Luxury self-catering accommodation in Mevagissey

Between Polperro and Gorran Haven, this little seaside town was once a busy pilchard fishery and is still very much part of the local maritime industry. Boats jostle for space in the pretty harbour, sea trips take visitors around the local bays, and a ferry shuttles passengers to the bigger port of Fowey and back. Tucked into the back streets, a collection of boutiques, art galleries and souvenir shops welcome strollers seeking a break from the sea breeze. This is the place for wraps of fresh fish 'n' chips, bakery goodies or a refreshment in the local pubs.

For a small town, there is a lot for the visitor to pack into the holiday schedule, from the harbour-sited aquarium to a model railway, with tiny trains chugging along tiny tracks. Charlestown, a few miles north, is the place for boating historians; the Shipwreck Centre, itself located in a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a substantial collection of private artefacts, from ancient Egyptian finds to spoils from the Mary Rose, and more. Beaches are never far off in Cornwall; Pentewan and Vault are the local choices for loyal sand-lovers.