St Mawes · Cornwall
The Old Court House
“Beautifully restored Cornish cottage in the heart of St Mawes”
From £1,785 / week
Our favourite features
At a Glance
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Charming period property
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Located in the heart of St Mawes
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Three stunning bedrooms
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Pets welcome
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Fabulous sea views
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Gorgeous courtyard
About the cottage
About The Old Court House
Step into history and coastal charm at The Old Court House, a beautifully restored Cornish cottage just steps from the beach in the heart of St Mawes. Sleeping up to eight guests, this characterful three-bedroom holiday home blends centuries of heritage with stylish modern comfort, offering a truly special escape on the Roseland Peninsula. With whitewashed stone walls, a pretty flowering garden and sea views from almost every window, it’s the kind of place that instantly slows you down — the soundtrack of the bay never far away.
Inside, the cottage is light, bright and packed with original character. Picture windows pour in natural light and frame sparkling water views, so even a quiet morning indoors feels wonderfully coastal. The main sitting room is a cosy haven with armchairs set either side of a large stone fireplace, while the plush sofa invites you to stretch out and stay a while — perfect for coffee as the fishing boats head out, or evenings curled up with a good book and a glass of something lovely. A second sitting room with sofa and TV adds a snug retreat for family film nights or an easy-going bit of downtime.
The kitchen is thoughtfully equipped for relaxed self-catering, with quality appliances and plenty of space to cook up fresh local seafood or hearty suppers after a day on the sand. Gather everyone around the dining table in the peaceful dining room, or take things outside to the garden for alfresco meals surrounded by flowers and fresh sea air. With comfy loungers for sunbathing and reading, it’s a gorgeous spot for slow afternoons and sundowner drinks as the sky starts to soften.
Upstairs, three welcoming bedrooms continue the home’s calm seaside feel, each with large windows and those lovely sea views across the bay. After a long soak in the deep bathtub, drift off to the gentle sound of waves and wake to glimmering light dancing on the water — holiday mode, fully activated.
With a stay in St Mawes, everything is on your doorstep: boutique shops, waterfront restaurants and traditional Cornish pubs are all within easy reach. Spend your days exploring the harbour, visiting St Mawes Castle, hopping on the ferry to Falmouth, or enjoying the area’s sheltered beaches — ideal for swimming, paddleboarding and relaxed sun-soaked afternoons. When you fancy venturing further, the Roseland Peninsula offers scenic coastal walks, hidden coves and charming villages, with the South West Coast Path close by and lovely day trips within reach. However you choose to spend your time, The Old Court House promises a memorable Cornish break in one of the county’s most beautiful seaside settings.
Floorplan
Facilities
- Bedrooms: Three bedrooms with large windows and lovely sea views, sleeping up to eight guests.
- Bathrooms: Family Bathroom with a deep bathtub for long, relaxing soaks, plus ensuite shower room. There’s also a downstairs WC.
- Living spaces: Two sitting rooms: a main lounge with a large stone fireplace plus a separate snug with TV.
- Kitchen: Fully equipped self-catering kitchen with quality appliances and crockery.
- Dining: Peaceful dining room with table, plus the option to eat outside in the garden.
- Outdoors: Flowering garden with outdoor dining and comfy loungers for sunbathing and sundowners.
Location
St Mawes, Cornwall
Out & about
Close to The Old Court House
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Gyllyngvase Beach
Beach2.5 miles · 52 min drive
Gyllyngvase is Falmouth's most accessible beach — wide, sandy and sheltered, with a good café on the seafront.
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The Victory Inn
Food & drink0.1 miles · 2 min walk
A proper harbourside local with real ales and a loyal crowd — good for a pint after a day on the water.
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The Watch House
Food & drink0.1 miles · 2 min walk
Seafood-led menu with a terrace right on the waterfront; the crab dishes are a particular reason to book ahead.
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The Rising Sun
Food & drink0.2 miles · 4 min walk
The Rising Sun has fed and watered St Mawes for generations — reliable pub food and a sun-trap courtyard.
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Killigerran Head
Attraction1.5 miles · 24 min drive · 30 min walk
Killigerran Head rewards the walk with sweeping views across the Carrick Roads — best on a clear morning.
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Pendennis Castle Museum
Landmark1.6 miles · 57 min drive · 32 min walk
Pendennis Castle guards the mouth of the Fal estuary; the Tudor fortifications and wartime history make it a genuinely absorbing half-day.
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St Just-In-Roseland
Landmark1.8 miles · 6 min drive · 36 min walk
St Just-in-Roseland church sits in a subtropical garden beside a tidal creek; one of the most quietly affecting spots in Cornwall.
Local knowledge
Want the full lowdown on St Mawes? Our concierge knows it inside out.
About St Mawes
Your corner of Cornwall.
Picturesque St Mawes (from the Celtic St Maudez) sits on Cornwall’s beautiful Roseland Peninsula, opposite Falmouth, and it’s a brilliant base for a luxury holiday in Cornwall — though you’ll really want a car to explore properly. Often dubbed one of the “hippest” places in Cornwall (and beyond), this compact fishing village is wrapped by gentle hills and the sea, with a strong community spirit centred around the harbour and waterfront. Expect cobbled, narrow streets, a lovely arcade of independent shops and galleries, and plenty of places to linger over the sea air and seriously good seafood.
For food, St Mawes punches well above its size. The Watch House is great for harbourside fish and chips or moules (and becomes a smart restaurant in the evening), while the wider village is packed with seafood-forward menus. For a proper foodie adventure, head to The Hidden Hut above Porthcurnick Beach for feast nights and “bring your own” events, and for something sweet down on the harbour try Fudge and More. You can even make lunch an outing with a boat trip along the Fal, or try a culinary cruise on Tethra.
There’s plenty to do beyond eating (though no judgement if that’s your main sport). St Mawes is gloriously pretty, looking out over the Fal with steep lanes down to the harbour, pastel cottages and some seriously smart coastal homes. The ferry to Falmouth is a favourite for browsing independent shops and galleries before returning to the calm of St Mawes.
Families are well catered for: try a fishing trip aboard the Madeline Rose, burn energy at St Mawes Recreation Ground (skate/scooter ramp), or enjoy the ferry commentary en route to Falmouth. Watersports here lean more to kayaking, boating and stand-up paddleboarding than surfing — and you can hire with St Mawes Sit on Kayaks.
Art lovers can browse The Square Gallery in the arcade by the main car park, plus nearby Veryan Galleries, The New Gallery, Portscatho and Spindrift, Portscatho. Beaches are small and rugged rather than long sandy stretches: Tavern Beach is great for rock pooling (steep in places; no dogs in summer and no lifeguards), while Summers Beach is larger, south-west facing, and has rock pools plus a floating platform kids love (also no summer dogs and no lifeguards).
Rainy day? Try The Hidden Cinema, or hop over to Falmouth for the Maritime Museum. For something different, visit Lamorran House Garden for its lush planting and sea views, or explore St Mawes Castle, one of Henry VIII’s best-preserved coastal fortresses. Walkers can follow the coast path to St Just Church (around 45 minutes, fairly level), tackle the St Just to St Mawes circular (about 6 miles), or head out on the St Anthony Head walk (National Trust) for big Carrick Roads views.
Pricing & Availability
The Old Court House is booked directly with its owner. Tell them your dates and party and they’ll come back to confirm availability and rates — usually the same day.
Live availability — straight from the owner’s calendar:
October 2026
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November 2026
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This is the second time we have used Cornish Secrets (St Ives last year) and we will definitely be booking again with you in the future - keep up the great work!
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