Elsewhere on your private estate (max capacity: 50) there’s a deer park, a tennis court, a dainty church, and an old Stable Yard that’s been fashioned into a socialising area with bar and games room. Boconnoc feels like an exclusive mini village - there’s even a post box - but the atmosphere is relaxed and not remotely stuffy. It’s a soul-cleansing place - the air is so clean here that a rare form of lichen thrives in the woods. Bring the family or a group of friends for a celebration, day-tripping to Fowey and the pretty beaches of Cornwall’s south coast, and then returning to cocoon yourself in nature. Cycle through the deer park, take a boat out on the lake, stroll the pinetum - carpeted in bluebells in May - and let the kids run free. Barbecues and pizza nights make for fun evenings together, and there’s a kitchen garden where you can forage for your ingredients. You’d never believe all this lies in waiting just a few km from Lostwithiel and the south coast. What a way to experience Cornwall.
Highs
- The amount of private outdoor space you get here is astonishing, comprising gardens, a lake, a deer park, a river and woodland
- The range of cottages will suit varying group sizes - from families of 4 to parties of 14 (or many more if booking multiple cottages) - it's the perfect set-up for a big celebration or gathering
- This is an incredible place for kids, with wide-ranging facilities incorporating a games room, sports equipment, a craft room, a gypsy caravan and a tennis court
- Although it’s a self-catering place, friendly staff are on hand should you require anything during your stay
- Lots of Cornwall’s best attractions are nearby (Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Fowey)
Lows
- Hard to find. Satnav takes you in the wrong way, and you'll need to navigate a maze of dark lanes to drive out for dinner
- Boconnoc is primarily a wedding venue, so lots of summer weekends are blocked out (the houses aren’t available when weddings are on, so you won’t be sharing the space with wedding guests)
- The interiors, particularly in the Dairy House, are bold and eye-catching rather than classically elegant
- The coast isn’t far away but the country lanes make access to beaches a little slow
Best time to go
Our top tips
- Country Estate
- 4 houses for 4-14
- Self-catering
- All ages welcome
- Open all year
- Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car recommended
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Daily Maid Service
- Towels & Bedlinen
- Tennis Court
- Bicycles Available
- Electric car charger
Larger houses (for 8-14)
The Stewardry (7 bedrooms)
The largest house of the lot was my absolute favourite. Tucked away down a beautiful lane lined with blooming bushes, it's blissfully secluded. The beautiful cottage has its own lawned gardens which drop down to the estate’s stream, and there's greenery on all sides. Inside, it’s bold and eye-catching - iconic Sarah Fortescue style. The downstairs has a warren of reception rooms connected by soft pastel-pink hallways; the stand-out is the light-filled living room, where pink and green wallpaper matches the backdrop of greenery, giving it a summer garden room feel. Upstairs are seven bedrooms, a mixture of twins and doubles, each completely unique in colour and design - I particularly liked the adorable twin room with red pom-pom curtains.
The Dairy House (4 bedrooms)
We stayed in the Dairy House, which has the best view of the estate. Most of our time was spent sitting at the outside dining table, gawping at the wide vista of Boconnoc’s manor house and lawns, with doves and swallows flitting above us. The interiors were a tad too daring for me, particularly the hot-pink walls of the kitchen and dining room, but anyone with an eye for contemporary design may disagree. The lounge is a cosy space when the log burner is lit, and there’s a cute snug leading off this that would make a great reading room - you get a view of the manor house out the back window. I felt that the kitchen and dining room were on the small side for a house that sleeps eight. There is one double bedroom downstairs, which has a fully accessible bathroom, while the other three (all doubles) are upstairs. The master with four-poster bed (one of the comfiest I've slept on) is fabulous, especially its bathroom with forest green tiles and a little window peeping at the lawns.
Smaller houses (for 4-6)
The two Groom houses are opposite one another in the Stable Yard, so their terraces aren't so private, but with access to the entirety of the estate's grounds you're not exactly short-changed when it comes to outside space!
The Groom's House (3 bedrooms)
This cottage has a topsy-turvy layout, with the main living space on the upper floor. A cute window seat takes in that magnificent view of the estate, while a powder blue palette creates a relaxing atmosphere. This is an open-plan living space with the kitchen at the back - a rather small set-up if catering for a family of six. There’s also a double ensuite bedroom on this floor, which overlooks the Stable Yard. Both bedrooms downstairs are twins with ensuites, each room painted in pink shades - I preferred the softer tones of the twin room facing the courtyard, where another sweet window seat watches the world go by.
The Head Groom’s House (2 bedrooms)
The estate’s smallest house comes with a lovely vaulted living room, which centres around a fireplace and has striking accents of teal, sky blue and pink. The dining table is at the far end of this room, while a contemporary kitchen is next door. The two bedrooms are upstairs, one double, one twin, decorated in a soft palette of greens and blues. Both rooms have their own bathrooms (one bath, one shower).
Activities
- Allow plenty of time to explore this beautiful estate. Your welcome pack has three suggested walks around the grounds, the longest one through the deer park taking up to 1hr20. Look for wildlife along the way - it’s great for birds - and make sure you stroll in the Dorothy Garden and the Shrubbery, where there are 34 different varieties of hydrangea
- Take a boat out on the lake - and dive in if you’re feeling brave! Or borrow a bike to explore the winding countryside paths
- Gather your clan for evening barbecues (available at all cottages), or borrow the Ooni oven if you fancy making pizzas - take it down to the estate’s communal kitchen if there are lots of you
- Staff can arrange surfing lessons in Polzeath, horse riding at Polmartin Farm (5 mins), or foraging tours around Boconnoc - botanicals from here are used to create Lantic Gin, which is distilled on site
- There’s a lovely coastal ramble (approx 3 hours there and back) from Lantic Bay to Polperro, where you can stop for refreshments at Blue Peter Inn
- Horticultural fans can explore The Lost Gardens of Heligan or the Eden Project, both of which are nearby
- The attractive coastal town of Fowey is a must-see (20 minutes), home to boutique shops and galleries and a lovely estuary which you can explore by boat or paddleboard
Kids
Kids of all ages will have an amazing time here, particularly those old enough to explore the grounds independently - I can think of few better places for hide and seek or making dens! The houses work well for families, most with a choice of double or twin rooms, and all with kitchens. There are lots of facilities on site for kids, like a games room and a craft room, and the nearby coast has plenty of family-friendly beaches.
Best for:
All ages
Family friendly accommodation:
Your choice of house will depend on your family size. All except the Dairy House have some twin rooms, and there is at least one bath in each house. A cot and a high chair are available in every cottage, as well as a range of children’s books, games, and sets of children’s cutlery and plates.
Cots Available, Extra Beds Available
Kids Activities on site:
- Wildlife spotting: bids such as resident barn owl, doves, goldfinch; deer; sheep; hedgehogs and many more
- Games room in the Stable Yard with a pool table, table football, table tennis table, rounders bat and hula hoops
- Football goal and ball that can be used in the Dorothy Garden
- Craft room in the Stable Yard
- Gypsy caravan and mud kitchen in the Shrubbery
- Bikes, SUPs and tennis rackets available to borrow - lake and tennis court on site
Kids Activities nearby:
- Child-friendly beaches at Polruan and Talland Bay
- Adrenaline Quarry has zip-wires, go-karts, waterparks and more
- Porfell Wildlife Park
- Carnglaze Caverns in St Neot
Distances:
- Airport: 40 minutes (Newquay)
- Hospital: 25 minutes (Bodmin or Liskeard)
- Supermarket: 20 minutes (Lostwithiel)
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Boconnoc is a rural estate near Lostwithiel in Cornwall. It's 13km from the county's south coast.
By Air:
Newquay Airport is the closest (40-minute drive / (38km). You could also fly into Exeter (90-minute drive / 116 km) or Bristol (2.5-hour drive / 215 km) - the latter of which has a much wider selection of flights.
By Car:
Boconnoc is a 5-hour drive from central London, 3 hours from Bristol and 4 hours from Birmingham. Free on-site parking is available.
By Train:
Catch a train to Liskeard or Lostwithiel (4 hours from London Paddington, 3-3.5 hours from Bristol). Then take a taxi to Boconnoc from the station (20 mins).
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Newquay 38.0 km
- Exeter 116.0 km
Other:
- Beach 13.0 km
- Shops 5.0 km
- Restaurant 5.0 km