When you find that special place on earth, that certain somewhere that makes you sigh with satisfaction, what follows is an inexplicable something that pulls you back time and again. Fowey on the Cornish coast, weaving its secluded river-meets-sea magic, could be that special place.

And once you’ve been down here a few times, you get that warm, long-distance-local feeling, and – no doubt – a whole string of precious Fowey holiday rituals that are unique to you, your family and friends.   

Better still then, to add one more key ritual: finding a perfect place to stay that you want to come back to. Time and again. Year on year. Home from home. Maybe Number 2 The Old Station Master’s House is just the (pun alert) ticket.

No 2 The Old Station Master’s House in Fowey: a luxury holiday cottage that’s pretty hard to beat

Staying in a heritage building apartment like The Old Station Master’s House does beg one question: ‘If these walls could talk, what would they say?’ Sure, they’d tell nostalgic tales of the Fowey of yesteryear in its railway heyday, but in a strange kind of way you’ll find these walls still do talk, thanks to a careful curation of maritime memorabilia adorning the walls, and a sprinkling of unusual vintage artefacts too.

Coupled with the property’s sumptuous quality soft furnishings and contemporary decor, The Old Station Master’s is a thing of beauty you may want to treat yourself to more than the once!

Favourite Fowey fixtures – the holiday just isn’t complete without them

Light streams into the 10 feet high windows, a cue to get out and about, since the best time to see Fowey is when it’s waking up. Kittows Deli is putting out its veg, the Polruan ferryman is already on his fifth crossing of the day and there’s a distinct waft of freshly-baked croissant from the favourite bakers – Quay Bakery. Pick up your warm bundle and head back to base for a fine cup: the complimentary Cornish ground coffee and rather nice crocks will see to that.

Readymoney Cove: an easy to miss secluded spot you won’t want to miss

Also kickstarting the day is a walk: always a brisk one to Fowey’s secret Readymoney Cove, in the shadow of the imposingIy magnificent Med-like villa (who, we wonder, could live there?) and evocative St Catherine’s Castle, surveying the sea. The wild and wetsuited amongst you take their morning dip here, muttering ‘oh what a beautiful morning’, whatever the weather.

Coffee stops and shops in Fowey

Brisk turns to saunter on the return leg back along The Esplanade, followed by a mooch in Fowey’s boutiques, from the specialist (Bookends of Fowey…), to the arty (Webb Street Company…) and the homeware variety (Clementine…). A customary coffee calls round about now and there’s a pleasant nod of recognition from the owners at the favourite flat-white haunt – The Lifebuoy.

Lazy lunches – go-to options aren’t all pasty-shaped

(…although the Cornish gouda variety at Quay bakery is pretty good.) There’s the essential crab sandwich – from Lazy Jack’s Kitchen or Captain Hank’s shack in season. Now back to the Old Station Master’s to rest up, eat, read the newspaper (you know, that rare thing you don’t get close to at home) on one of your two terraces. Is heaven in Cornwall? 

Things to do in Fowey – take your pick

Afternoons are for splinter grouping. Hop in the car to nearby Charlestown or quintessentially Cornish Mevagissey, or for those who think the seaside is for getting wet, there’s Café Kayak downriver in Golant (you’ve got to love the canoe-cake combo). Meanwhile, the walkers and the eager four-legged take the ferry to Bodinnick to embark on the unforgettable circular woodland and creek route that is the Hall Walk. Heaven is in Cornwall, it seems.

And so to bed

There’s an indulgent (and complimentary) swim at Fowey Hall Hotel for anyone with an ounce of energy left to expend, or for those who are calling it a day, there’s the honesty-box gin cupboard at base.

In other words, it’s the end of (another) perfect Fowey day.

No 2 The Old Station Master’s House

House info: Sleeps 4 in two beautiful bedrooms, both with doors to a delightful private terrace. Please bring the dog if you have one. He won’t believe his bed.

Also: Two bathrooms and private parking. Most importantly, scones jam and cream on arrival.

Access to town: Many Fowey holiday cottages are on a steep hill but Old Station Master’s is a flat three-minute walk into town.

Dinner: Staying in is the new going out. Or we recommend Pintxos for a Mediterranean hipster vibe, Bufala for achingly good pizza (with a view), or Sam’s for fine local fish dishes.

When considering options for family holidays, it’s a savvy parent who knows that the little ones are happiest when they’re engaged in simple seaside pleasures – fishing net in one hand, ice cream in the other (OK, smothered around the face) and toes-a-hoppin’ in the sea, what could be better than sunny seaside surroundings? What the grown-ups also need to know is that on top of all that, Retreat to Fowey’s luxury family property – No.5 Old Station Master’s House – has just about every conceivable added-extra up its sleeve to make this holiday in Cornwall the most memorable family-stay yet.

Take a look inside No 5 The Old Station Master’s: your boutique holiday base in Fowey

Only a five-minute walk from town (and that’s a flat walk too – thankfully there’ll be no dragging-tired toddlers up Fowey’s über-steep slopes here), luxury holiday cottage No.5 has an enviable edge in that it’s a brand-new conversion in an old heritage site – Fowey’s old railway house. Aha! So that explains the toy trains in the children’s snug bedroom – a gorgeously cosy den where the kids will play to their hearts’ content before snuggling up with blankets and books later on. Sleeping four, and open plan, the whole apartment oozes contemporary Cornwall chic with its neutral tones, splashes of colour and velvety soft furnishings.

No. 5’s indulgent added extras

There are also added extras you won’t find at other cottages: access to the swimming and spa facilities at nearby Fowey Hall https://www.foweyhallhotel.co.uk/sp (a Luxury Family Hotel), use of all your essential beach clobber (crabbing lines, picnic rugs, beach balls et al) and the ultimate crowd-pleaser: freshly baked scones and jam on arrival (it’s jam first down here, for the record!)

Things to do with children in Cornwall’s fabulous Fowey

Like a natural playground for kids, Fowey on Cornwall’s tranquil south coast offers endless scope to fire a child’s imagination: Readymoney’s pontoon becomes the child’s desert island (smooth sea glass its twinkling treasure), seaweed on the slipway becomes a mermaid’s hair, and why be a mere passenger on the Polruan ferry when you can play captain of the ship?

Back on dry land, children can take a journey to the bottom of the ocean in Fowey’s charming old-school aquarium http://www.foweyaquarium.co.uk/ (check out Leonard the record-breaking lobster) and of course, it won’t be long before the kids are angling – pun intended – for ice cream. Nip around the corner for a Lazy Jack’s  (you know what they say – where there’s a queue, there’s a clue) or hot-foot it over to Readymoney Beach Shop https://www.readymoneybeachshop.com/ for their bestselling ice cream ‘The Shipwreck’: vanilla crowned with salted caramel sauce and honeycomb chunks.

The beach shop, as it happens, could also be the best place for the children to part with their precious holiday coinage; pocket money buys include the classic plastic spade, the giant metal spade (separates the men from the boys) and the essential fridge magnet, your only dilemma the ice cream one or the pasty one… Decisions, decisions.

Practical pointers for parents

Parking at The Old Station Master’s House Your private parking space is right outside the property and it’s easily accessible – no need to negotiate the narrow Cornish streets!

Baby and toddler facilities Hooray for travelling light! Number 5 has all the baby kit you’ll need, so be sure to check the facilities before you pack everything but the kitchen sink.

Food shopping in Fowey In keeping with the quiet charm of the place and in a bid to support Fowey’s independent shops, there’s no big supermarket in town, but if you do want to plan ahead, online grocery suppliers do deliver to the door. You’ll also receive a welcome hamper of delicious Cornish goodies too – so that covers some of your basics.

What to eat and where to eat it in Fowey for families

Eating in – Essential fodder whilst in Cornwall is a proper Cornish pasty. Grab yours at the Quay Bakery or Kittows Deli and of course, it’s not a seaside holiday if you don’t indulge in takeaway fish and chips too; Havener’s is heavenly.

And eating out – Most restaurants in Fowey are family-friendly and there’s hearty pub grub at every turn. There are hipster pizza places (Bufala), fresh fish restaurants to give kids a real taste of the sea (Sam’s) or you could think about locally-recommended Indian restaurant Sunny Spice – there’s something for everyone, from scampi and chips to the most delicious chicken korma in town (and an impressive stack of poppadum’s besides).

Family activities and day trips

For water babies Hire a boat on the river, or, if you can bear to be dragged away from Fowey, head downriver to Golant for a go at kayaking. It’s your perfect opportunity to do some I-Spy-style spotting; in this idyllic natural environment, you’ll see some species you haven’t ticked off before, let alone the kids.

For woodland walks Kids and adults alike will love the adventure that is The Hall Walk, through the wonderful woodlands just over the river. Start this adventure on the Bodinnick ferry, just a stone’s throw from Number Five’s front door.

Two key summer weeks are still available: 13-20 July and 24-31 August.

With music, food and theatre drawing visitors from all over the country, Cornwall is filled with unmissable events throughout the year. We’ve selected a few of our favourites from the Cornish calendar.

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