Porthevan, North Cornwall
A house above the cove
Eight rooms finished in hand-burnished lime, a short dinner written each afternoon, and a bathhouse cut into the rock. Open all year.
Check availabilityThe finish
Lime, burnished by hand
Every wall in the house is troweled in lime and pressed with a river stone until it hardens — the oldest waterproof finish there is. Scroll, and one panel cures: the wet sheen goes off and the surface sets to a matte that holds the light of the water.
The swatch on the right is left as lime wash — never burnished. It rides the same setting time and never takes a sheen. That is the difference you feel underfoot the moment you walk in.
Eight rooms
No two the same
The Cove Suite
from £340Sea-facing, south-west · sleeps 2
The corner room the house was built around — two tall windows onto the water and a burnished plaster bath.
The Lantern
from £290Sea-facing, west · sleeps 2
A top-floor room that keeps the last of the light, with a reading seat cut into the gable.
The Garden Room
from £240Garden-facing, sheltered · sleeps 2
Ground-floor and level, opening onto the walled herb garden the kitchen picks from.
The table
One short menu, written each afternoon
Four courses around what the boats and the walled garden gave us that day. Wednesday to Sunday, from seven.
See dining
The bathhouse
A bathing room the same lime as the walls
A warm plunge, a cool one off the cliff spring, and a cedar steam room. Free to residents; day guests by appointment.
See the bathhouseCome and stay
Rooms held on request, all year. Tell us the dates and we will write back the same day.