Luxury self-catering accommodation in Fowey

About halfway between Plymouth and Falmouth, this hilly fishing town is an important hub for the county. Visitors love the history and beauty, the colourful chocolate box houses stacked above the harbour and the bustling town centre with quirky little shops – try to leave without a souvenir. In winter the streets are scented with wisps of woodsmoke; in summer, gulls and boats pack the quay. Readymoney Cove is the exquisite local beach, overlooked on one side by an ancient castle; if you can scale the steep woodland climb you'll be rewarded with an incredible view.

Take a ferry to the tiny town of Polruan, with its pubs, café and cliff walks with glittering water views, then sail back to Fowey. The Royal Regatta is an August crowd-puller, a week of music, bands and fireworks, plus the sailing event itself. Book lovers pack into town for the Festival of Arts and Literature, with its stellar line-up of authors. Notably, Daphne Du Maurier lived in a cliff house and wrote her first novel here, no doubt inspired by the ever-present sparkling seas. A walk through pretty Covington Woods will take you past the house, the castle, and the beach too.