Mesmear- Barn

Arriving at Mesmear the gorgeous rural setting, sparkling swimming pool and three beautifully restored 18th century barns (sleeping 4, 4 & 10) hint at the sophistication you might find within, yet the stylish interiors and attention to detail still manage to exceed the highest expectations. A stay at one of the two cottages here is very much like having sole use of your own, family-friendly, boutique hotel.

This is a boutique retreat with a difference, a commitment to the local and global environment. Owners, Tessa and Alan Rose, ensured as much local talent as possible was involved in the creation of the barns and now showcase work by local artists. The barns use Geothermal energy to heat both the barns and the pool. The owners have also put in a bore hole for water and their own waste treatment plant.

The location is also pretty special and wonderfully peaceful thanks to the 160 acres of beautiful rural landscape it is set in, just a mile from the surf at Polzeath and four miles from Rock and Padstow.

The fabulous artworks (cleverly out of reach of young hands!), heated outdoor pool (fenced), contemporary furnishing, glamorous bathrooms and luxury touches such as Egyptian cotton bed linen, all natural Cornish toiletries, flat screen TV, DVD player, IPOD docking stations, hair dryers, bathrobes, underfloor heating, honesty bar and welcome 'larder' with all the ingredients for a fine first breakfast, The Barn could seem almost too good for a family break. But equal attention has been paid to the needs of younger guests with baskets of toys, books and nursery equipment, plus enclosed front and rear gardens. Homemade pre-cooked suppers can be pre-ordered and delivered to the cottage, but the well-designed open-plan kitchen makes self-catering a pleasure too.

The Barn sleeps four (plus 2 cots) in one double and a double/twin (zip'n'link beds) bedroom, of which the former is en-suite with a bath. The second bathroom is a shower room. There's a spacious open plan lounge with woodburner leading on to the kitchen/dining area, hidden behind a feature staircase, which is striking but not suitable for stairgates, so care should be taken.

Show Location Map Bring a sling or 3-wheeler for the lovely coastal walks easy accessible from Mesmear. Its just a few minutes in the car to the sandy beaches of Polzeath, Daymer and Rock - perfect for sandcastles, rock pooling and paddling. Use the pre-bookable babysitting to try Michelin Star dining at the ubiquitous Rick Stein’s or even Jamie Oliver's 'Fiveteen'. A great family-friendly option is 15 minutes walk; Carruan Farm offers homecooked farmhouse food with tractor rides, baby lambs and calves to feed and a play area, all with sea views.

Mesmear was recently named No.2 in the UK's Best Eco-Luxe Places to Stay by The Observer newspaper. The Observer 1.7.07 '15 green places to stay' “An C18th Mill conversion typical of the regions farm buildings yet the interior is another world.. eclectic eco-chic’ The Sunday Times 'The summer top 50' 10.6.07 ‘This is as close as you’ll come to your own private boutique hotel’ The Spectator 13 Oct 2007 by Sarah Standing “Mesmear is no ordinary seaside rental. ..it has been meticulously and stylishly restored. It’s a bit like staying in your very own boutique hotel – sensational bathrooms. The fridge is full, candles lit, wine chilled, espresso machine fired up and a freshly baked cake left for tea.“ Spaces magazine 24.7.08 ‘Even with it’s environmental credentials, Mesmear's chic interiors are uncompromisingly comfortable. 25 Beautiful Homes - April 2008 by Maggie Colvin The Observer 5.8.07 'Self catering in style'

testimonial scores::::

We had a very comfortable week at Mesmear. They have got the basics right such ...

We had a very comfortable week at Mesmear. They have got the basics right such as comfortable beds (so often not the case) as well as great attention to detail with the stylish decor and well equipped kitchen. Add to this the 'treats' such as the coffee machine and Colin's very tasty and very reasonable food and, like us, you will not want to leave. Our daughter still talks about feeding the chicken there too!

I definitely recommend using the catering services if you are eating in - it was...

I definitely recommend using the catering services if you are eating in - it was delicious and good value, and the afternoon teas were a fabulous treat. The location could not be better, with several gorgeous beaches and walks within 10 minutes drive and less than half an hour to Watergate Bay, King Arthur's castle at Tintagel or the restaurants of Padstow.

Well designed for children to enjoy as well as the adults with luxury touches su...

Well designed for children to enjoy as well as the adults with luxury touches such as robes and toiletries. The pool is a real plus and our boys really enjoyed the outside space too for their bikes and scooters! The location couldn't be better with a beatiful coastal walk on your doorstep and fabulouse beaches within 5 minutes drive. If you are looking for a family holiday that includes lots of sand castles and water for the children and a level of sophistication for grown ups too then Mesmear would be hard to beat for offering the complete package. We will definitely go back and all credit must go to the owners who have created a perfect place to holiday in such a beautiful part of Cornwall!

Owner Profile

My husband and I moved down to Cornwall in 2006 for a life-style change. Leaving behind the commute to London and life in suburbia, we fancied a change of pace and wanted to bring our two small boys up in a more relaxed 'tree-climbing' environment. Having renovated the farmhouse for ourselves, we set to work bringing life back to the deralict barns that are now the three rental properties. With great local builders and plenty of spare time to commit to the project the building work was completed within 15 months and the business was up and running. Having spent many years renting holiday houses in the area, I knew exactly what I wanted to offer our guests - houses that had all the comforts of a hotel (beautiful sheets, fluffy bathrobes and a bottle of gin in the fridge!) with the practical things to make a holiday in Cornwall stress-free (outdoor showers and a drying room for wetsuits/walking gear) and lastly somewhere that was really geared up for children (decent cots and highchairs, a few toys and books and a walled garden). So with all these things in mind, I had great fun kitting out the three houses. I hope you enjoy them too.

During the winter months we love the empty beaches and wild, rugged walks along the coast, but by May we are looking forward to the summer, a few more people around and the buzz of holiday makers on Polzeath beach. We certainly don't miss the traffic jams, concrete pavements and buildings of life 'up-country'!

Our boys are now 10 and 12 years old and have a wonderful life surfing, sailing and having beach BBQ's in the summer, and in the winter they are happy to walk for up to 2 hours on the coastal path (we don't even need to bribe them these days!). We usually find something unusual to look at: Puffins, dolphins or just super-size, super-furry caterpillers crawling across the path!