Iona
- Fantastic 5 bedroom, 4 bathroom house located above the beach at Porthcothan, with great views from its open plan living area and south-facing terrace and garden
- Just a short walk down across the headland to the beach at wonderful Porthcothan Bay, one of best but little known beaches of North Cornwall, and with direct access to the North Cornwall coast path for some of the best and dramatic walks in Cornwall.
- Fully renovated in muted colours with quality furnishings, the house offers generous spaces for groups to eat and relax together, as well as quieter corners for moments of solitude when needed.
- Padstow, North Cornwall’s other top beaches, and the coastal run to Watergate Bay are all just a short drive away, with plenty more to eat, see and do.
- This house is professionally cleaned by the Raintree housekeeping team. For stays of two weeks or more, the house will be cleaned and the bed linen and towels changed weekly
Click the changeover day below to see the price for that week, or download a calendar of seasonal pricing from the Price bands page. Out of peak season we can be flexible on dates so please enquire below.
Holiday Periods
The changeover day will always be adjusted to best include the holiday periods of Easter, Christmas and New Year.
Key Features
The Property
- Atmosphere
Tucked along Cornwall’s north coast, Iona is a spacious coastal retreat that has been thoughtfully redesigned for relaxed, stylish living by the sea. Every room feels calm and connected, with soft coastal tones and generous spaces that invite you to unwind after a day on the sand. Muted colours, warm textures and considered details run through the house, creating an easy sense of comfort as soon as you arrive. Iona feels welcoming and unhurried, a place made for slow mornings, shared meals and peaceful evenings after long days on the coast.
- Living, cooking and dining
The heart of the house is a sweeping open-plan central space where light floods in through floor-to-ceiling windows. The living area centres around a large corner sofa and coffee table, with a Freeview TV for easy evenings in. An adjacent smaller snug off the kitchen offers a quieter nook, with a two-seater sofa set beside a crackling fire — the perfect spot to read or chat while supper bubbles away in the kitchen.
The kitchen is beautifully equipped, with a striking breakfast bar, Belfast sink and feature lighting above the range cooker. You’ll find everything you need for holiday cooking, including a microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher, drinks fridge, toaster, kettle, Nespresso machine and a full range of cookware. Beyond, a long wooden dining table sits by the windows, comfortably seating up to eleven guests. From here, you can gaze out over the garden towards the sea, throw open the bi-fold doors on warm evenings, or settle into the built-in window seat with a book while children play outside. A separate utility room includes a washing machine, dryer and sink.
- Bedrooms and bathrooms
There are three bedrooms on the ground floor and two upstairs, each finished in soft coastal colours with gentle light and lovely views.
The master bedroom occupies the first floor, where you’ll wake to glimpses of the sea. It has a super king bed, single day bed (made up on request), dressing table and plenty of storage making this an ideal family suite. The en-suite features a bath, walk-in rainfall shower, heated towel rail, basin and loo. Also upstairs, a second bedroom offers a king bed and countryside views and also has its own en-suite shower room.
Downstairs, a spacious super king bedroom looks out across open fields, while two further twin rooms provide comfortable sleeping for family or friends. The main bathroom on this floor includes a bath and walk-in rainfall shower, both with underfloor heating, plus a heated towel rail, basin and loo. A second shower room and separate loo complete the layout.
Outside
The house opens onto a large, enclosed garden that catches the sun throughout the day. A generous patio with outdoor seating is ideal for morning coffee or evening suppers, with bi-fold doors connecting seamlessly to the dining room for easy alfresco entertaining. At the front of the house there’s an outdoor shower for rinsing off after the beach and a dedicated space for hanging wetsuits. Parking is available for up to four cars.
Nearby
The walk to the beach is easy; from the house go through the gate at then end of the lane and follow the path for a few minutes which will take you directly down to the sand. Porthcothan is a particularly special beach. At low tide, the beach opens out with huge rock pillars, caves and pools. It is great to explore. It is also very good for swimming and surfing. Around the south headland you can find Golden Burn beach - adjoined to Porthcothan at mid and low tides, but a separate beach at higher tides. With secret caves and rocks to climb, as well as a sheltered aspect, its a great spot. Further round are the Trescore Islands, wonderful for swimming in the shallow lagoon and more like the Med in good weather. Good walking can be found further south, towards the fascinating rocky inlet of Porthmear and on to Bedruthan Steps and Mawgan Porth. To the north, the walk along the headland to Treyarnon is particularly beautiful.
Porthcothan Stores supplies papers, milk and bread in season and is located on the path from the road through to the beach, or from Trephyl just back along the cliff path to the top of the beach. You can sit out here at the little cafe, and enjoy a cup of coffee and snacks, and you can also order pasties and bread/croissants - well worth getting to know on your 1st day!
Newquay Airport is only 10 minutes away, and Bodmin station about 30-40 minutes by car. Padstow is nearby for shopping and dining, only 10-15 minutes by car, depending on summer traffic, to the north. St Merryn is closer (just 5-10 minutes ), with a bakery, grocery stores and Post Office.
There are so many great restaurants in easy striking distance - Padstow with Stein's restaurants, Paul Ainsworth's No 6 and Rojano's, another Ainsworth venture and Prawn on the Lawn; and then near St Merryn, Trevibban Mill has a fantastic restaurant, Barnaby's (which also sells great English wine), the Cornish Arms for good pub food and atmosphere, The Pickled Plate at Higher Harlyn Park and Rafferty's in the village itself. Close as well is Zacry's at Watergate Bay and the Scarlet Hotel at Mawgan Porth. You can eat out very well every day of your stay - or alternatively, just park the car up, and enjoy the views from Iona's terrace with a glass of wine and some freshly cooked seafood!