The cottage lies in one of the most picturesque areas of South East Cornwall

There are dramatic coastal walks and sandy beaches in nearby Par and Menabilly (Mandalay in 'Rebecca' by Daphne Du Maurier) . The Lost Gardens of Heligan, the grandeur of Lanhydrock (National Trust) and the secrecy of the smugglers' harbours of Charleston and Polperro are close by.

There is a good traditional pub 1/4 mile away (an easy walk) in Lanlivery, where they serve some good food if you fancy a night off cooking. It is an easy walk back home.

There are local shops in St Blazey, Par and Tywardreath and major supermarket chains are close by in Bodmin and St Austell.

Lostwithiel- Cornwall's Hidden Jewel

Lostwithiel nestles in the Fowey River valley 5 miles north of Fowey (itself a lovely town for lunch, shopping and a wander). The town is overlooked by the 12th century Restormel Castle (English Heritage) and surrounded by beautiful countryside with the river meandering through the centre of the town.

Antique shops, regular fairs and auctions have made Lostwithiel the antiques capital of Cornwall. Now, with a choice of recently opened lifestyle shops, award winning restaurants, tea rooms, pubs and produce market, the town is attracting a growing number of new visitors. With good road and rail links as well as ample free parking, visiting couldn't be easier.

Lostwithiel has a great Golf and Country Club. Why not venture further afield to places such as, St Ives, St. Michael's Mount (National Trust), Falmouth or Penzance, which are only an hour's drive away.

St. Austell

Little more than a small cluster of houses around a fine church for much of its history, St Austell was utterly transformed by the discovery in the mid-eighteenth century, by the chemist William Cookworthy, of huge reserves of china clay to the north and west of the village. By the 1850s, some 7,000 men, women and children were employed in the St Austell clay district in the extraction, processing, transportation and export of the clay and heavy wagons constantly rumbled through the streets of St Austell on their way to the ports of Charlestown, Pentewan and Par.

The town grew and prospered out of all recognition. There are some fine buildings from this period to be seen today, the White Hart Hotel for instance and the Market House. The parish church is still the glory of St Austell, with its beautifully-carved tower of Pentewan stone.

Readers keen to learn about the china clay industry and its history should visit the excellent Wheal Martyn Museum, north of St Austell.