Rooms

There are three eco-cottages, adjacent to each other. Two are identical, with 2 bedrooms (a double and twin/double) and 2 bathrooms apiece, an open-plan lounge, diner and kitchen. The third (Constantine) differs slightly as its upstairs twin bedroom has a lower ceiling height so only works for children, and it has just one bathroom. All have bi-fold glass doors opening onto a gravel patio garden; wood-burning stoves are a treat in the colder months. Decor is simple but stylish – creams, browns, chic lighting. Coastal artwork by Darrel’s late father, artist David Wheeler, adds splashes of colour.

Set apart from the others, the detached stone cottage Trevone - a converted barn - is bigger and more private, plus it has a large lawned garden. Its 2 bedrooms are light-filled, with colourful cushions and throws, and it's all on one level.

White travertine bathrooms are a highlight in all cottages, with waterfall taps, free-standing baths and drench showers.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Fan
• Hairdryer
• In-room treatments available
• Iron
• Tumble dryer
• Washing machine
• WiFi

Eating

Open-plan kitchen diners are fantastically kitted out with Smeg appliances including a blue retro fridge (Eco-Cottages), double oven and dishwasher. And you'll find everything you need to to cook: Sebatier knives, a wide range of utensils and lovely ceramics. There's a table for 4, plus outdoor furniture for sunny days.

A welcome tray of tea, coffee, sugar, milk and shortbread awaits. There are supermarkets within a short drive (Sainsbury's, Asda and Tesco can deliver, too), and a minimart opposite the beach sells a wide range of groceries and has a cash point.

If you want a complete break, you can order fantastic frozen meals from local company Angels in the Kitchen in advance, and they'll be waiting in your freezer: lamb tagine, steak and ale pie, amaretto and apricot crumble, that sort of thing. A local Thai restaurant can deliver fresh meals.

Within walking distance are Mawgan Porth's cafes, and the adult-only Scarlet hotel, whose restaurant is headed up by Michelin award-winning chef Ben Tunnicliffe, and the foodie mecca of Padstow is just 14km away.

Features include:

• Dishwasher
• Fridge
• Full kitchen
• Hob or stove
• Kids' meals
• Meal delivery service
• Microwave
• Oven
• Restaurants nearby
• Toaster

Activities

• Learn to surf at Mawgan Porth (the boys at Kingsurf school will have you standing up in no time!), or take kids rock-pooling
  
• Stroll or hike along the miles of country and coastal paths
  
• Visit Cornwall’s other beautiful beaches and coves – Watergate Bay, just 5 minutes away, has a watersports centre for surfing, kite surfing, wave-skiing and blokarting, plus a mile of golden sand backed by dramatic cliffs. There's great surfing at Newquay, too
  
• Nearby Padstow, where Rick Stein's seafood eateries are located, is a charming old fishing town with narrow cobbled streets crammed with boutique shops, restaurants and places to buy fresh fish or pasties
  
• Competent sailors can hire vessels in Padstow for a day on the open sea. Beginners can take sailing lessons in Rock
  
• Hire bikes (which can be delivered to you) and cycle the beautiful, flat and car-free Camel Valley Trail along the riverside
  
• For a day trip, the spectacular Eden Project, a dramatic global garden with 3 giant biospheres of tropical and temperate plants, is just a 30-minute drive away
  
• There are 2 great day spas nearby: the Scarlet Spa at The Scarlet hotel and Ocean Spa at Bedruthan Steps hotel; or book a spa treatment in the comfort of your cottage
  
• An 18-hole golf course and fishing lakes with tremendous views are adjacent to the farm. There's a riding school nearby, too

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Kitesurfing
• Museums / galleries
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Windsurfing

Kids

Merlin Farm is perfect for families with younger children. The guest information folders detail child-friendly restaurants, attractions and babysitting contacts. The nearest shop/pub/beach is 5 minutes by car or a 15-minute walk.

Best for:

Babies (0-1 years), Toddlers (1-4 years), Children (4-12 years)

Family friendly accommodation:

Families can be accommodated in all four cottages; all can take a family of four plus a baby. Book all three Eco-Cottages for a lovely extended family break

Cots Available

Distances:

• Airport: 10 minutes (Newquay)
• Hospital: 20 minutes
• Shop: 2 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Merlin Farm is just off the North Cornwall coastal road, halfway between Newquay and Padstow in the southwest of England. It's 83km from Plymouth and 260km from Bristol.

By Air
The nearest airport is Newquay, served by flights from London Gatwick, Dublin and Manchester. Exeter and Bristol are larger airports, and it's an easy drive from either. Click on the links below for a list of airlines serving these airports.

From the Airport
You'll want a car to explore the area, though you could manage without one. See our car rental recommendations. You can park by the cottages.

By Train
Regular trains leave London Paddington and Bristol for Newquay (4 hours from London, 2 from Bristol) and Merlin Farm is a 15-minute drive from the station.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

More on getting to the UK and getting around