The Croft House

Couples and small families will find The Croft House works well as a self-contained base. It's a stone cottage from around 1500, tucked into the market town of Launceston, with enough character—original stonework, a log burner, sloping floors—to feel properly old without sacrificing comfort. Two bedrooms (one king, one double) and a bathroom with bath and overhead shower means four people can stay without compromising on space or privacy.

The main living room centres on the log burner, with two sofas arranged to face it and windows looking out to the surrounding town. A separate dining nook has built-in benches and a wooden table for four, extendable to six if needed. The kitchen is compact but properly equipped for cooking; whether you're making a full meal or just breakfast before heading out, everything needed is there. Upstairs, both bedrooms have built-in storage and a walk-in wardrobe each. Electricity, bed linen and towels are included; heating comes from storage heaters and logs for the fire.

Outside, a south and west-facing rear garden gives a quiet place to sit, and there's a patio at the front. A pub is within a mile. The surrounding countryside—rolling hills and small towns—makes it a reasonable base for exploring both Devon and the Cornish coast, though you'll need transport to reach the sea. No smoking inside.