Waterside idyllic 16c Cottage. No Neighbours. Boat, private grounds & foreshore.
- Cottage84 m²
- Sleeps: 6
- Bedrooms: 3
- Bathrooms: 1
- Min. Stay: 3–7 nights
Beautiful property in fabulous location. Bird watch, fish, kayak, beaches nearby
Bedrooms
Owner
Linda Dandy
- Languages:
- english
About Linda Dandy
Hello from Linda Dandy. For me, it is a real privilege to assist with the managing of Rock Cottage which has been in the Dandy Family for 65 years. On a holiday to the area in 1954, Rock Cottage was ‘discovered’ by Robin's parents, Eleanor (Peggy) and Leslie Dandy. They immediately recognised the special nature of this 16th century cottage and its unique location, which stands alone within an acre of land bordering the Helford River on two sides. Later that year the property was purchased at auction for their retirement.
Linda Dandy purchased this Cottage in 1954
Why Linda Dandy chose Helston
At the time of purchase, the cottage was condemned as unfit for human habitation and was also Grade II listed because it was then the ‘only recorded example of a traditional Cornish cottage built on a projecting rock foundation’. There was no mains water or electricity, so rainwater was collected for washing and oil lamps and candles provided the only illumination. Drinking water was collected from a nearby spring. A comprehensive renovation programme took place and this was completed by January 1956. The main building was demolished to ground floor ceiling level except for the chimney end which was preserved. The traditional cob (mud, straw and stone) walls retained where it was possible. A Bathroom was created from the old Scullery, the Sitting Room extended and a new Kitchen constructed. The Garden Room was formerly a separate cottage and had been altered in the early 1900s to become a Meeting Room for game shooting for the Trelowarren Estate. Both families living in the cottages’ had shared the semi-detached privy with their own pathway to it. This building has been preserved and still exists at the bottom of the garden. It must have been quite tricky to keep a candle lit in order to see where you were going! An 1876 map also shows a boathouse and the original two stone walls of this still remain. The objective of the renovations was to modernise the cottage but still retain its character and originality as much as possible. We believe this has been achieved and many guests think so too. It is a superb waterside retreat and there is nowhere quite like it!
What makes this Cottage unique
Rock Cottage is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with very convenient and easy access to many of the local amenities. However, it retains a tranquil and idyllic outlook. The Dandy Family are pleased to share the wonders of the Mawgan Creek and the peaceful atmosphere of Rock Cottage with you where a sincere and friendly welcome beckons.
Amenities
Featured
- Heater
- No Smoking
- Children Welcome
- Washer & Dryer
- TV
- Pets Welcome
- Internet
- Parking
- Fireplace
Bathrooms
- Bathrooms: 1
Safety features
- Deadbolt lock
- First-aid kitIn the pantry on shelf
- Smoke detectorEntrance Hall Upstairs Landing Separate Garden Room
- Fire extinguisherFire Blanket in pantry Fire Extinguisher in Garden Room
- Carbon-monoxide detectorKitchen
- Exterior lighting
Location Type
- beachPrivate foreshore
- near the oceanMany beaches to choose from and within a 10 minute drive
- RuralLess than a quarter of a mile from the nearest shop and pub with restaurant.
- townHelston town is a 10 minute car journey
- villageMawgan village has a thriving shop selling local produce and is very convenient. We are so fortunate to have a fabulous pub with a first class restaurant - The Ship Inn.
- waterfrontGlorious unspoilt river views, with private fishing. Go rowing, kayaking, or bring SUPs
- riverRock Cottage enjoys its own water frontage on the Mawgan Creek of the Helford River.
- Water viewExclusive and a wonderful ever-changing view from the property
- WaterfrontRock Cottage guests enjoy private water frontage where a boat is moored for their use
General
- TelephoneEx-directory landline provided which accepts incoming and outgoing calls. Owners may be contacted FOC
- HeatingEfficient oil fired central heating with thermostatically controlled radiators in all rooms. Supplementary heating is supplied in the Lounge and Bathroom for those who need it.
- Linens providedQuality beds, mattresses, pillows, duvets and linen for all beds. For stays longer than a week, all linen and towels are replaced.
- Washing machineAEG Washer/Dryer, 7kg wash and 4kg dry load. 1600 rpm spin.
- Clothes dryerNew AEG Washer Dryer so no wet washing hanging around. Outside line, and pegs provided. Clothes airer, heated towel rail.
- FireplaceWood burning effect electric stove
- ParkingPrivate parking for a maximum of 2 large or 3 small cars available at the property
- InternetSuperfast Fibre Broadband
- Towels providedTea towels, kitchen towels, bath sheets, bath and hand towels as well as adult size bathrobes supplied. Please bring beach towels with you.
- Wireless InternetFast and reliable. All rooms have Wifi including the separate Garden Room
- Iron & board
- Hair dryer
- Paper towels
- Shampoo
- Basic soaps
- Toilet paper
- Living RoomBeautiful light, long room completely refurbished with a new luxury 3 seater sofa, matching comfy armchairs, and window seats.
Kitchen
- DishwasherBosch dishwasher alongside the sink unit with the option of a quick wash facility.
- FridgeNew 60/40 fridge/freezer - ideal for the weekly shop
- HobSmeg Ceramic Halogen Hob - fast heating.
- OvenFull sized fan assisted with convenience oven/grill and a large electric oven.
- MicrowavePanasonic - ideal for heating soup, sauces and easy cook meals.
- BBQ
- Coffee makerCafetiere plus Phillips filter coffee machine
- ToasterSits on worktop
- Blender
- Lobster pot
- Pantry itemsSmall walk in pantry with slate shelf for chilling drinks. Store groceries in here. Herb & spices rack. Bacofoil, grease proof paper, clingfilm, sea salt and black pepper mills in situ.
- Dishes & utensilsArthur Price cutlery. FBC tea set & plates. New Procook white dinner service, gravy boat, jugs, casserole dishes, Poole Pottery salad/fruit bowls. Beer, lager, wine glasses and champagne flutes.
- KitchenVery well equipped and maintained. A magnificent view from this room -looks out over the garden and river with plenty of bird life to watch in the garden or on the water.
- Kettle
Dining
- Dining area
- Child's highchair
- DiningTake advantage of the wonderful view and eat at the beech dining table in the kitchen where there is a large picture window.
Entertainment
- Television28" LED TV with Freeview as well as a new 40" HD wall mounted TV in the Garden Room
- StereoiPod Docking Station is included with the Micro HIFi system
- DVD playerDVD/VCR player with a good selection of DVDs for all age groups
- BooksExcellent selection of children's books for bedtime stories. Cornish culture, historical information, maps, local walks, novels and large tourist information folder are located in the lounge.
- GamesAdults and children can enjoy playing swing ball in the garden during the summer months. There is an excellent selection of board games, puzzles and jigsaws in the oak sideboard.
- Games for kids
- Music libraryChoice of CDs for you to listen to
- Video libraryA small selection are available for all age groups
Outside
- GardenThe terraced garden is big, steep in places and wraps around the property. It has a safe area where children may play. Cornish hedge alongside the lane with a gated entrance.
- Kayak / canoeBring your own Kayaks, SU Paddle Boards and Canoes. Store and launch these from our jetty area or they can be hired locally.
- BoatA 3.5M sturdy rowing dinghy, suitable for 4, is provided from Easter (weather & tide permitting) until last week of October. Selection of lifejackets from baby to large adult size available.
- Deck chairs
- Deck / PatioA slate patio with large picnic table, reclining chairs, sun parasol and small wooden table. Fabulous view.
- Outdoor Furniture
- Water Sports GearMany guests love to kayak, canoe and paddle board from our foreshore
- TennisFor tennis enthusiasts a court may be hired nearby
- GolfGolf Club at Mullion (overlooks the sea) or a short course at Helston - both approx. 10-15 minutes by car.
Suitability
- wheelchair inaccessibleIdeal for two couples or a family, friends and grandparents. The property and grounds are not suitable for disabled persons, the infirm and wheelchairs.
Onsite Services
- Housekeeper optional
Notes
- Rock Cottage commands a wonderful position looking down the river, and because of this, access to the water is steep and may be unsuitable for some. The private foreshore is reached by steps through the garden, with a useful roped pathway down granite steps, which lead to the wooden jetty where out on a running line sitting on the rocky foreshore is 'Peggy', our sturdy 3.5M rowing dinghy. Tide and weather permitting, we make her available from Easter up to the end of October. Normally there are 3+ hours of water, either side of high tide, and to help plan your boating, a Tide Table is provided. Fish for Sea Bass, Bream and Grey Mullet from the shoreline or in the boat. Kayaks, small canoes and paddle boards may be kept on the jetty. Beds are made up for the number of persons booked. Need a dinner reservation for the night of arrival, online shop arrangements, or maybe you would like to order one of our breakfast and supper hampers, just let us know. We are pleased to help.
Breakfast
- Booking Possible
House Rules
Check-in: 3:30 pm
Check-out: 10:00 am
No parties/events
No smoking
Strictly No Smoking or Vaping inside the property
Pets allowed
1 or 2 dogs may be accepted. Enquire first please
Children allowed
All children should be supervised please
Minimum age of primary renter:25
Max guests:6 (sleeps up to 4 adults)
DOGS - up to 2 dogs may be accepted. House rules apply. See our Rental Agreement for information.
CANCELLATION POLICY FOR ROCK COTTAGE - before you book, read our Rental Agreement on the booking page. This includes relaxed terms for up to 60 days.
Cancellation Policy
No refunds for cancellations made after payment is made
111 Reviews
Cosy Cottage in Stunning Location
Pristine property in a hideaway location with extensive grounds including private waterfront and jetty. Rock Cottage surpassed all our expectations. The ever changing views from the kitchen and garden of the tidal river are mesmerising. If you can tear yourself away from the well equipped, cosy cottage, there is so much to do and see within easy reach. The nearby Ship Inn does excellent food in the evenings which is a 10-15 minute walk into the village. There is also a well equipped local shop here. 15 minutes in the other direction from the cottage is Gear Farm. Their award winning Cornish Pasties are not to be missed! Perfect to take on a hike as they stay warm for hours.
We enjoyed exploring and managed to see all the bits of Cornwall we came to see, and a lot more from this base. The hosts have thought of everything and the treats on arrival were very much appreciated!
We will return.
It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Marianne, Simon and Jonah to Rock Cottage and we are so pleased their holiday was a wonderful time. Marianne's great review, which we are very happy to receive, sums up the location and what there is to offer when you stay here. Thank you very much for this. You were excellent guests in every way, and it will be great to see you all again. xx
Holiday
Overall really good experience but would have benefited from knowing how close it was to a road which is quite busy especially early in the morning.
The benefit of having Google maps on an advertisement is to provide the guest with the location and of course show them the exact position of the property. I can only assume this guest may not have seen this before making her booking. The 'road' in question is unclassified, narrow, follows the contour of the creek and used mainly by the locals. Unfortunately, building work taking place in the nearby village has, in the short term, increased the number of vehicles.
Cornish Delight
Rock Cottage is a wonderful hideaway with amazing views and everything within that you could need and more.
Linda and Robin are very welcoming and helpful. The basket of goodies was much appreciated and devoured especially the home made bread,
I couldn’t recommend staying there highly enough and we will certainly return. Thanks again both.
Thank you Ron. We are delighted to receive your review. It was a pleasure to meet you both and we look forward to seeing you again.
Rock Cottage
Wonderful location. Great spot for a fisherman/bird spotter. The cottage itself has everthing you need to relax in the idyllic surroundings all functioning and spotless, from crisp fresh sheets, white goods to WiFi.
This lovely family had a great holiday and it will be good to see them again.
Idyllic
Really lovely spot, and lovely cottage. Direct access to Mawgan creek a real benefit for us to use our kayaks as well as the grandparents using Peggy.
A couple of BBQs throughout the stay, but every evening, bar the last, sat outside with a stunning backdrop.
Lots of wooded grounds to explore for children
The cottage and annex (Garden Cottage) were pristine.
Our stay will stay long in the memory.
We are delighted to receive your 5* review Neil and thank you for this. As you mention, having direct water access is a real bonus especially for those who love to be on the water. So pleased you and your family all had a great time. See you again.
totally breathtaking
the house, gardens and views were stunning which ever way you looked. The ages in our group ranged from 11 to 75 and all loved it.
Thank you so much for your comments. We loved having you and your family to stay and are so pleased everyone enjoyed their holiday. Linda x
Map
Rock Cottage stands completely alone within an acre of private grounds which border the Helford River on two sides and features an unrivalled and elevated panoramic view of the Mawgan Creek. There is nowhere quite like it!
VILLAGE AMENITIES:
Within a short walk from Rock Cottage you will find the thriving Mawgan Stores, your nearest local shop, which is well stocked with just about all you may need during your holiday. On your way you will pass the 12c Church of St Mawgan in Meneage and The Ship Inn. Many of our guests dine at this very popular, well established pub with restaurant or simply stop by for a local ale and then amble back along the lane. Take away fish and chips is available from here too and Mawgan stores sell their frozen meals. In the opposite direction from Rock Cottage, if you cross the ancient stone bridge at Gear and proceed up the hill towards St Martin, you will reach the Gear Farm Pasty shop. The Cornish pasties are made on the premises and are perfect for a lunch time treat. Further on is The Prince of Wales at Newtown St Martin; with very friendly hosts, a big and varied menu to choose from as well as a large garden. Both the Ship Inn and Prince of Wales accept well trained dogs.
Children can enjoy the excellent facilities at the Mawgan recreation ground with its newly created play area and picnic seating. Recently installed for the adults, is a state of the art outdoor gym facility - great for a family workout!
LOCAL PLACES TO EAT:
As well as the Ship Inn, locally there is the New Yard Restaurant and a Chinese restaurant in Mawgan, The Black Swan at Gweek, The Prince of Wales at Newtown St Martin as well as The Halzephron at Gunwalloe and the Shipwrights Arms in Helford. At Porthleven there is Rick Steins Restaurant, Kota, Kota Kai, Amelies, Naughty but Ice, cafes and pubs too.
A FEW THINGS TO DO:
Within a car ride of about 10 minutes is the Cornish Seal Sanctuary at Gweek, Flambards Theme Park and the Helston Folk Museum. Helston Town is worth a visit and has the Blue Anchor inn, one of the oldest pubs in Britain, which continues to maintain a working brewery. There is also a Tesco superstore, Sainsbury's and Lidls.
During the main holiday season take the foot ferry from Helford across to Helford Passage and then visit the fabulous gardens at Trebah or enjoy a spot of lunch first at the Ferryboat Inn. Do a coast path walk around Lizard Point where you may see Seals, Basking Sharks, Dolphins and the Cornish Choughs. Safe and sandy beaches to visit at Poldhu, Kynance Cove, Gunwalloe and Polurrian; fishing coves at Mullion and Cadgwith. Historic NT properties and gardens at Glendurgan, St Michael's Mount, Penrose Estate and Trengwainton. Other gardens to visit are the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the Eden Project.
Falmouth is a great choice for a day out with the Maritime Museum, Pendennis Castle and of course boat trips to St Mawes. St Ives and Newlyn is a must for art lovers. If you have been following the Poldark series, you may like to see some of the mines where filming took place at Botallack to Levant. Whilst heading out this way, go to Lands End and stop off at Porthgwarra beach - it's beautiful!
During your stay we can help you if you wish to book horse riding, sailing, kayaking as well as the thrill of a deep sea fishing trip. Rock Cottage has easy access to an area which has a great number of things to do with a good choice of pubs and restaurants to suit all occasions.