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Fisherman's Cottage in the heart of Polruan village - WITH FREE WIFI & PARKING

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Lilac Cottage from the Courtyard
Lilac Cottage with walled courtyard ideal for an 'al-fresco' drink or meal.
Living area.
Living area
Kitchen area, equipped with fridge-freezer, oven, microwave and kettle.

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional
2 bedroomsSleeps 4450 sq ft

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Fireplace
  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space
  • Kitchen

Explore the area

Map
Fowey, Cornwall
  • Fowey Estuary
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Readymoney Cove
    ‪18 min walk‬
  • Lantic Bay Beach
    ‪18 min drive‬
  • Newquay (NQY-Newquay Cornwall)
    ‪75 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 4)

Bedroom 1

1 Double Bed

Bedroom 2

2 Single Beds

Bathroom 1

Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Kitchen
Garden
Dining area

About this property

Fisherman's Cottage in the heart of Polruan village - WITH FREE WIFI & PARKING

Lilac Cottage is a stone built two bedroom fisherman's cottage. It has been contemporarily renovated whilst still retaining its charm and feel of a coastal cottage. It offers a comfortable base to explore the magnificent Cornish coastline. We have deliberately chosen not to allow pets, as although we know many people love their four-legged friends, we want to ensure that those who are not so keen are welcomed to a pet-free zone!

On entering Lilac Cottage you will find an open-plan kitchen/living area offering a fully fitted kitchen including integrated dishwasher, fridge & oven with grill, ceramic touch hob, extractor hood & microwave. Should you decide to cook, one can see across the Fowey estuary and the boats sailing on it!

The living area (looking out towards the courtyard garden) has an eating area for 4 persons - small table with bench seating either side and a comfy seating area including sofa, beech framed armchair & small armless upholstered window chair. A traditional cast iron woodburning stove is the centerpiece for lighting during the cold winter months although a wall-mounted panel radiator is available for use. A small flat screen television & DVD player is also available.

A small but fairly steep turned staircase with handrail & rope bannister takes you to the first floor....

The first floor offers two bedrooms; one being a double room with built in wardrobe (overlooking the courtyard garden & village), the other offering a 3ft single bed with another 3ft pull-out adult bed under should it be required. This bed may be raised to the same level as the first. This room also has a built in wardrobe and overlooks the stunning Fowey estuary. Both bedrooms have space-saving stripped-pine sliding doors. The simple but contemporary renovated bathroom offers an electric shower, small sink, w.c. and electric towel rail. In addition, there is underfloor heating for those cold winter months (available between October-April).

To the front of the property is a small contained paved outside area suitable for relaxing for those all important drinks & 'al-fresco' dining. At the end of the paved area is an outbuilding which contains a washing machine, folding garden furniture and storage facilities should you be bringing your paddleboard or storing those muddy boots!

With this cottage also comes a dedicated parking space within the village (approximately 5-10 minutes walk - depending on how quickly one walks up the hill!) thereby avoiding any car parking charges. There is space outside the cottage to unload/load a vehicle prior to moving it to the parking space provided. There is parking on the Quay (2 mins from the cottage) but this is payable, limited in size and cannot be booked in advance.

We are pleased to offer free wifi at the cottage for all that can't be without their devices! The public house in the village also offers this free to its customers.

For those that enjoy walking, walks can start immediately from outside the property; Hall Walk, through National Trust woodland, along the Estuary to Boddinick & the car ferry across to Fowey (as a foot passenger) & then back on the Polruan ferry - a great circular walk. Alternatively, turn left & walk up over the cliffs following the coastal path to Talland Bay & Polperro where the bus service stops on its way back to Polruan

Finally, for those who follow the 'Poldark' series, some of the key locations can be easily reached. Charlestown has been used for tall sail boat settings (45 minutes away), the National Trust's Levant Mine (which doubles as the rolling mill where Poldark's copper is processed) is 1.5 hours away and St Agnes famed for Poldark's horseback gallops is 1 hour away towards Cornwall's north coast. In addition, Bodmin Moor that is the setting for Poldark's home is 30 minutes away. Please note timings are approximate and are made by car.

The Eden Project is 40 minutes away and now provides excellent facilities as a concert venue for well known bands and singers (cross via car ferry from Boddinick to Fowey). The Lost Gardens of Heligan and National Trust Lanhydrock are also well worth a visit & Bodmin Jail offers something for all ages.

Property manager

Jackie Skillicorn

Languages

English
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Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Outdoor space
Water view

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House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Fowey

Located in Fowey, this cottage is on the waterfront. St. Catherine's Castle and Pinetum Park and Pine Lodge Gardens are local landmarks, and some of the area's attractions include Eden Project and Fowey Aquarium. Polperro Model Village and Marsh Villa Gardens are also worth visiting. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking and power boating nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling and ecotours.
Map
Fowey, Cornwall

What's nearby

  • Fowey Town Quay Landing - 11 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Fowey River Gallery - 14 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Fowey Estuary - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Readymoney Cove - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Lantic Bay Beach - 18 min drive - 2.6 km

Getting around

  • Looe Station - 24 min drive
  • Newquay (NQY-Newquay Cornwall) - 75 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪The Welcome Home Inn - ‬17 min drive
  • ‪Readymoney Beach Shop - ‬17 min walk
  • ‪Par Hotels - ‬20 min drive
  • ‪Brown Sugar - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪The Ship Inn - ‬16 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Fisherman's Cottage in the heart of Polruan village - WITH FREE WIFI & PARKING pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Fisherman's Cottage in the heart of Polruan village - WITH FREE WIFI & PARKING?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Fisherman's Cottage in the heart of Polruan village - WITH FREE WIFI & PARKING?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Fisherman's Cottage in the heart of Polruan village - WITH FREE WIFI & PARKING located?

Situated on the waterfront, this cottage is within a 10-minute walk of Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Gribben Head. Fowey Town Quay Landing and Fowey Aquarium are also within 15 minutes.

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 49 out of 67 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 12 out of 67 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 5 out of 67 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 67 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 67 reviews

9.2/10

Cleanliness

9.4/10

Check-in

9.4/10

Communication

9.6/10

Location

9.0/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

6/10 Okay

Roger S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location
Disliked: Listing accuracy

Location very good

This property was shown as 9.8 rating it is more like 6.5 it was clean and very modern in places but rather old and damp in other places. But we had a very good stay and enjoyed out visit. The owner was very helpful.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

8/10 Good

Julie R.

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Lovely little cottage

Lovely stay at lilac cottage, and great for getting the passenger ferry to Fowey. Little shop good for getting essentials, Bakery marvellous Lugger Inn very nice and friendly, give the Russell Inn pub in village a miss.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

James M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely short break....

really enjoyed our break in Cornwall, thanks for everything, cottage is really well located.
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Justin O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A week on holiday

This really is a perfect place to enjoy Cornwall. A great location and a lovely traditional fisherman’s cottage. 30 secs from the shops, the cafe, the pub and the sea. Right next to the ferry to Fowey. Both the kids had a fantastic time as did the adults. Good comms from the owner. I will re-book without a doubt.
Stayed 6 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Gladys B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely cottage in beauty Cornish village

We have a lovely and relaxing stay. Although the pubs in Polruan is a bit basic but the village shop stocks fresh vegs with plenty of local products. The ferry to Fowey is very convenient and enables us to not use the car whole week. Nearby Polperro and Looe is accessible by the bus but you do need to plan ahead as it is infrequent. We very much enjoyed the view from the second bedroom over the boat yard and seeing the launching of fishing boats after the works. The hills are not easy but this is a typical Cornish setting that can’t be avoided. We will revisit in future.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Julia H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful week

We loved our stay in Polruan. The weather was fabulous and the cottage was just as hoped. The location in the village centre was perfect for very easy access to the bakers, shop, cafe, pubs, bus stop, coastal path and the ferry to Fowie. Made the most of all of these. The cottage was very well equipped, tastefully furnished and comfortable. Easy to unload car before parking it up the hill. Then we didn’t need to use the car all week, which was nice. Hope to return sometime.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Susanna R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lilac Cottage

Lovely cottage in a beautiful setting by the Polruan harbour. The village is very friendly and it was a bonus getting the ferry across to Fowey.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Tina G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

Summer holiday

We loved it. Quiet no traffic as getting a car up and down is quite difficult. We enjoyed having a cafe pub and shop all in walking distance. The bed is the comfiest I’ve slept in years😍.
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Steve G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Holiday 2022

Had a fantastic time. Nothing was missing.
Stayed 8 nights in Sep 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amanda M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Well needed break

Had a problem finding the key safe but if all else fails read the instructions. Polruan is a wonderful village and we had the best time. The cottage was small but perfect as a base to doing all the seaside things. Russell Inn has fab food. The bus stop to polperro and Looe is just yards away. Loved it
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Deb K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic break

We had an absolutely fantastic week at Lilac Cottage. Right in the heart of the village, with pubs/bakery/cafe/store/harbour all only a minutes walk away. The boats across to Fowey were really useful and although we didn’t use the bus, it ran frequently. The cottage is beautifully presented and all information regarding keys/bins etc sent via mail from the owner, Jackie. The courtyard to the front of the property is perfectly placed if you enjoy a spot of people watching or simply wanting to relax with a good book. If you are looking for a relaxing break, I’d definitely recommend Lilac Cottage!
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2022

10/10 Excellent

Christina B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Relaxing holiday

Lilac cottage is a very cute 2 bedroom accommodation in polruan. Ideally located to explore the immediate area. One thing to note is the village is VERY hilly. There is a designated parking space but it is at the top of a VERY steep hill which is about a 10min walk (depending on how fit you are!) There is a very good pub (the Lugger) serving excellent food 1min away. You will need to book if wanting to eat in the evening. Not the cheapest place but the food is excellent. There is also another pub 30sec from your front door which also serves good food. I recommend the sea food platter. The Baker's 2 mins up the road serve excellent fresh bread, quiches and cakes. All baked on the premises and very fresh. There is also a small convenience store that sells your basic requirements. The property itself has everything you will need for your stay. It was very clean and the beds were super comfortable. My daughter and I slept like a log (probably due to all the walking we'd done). There is a ferry that takes you over to Fowey and it runs every 15mins up until 11pm. Not sure about out of season hours. There is also a car ferry but not sure how regularly that runs s as didn't use it. All in all I had an amazing time here and I would definitely come back and stay at Lilac cottage and if you're looking for a relaxing holiday with beautiful scenery this is definitely a place to consider. Jackie the host is very friendly and answers and queries and questions quickly. I highly recommend.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

tony m.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely 👍👍👍

Great location
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022

6/10 Okay

Sarah F.

Liked: Check-in, listing accuracy

Nice place but in need of improvement

Pretty fisherman’s cottage. Simple but pleasant interior with lovely little outside space which is nice to sit in to watch the world go by. Unfortunately there has been a problem with damp in the past and the newly painted ceilings were flaking off onto the spare room bed. Not a problem for us until one of us needed to use that room one night and it was impossible to sleep. Electric socket in main bedroom also had a loose connection which I made the owner aware of but had no response regarding this issue. We ended up leaving three days early and booking into a local B&B because of the problem sleeping with flaking paint. It was a shame because we were generally happy in the cottage until that point. If you are a light sleeper be aware that the pub close by is noisy late at night and the noise travels up to the cottage.
Stayed 14 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

G T.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Really lovely stay relaxed and generally peaceful .The hill was a challenge but we coped !

Good
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

jim b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Stay by the ferry

Nice house, clean and tidy with everything we needed for our stay - two pubs within 50yards so ideal - a little hard to open the key safe when checking in, much easier once we had the knack of it) - as warned, the parking near the house is impossible but if you load or unload quickly, its not a problem. Ferry to Fowey are quick and convenient so a couple of good days out without havjng to drive at all Both pubs are great, booking for food at the Lugger is advised, but take care as the links on google maps actually takes you to the website for the Lugger in Fowey
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2021

10/10 Excellent

Ben S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Family Holiday

We had a great weeks holiday staying at Lilac Cottage. All was clean and well kept in the cottage with a well stocked kitchen which made cooking easy. Polruan has a lovely genuine local feel which we loved compared to the more touristy Fowey across the estuary. The two pubs, a bakery, local store and the ferry to Fowey are all very nearby. Polruan is not made for cars, being an old fishing village, so having a parking space up the hill included with the cottage was great. It's a 10 - 15 min walk up the hill to the car which we got use and walking back down at the end if the day supplied wonderful views. All in all, we thought this was a wonderful little gem.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Toni F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Cosy cottage

Ideal base to explore the south side of Cornwall... everything you need.. would 100% stay here again 😁
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fantastic stay

Fantastic location...very well appointed cottage...I would highly recommend...everything you need on the doorstep!!
Stayed 7 nights in Sep 2020

10/10 Excellent

robin l., Oxford

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

In the heart of the village

The cottage has been tastefully renovated. It is in the heart of this quiet and quintessential Cornish fishing village with a short walk down to the quay and the ferry over to Fowey and to the well stocked village shop. Jackie, the host, is very responsive and very helpful. It's a good pull up the hill to reach the parking place. I'm not sure I'd recommend it if you are unfit but if your reasonably fit this is a good way to get fitter! To arrive at the village an OS map will serve you a lot better than sat nav to find your way through the lanes. For winter make sure you have a good supply of logs because the wood burner is needed to keep the house warm. The stretch of coast between Polruan and Polperrow is unspoiled, mainly managed by the National Trust and truely beautiful. We had a lovely week and the cottage has served us very well.

10/10 Excellent

Richard B., Canvey Island

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

An utterly perfect Cornish experience.

Our stay honestly couldn't have been better. The check in process was simple and as described via a key house in the outhouse. The cottage is located at the bottom of a steep hill, a 483 m walk from the allocated free parking space. The walk is along a typically cute village Street down to the harbour and whilst it may not be the easiest walk you'll ever do its clearly highlighted on the listing and is a great introduction to Cornish life. You can pay for parking on the Quay but I wouldn't recommend it as even if you pay for a week the harbour manager in the post office can not actually reserve you a space, it's first come first served. You can however drive to the cottage, unload and then drive back up the hill and park. The cottage itself is compact, very cute and cosy. It has a well designed kitchen which makes clever use of the space. It's well equipped with plates, cutlery, all kinds of pots and pans, a dishwasher and coffee machine. Upstairs has two spacious bedrooms and a modern bathroom. There is a log burning fire in the lounge The property oozes character and charm. It is a one minute walk to two cosy pubs, a very useful post office and the foot passenger ferry over to the lovely town of Fowey. Five minutes up the hill is a basic but well stocked shop. We couldn't recommend this property highly enough and we'll definitely return. I would urge potential guests to disregard the review left by Erik B below as in my opinion and week long experience it is not a fair representation of the property and the efforts the owner goes to ensure a comfortable stay for guests. Cutlery, cups, glasses and plates matched, the steep walk to the parking is clearly indicated in the listing.. We heard some noise from the ship yard but it's not in anyway intrusive and in any case, it's a working ship yard and harbour in a Cornish fishing village!!! I would urge potential guests to go by the positive realistic reviews left by the vast majority and not by Erik B.
Stayed 5 nights in Dec 2019

4/10 Poor

Eric B., Lichtaart, Belgique

Liked: Location
Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, listing accuracy

Fishermans cottage Polruan

We entered in a not to clean cottage, the supposedly lovely garden was an untamed wilderness. The cuttlery as well as the glases are a mismatched set, not even four identical wine glasses available in a four person rental. All seating in the living room is uncomfortable. The available parking is a 20 minute climb at 16% to the top of the hill, which should have been mentioned and mention should also have been made of the nearby shipyard that produces quite a bit of noise early in the morning. The shed at the bottom of the garden where we had to pick up the key to the cottage also contained the washer dryer however, how can one expect to get one’s things cleaned in such a dirty area, a storage space for broken chairs and other dusty pieces of household goods and garden equipment. Many times before have we rented cottages in the UK, at lower as well as at higher rates, and all were cleaner and better outfitted than the Fishermans Cottage in Polruan. Another thing sadly lacking was any personal attention by the owner which we did not experience in any previous rental. All in all a large deception in an otherwise lovely and extremely friendly as well as helpfull part of the UK.
Stayed 9 nights in Aug 2019

6/10 Okay

Roderick W.

Liked: Check-in, communication
Disliked: Cleanliness, location, listing accuracy

Lilac Cottage

Amenities and cleanliness well below the standard of the property we stayed at the previous week (similar price). On arrival the basin in the bathroom was blocked and would not drain away. It took 2 bottles of Mr Muscle drain cleaner which we had to buy to clear. The cleaner must have left it in this condition. Also, the company should make clear that the cottage is unsuitable for any but fairly fit people, as the allocated parking slot is a 1/4 mile up the steepest street you are likely to encounter. This was not mentioned in the advertising material. That aside, we did enjoy our stay, particularly the boat ferry visits to Fowey, which severely restricted what we could do without slogging up the hill to the car.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2019

10/10 Excellent

Chris A.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect location for a relaxing break

Very quaint little cottage in the centre of a picturesque fishing village. Very comfortable, quiet and relaxing. Will defiantly be back!

10/10 Excellent

Julie H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lilac Cottage

We had a fabulous time in this beautiful cottage in the middle of polruan. The cottage was clean and well equipped with everything you needed for a restful holiday. Close to shops and Pubs with a ferry service across the river to Fowey. We would highly recommend this property and will be back . The outstanding view from the bedroom window was amazing. Julie Hands
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2019

About the host

Hosted by Jackie Skillicorn

Host profile image
Hello, my name is Jackie and I am kept busy by working for an independent book shop and assisting my husband in his business. I spend my spare time gardening and walking my dog. I like being outdoors and Cornwall gives me the opportunity to do just that.

Why they chose this property

We are a family of four and have enjoyed many holidays in Cornwall. My children when young enjoyed 'crabbing' on jetties and digging in sand...now they are older they want to be more independent and Polruan offers all local facilities plus the inexpensive river taxi - they love it!

We chose Lilac Cottage because we like the village life of Polruan with its thriving community and boat yard. The busier town of Fowey is just across the estuary and we felt that a property in Polruan gives easy access to both. Polruan is very community based and there is always something going on.

Lilac Cottage gives a great little base with a coastal feel and we have tried to keep our furnishings & decoration simple to reflect this. We hope that anyone who uses the
cottage feels the same way.

PLEASE NOTE THAT DURING BUSY PERIODS OUR CHANGEOVER DAY IS FRIDAY. IF YOU A LOOKING FOR A SHORT BREAK OUTSIDE OF KEY TIMES WE CAN BE A LITTLE MORE FLEXIBLE - PLEASE ENQUIRE.

What makes this property unique

Although we recommend a car it is not essential. I have travelled to Cornwall by train, been picked up by taxi (£16 from Par, £30 from Bodmin) and taken to the cottage. Alternatively, take a taxi from Par station to the Polruan ferry dock in Fowey (£8) and take the ferry across (£1.80 pp) which is 2 minutes from the cottage. Once there, everything is available without going further afield. It's a great cottage to relax and unwind.

Languages:

English