge debate and many people are thinking about selling up. Prices have already fallen,” she said.

According to figures from the property website Rightmove, house prices in Cornwall fell 5% last year.

“At times it feels like the council is killing a golden goose when it targets second homes, but we have a ­housing crisis, and everyone knows it,” Ashby said.

She added that the council might suffer on both fronts. She is sceptical that a flurry of sales and a price drop – even by as much as 20% – would allow locals back into areas dominated by second homes.

POLZEATH, CORNWALL GUIDE PRICE £1,950,000

Wild Thyme is a semi-detached, four bed property, enjoying an enviable positions with uninterrupted views across Polzeath beach. It benefits from sensational sea views from the master bedroom and open plan living/dining room with dorect access out onto the sea-facing garden. The beauty of Wild Thyme lies in its fantastic frontline location, situated just a few steps from Polzeath’s ever-popular surf beach, making it the ideal bolthole with sea views to match.

Pretty Port Isaac is a fishing village on Cornwall’s northern coast, replete with whitewashed stone terrace such as this three-bedroom house. Almost 1,000 sq ft of living space is arranged over three floors, with the ground comprising a slender kitchen with a vaulted ceiling opening to the dining room, lounge and conservatory. There’s a single bathroom on the first floor. The rear garden/patio has lovely views and the property includes private parking for a minimum of two vehicles and a small stone outbuilding.

EPC F (potential B)

Upside It’s chain free

Downside The poor energy efficiency rating

Price £450,000

See more about 87 Fore St

Cornwall Market House, Port Isaac

An immaculate Grade II end-of-terrace stone property, dating back to 1771. The house is situated in an enviable position right on the quayside, with uninterrupted views into the harbour, and just a short walk from the village. 2 beds, family bath, semi open-plan kitchen, 2 receps. £750,000; JB Estates

The Old Cobblers is a grade II listed two-bedroom flat in Port Isaac. On the ground floor, it has an open-plan sitting room/kitchen and has recently been renovated. It’s run as a holiday let at present and is a few minutes’ walk from the harbour.

Hillside Cottagem Port Isaac, Cornwall, £650,000

The cheerfully decorated cottage is perfectly located for seafood lovers.

Nathan Outlaw’s two restaurants, Outlaw’s New Road and Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, both have one star and specialise in seafood. They are also an easy stroll from Hillside Cottage. This three-bedroom house, decoarted in bright, cheerful colours, is currently a holiday let and enjoys beautiful views over harbour and out to sea. Contact John Bray Estates.

While many of us are content to have a decent cafe or bistro up the road, true foodies are only happy with a top restaurant in easy reach.

Accolades don’t get any better than a Michelin Star, and the recently unveiled Michelin Guide 2025 includes 220 one-, two- and three-starred restaurants across Great Britain and Ireland.

There’s one new three-star establishment, three are freshly crowned with two stars and a further 22 have earned one shiny new star.

If moving home is on the menu, feast your eyes on this smorgasbord of properties, all close to Michelin-starred restaurants.

Nathan Outlaw’s two restaurants, Outlaw’s New Road and Outlaw’s Fish Kitchen, both have one star and specialise in seafood. They are also an easy stroll from Hillside Cottage.

This three-bedroom house, decorated in bright, cheerful colours, is currently a holiday let and enjoys beautiful views over harbour and out to sea. Contact John Bray Estates.

Built in 2018 and designed by Concept Zero Architects, five-bedroom Megizzy offers dramatic views of Polzeath Beach.The fabulous open-plan kitchen has bi-folding doors out onto the terrace.

Megizzy, overlooking Polzeath Beach in North Cornwall, has five bedrooms — including a dormitory with four bunkbeds — a huge terrace, fingerprint entry and those views.

It’s on the market with John Bray.

Hillside Cottage, Port Isaac, Cornwall, UK  £650,000

What A grade II-listed stone fisherman’s cottage with three bedrooms and a terraced garden with views of the harbour.

Where The village of Port Isaac in north Cornwall, a short stroll from the working harbour where the fishing boats bring back their catch of lobster and crab.

Why The house was renovated in 2018. Most contents are included in the sale and it comes with a rented parking space – a bonus in Port Isaac with its winding lanes.

Who John Bray Estates

 19 properties on the market right now with stunning vistas of the sea, lakes and mountains (and some cost the same as a house in the suburbs)

Featuring

Llawnroc in Porthcothan and

Wild Thyme in New Polzeath

From a fort in the Solent to a former nightclub in Notting Hill, we look at the most interesting properties that went on the market this year

Old Kiln in Rock, on Cornwall’s north coast. Sold for £5 million, July 2024 (John Bray Estates)

A bidding war broke out on July 4, the day of the general election, for this waterfront holiday home in Rock. The estate Agency had sold it to the previous owners 46 years ago, who then filled it with seventies time-warp decor. Cantilevered over the Camel Estuary along from the sailing club, the three bedroom house has a substantial boat store, a private slipway and its own massive anchor.

Sea Holly Cottage dates from the 1850s and is close to the harbour and coastal path. It’s packed with an array of period features such as exposed wooden beams and flagstone flooring.

The property includes two double bedrooms, a shower room, an open plan kitchen/dining room, a sitting room with a log burner and a sea-facing garden and terrace. Most of the contents are available by separate negotiation. Through John Bray Estates.

Why commissioning a bespoke home from scratch can be far more effective than a large-scale renovation.

Upside down design for a new build with four bedrooms, Morva in St Issey, Cornwall; for sale off plan at £1.15m via JB Estates.

Punishing taxes and rising costs are proving near-impossible to overcome in second home hotspots

“Council tax, wealth tax changes, inheritance tax changes, weather, general cost of living, all have made buyers feel less buoyant economically,” says Josephine Ashby, of John Bray Estates in north Cornwall. “And the second home market has been, understandably, affected.”

One-bedroom The Shrimp is as cosy a cottage as you are likely to ever find. It’s hard not to be inspired by its character.

A stunning Bungalow with beach front access has hit the market in UK’s ‘poshest’ seaside town.

The largest Polzeath frontline plot is a 1950s bungalow called Rigi.

Rigi has been owned by the same local family for 23 years, who have ” long been part of the true fabric of the area and its community”.

Defying “market conditions”, the properties have a combined 100 linear meters of land directly fronting the Southwest Coast Path, providing the perfect place to have your morning brew.

The large, detached dwelling and two further plots, which have detailed planning permission to develop, provide an opportunity to create something incredible.

Estate agents and property experts tell the brutal truth about the ten things they know will sabotage a sale – and the nine that their buyers now demand.

Gardens: An oasis of calm where buyers can imagine escaping from hectic daily life is highly prized by buyers of everything from small cottages  to town houses to large manors’, says Josephine Ashby, of John Bray Estates.

Or….a business opportunity in Cornwall.

is a mixed-use, freehold investment property in the centre of Rock, generating £50,000 a year. There are two successful retail units, two office units and afive garages, along with a two-bedroom apartment with residential letting potential. There is also planning permission for two more apartments.