Can’t decide which of Cornwall’s gorgeous beaches you should stay at? Try the Beach Retreats Your Beach. Found – six easy questions to discover my match this week was Mawgan Porth.

front exterior The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

WHAT? WHERE?

Mawgan Porth is a little slightly-more-under-the-radar beach village on Cornwall’s north coast than neighbouring Watergate Bay or Newquay. Life centres around the gorgeous golden sands and unspoilt headland along which the coastal path passes.

Mawgan Porth beach from coast path in April with sea pink sand and blue skies

Lots of celebs have houses tucked into the cliffs here, from Cate Blanchett to Stanley Tucci, Chris Martin, Jason Statham all among those spotted in the village, and it’s also featured in lots of Cornish filming (most recently Playing Nice) but it is still remarkably unspoilt.

view of mawgan porth beach from The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

Beach decided on, with the family I headed over to to check into The Palm House for a couple of days. Sleeping nine across four bedrooms this house is quite frankly beautiful and I was almost a little resentful to have to check out and return home at the end of the stay. The Palm House is at the top of the village, with a lovely little walk down to the beach, and stunning sea views – but it inside that really sets this place apart.

THE VIBE

sitting room The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

The Palm House is so stylish it is like walking into your favourite interiors Instagram account; from the driveway to the bathrooms, the luxury Malibu beach-house inspired interiors run across every room, not just the main living spaces. Each room is unique, seamlessly blending with the rest of the house; floors are barefoot soft engineered oak underfoot. An open fire makes for a cosy winter vibe; in summer the sunlight fills the house and there’s plenty of sliding doors to open for an outside/inside vibe. Walls are hung with a mix of photos and artwork – no Ikea prints here – and every shelf is styled with books, candles and vases. You won’t be surprised to learn the owner is an interior designer! I left emailing her for the pink colour of the walls – just the right tone to echo the sunsets that Mawgan Porth is famous for.

back garden at The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

Perfect for entertaining, there’s heaps of space for an inter-generational family stay and so well fitted out that you could literally turn up with nothing and you’d have a great week (almost literally – you could buy a swimsuit and sweatshirt in Married to the Sea in the village and hire a wetsuit and you’d be set.) There’s even an office – and a dressing room for your cases – hidden away upstairs so you can bring your work-at-home partner and your revising teenagers.

SCOFF & QUAFF

Where to start? If you’ve a chef (or ‘chef’) in the family, you might be familiar with travelling with your favourite pan and knife, but there’s no need for your visit here.

kitchen interior at The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

The Palm House is kitted out with everything from IG friendly Our Place pans (and crockery) to linen napkins and place mats, a Nutribullet to enough cutlery and crockery for both lunch and dinner. This is not one of those holiday houses where you have to run the dishwasher after every meal just so everyone has a clean fork – every little detail has been thought of, and then more. Outside the table seats 13, inside technically six with three at the breakfast bar – and there’s two fridges.

If you prefer eating out, Catch is just down at the beach edge, where they also do takeaway, and the restaurants of Bedruthan and Scarlet (adults-only) are moments away. The little grocery store in the village – Cornish Fresh – is exceedingly well stocked for daily shopping, or the supermarkets of Newquay are handy too. Or, get yourself a delivery, like Lobster Box delivering foodies in Cornwall and across the country up to a three-course meal in high-end recycled boxes (no polystyrene here). The seafood is straight from the boat, cooked and prepared with ingredients sourced from local suppliers & flavoured to order, meaning zero to minimal input from you.

PILLOW TALK

Upstairs is the master suite with super-king bed and a super-king view out across to the sea. (There’s also a super view of you from the street hence the dressing room and bathroom tucked back out of sight). Light, bright and airy, this room is gorgeous.

upstairs bedroom with sea view The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

Downstairs are three further bedrooms, with a dark and moody king-sized room for either the grandparents or the teenagers, and then a brilliant bunk room which sleeps four, and another single room. The single room is kitted out with more nursery-like decor but it’s a full-sized bed. They are all full of lovely details including books, Sonos speakers in every room – if you can work out how to connect! There’s an app! – and crisp white sheets on comfortable bedding.

bedroom interior at The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

SPA

garden hot tub at The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

Why yes, and in the garden too, so you don’t have to leave the property for a little downtime. The barrel hot tub and sauna both seat six. There’s also an outside shower, and a stand-alone yoga studio too. Changeover day is Sunday, so expect the hot tub to be ready to use by Monday lunchtime – the sauna warms up within 20 minutes and is super hot, and easy to use.

garden hot tub and sauna The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

Also worth noting, the spa at Bedruthan and Scarlet, with treatments of all kinds, and outdoor and indoor pools, are just a couple of moments walk away too.

KID-FRIENDLY?

kids bedroom details including swinging chair The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

Also yes! Beautifully designed and no need to pack any toys either. My son made a beeline for the Wobbel board, and my daughter spent a lot of time reading in the swinging chair. Plenty of books, mostly aimed at the 1 – 7 age range though, so you’ll still want to bring any chapter books if you’ve older tweens.

kids bunk room at The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

My kids loved the double bunk bed situation (as did I, no fighting over who got the top bunk) and they basically entertained themselves. Outside is a sunken trampoline which gets the evening sunlight, so between the extensive selection of entertainment in their room, and the trampoline we didn’t need to play Catan or any other board game from the sitting room stash (if it had been wet, it would have been a different matter).

children's bedroom at The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

OUT & ABOUT

kids on the trampoline The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

If you can tear yourselves away from the gorgeous garden the beach is just a few minutes walk away. King Surf run surfing lessons and the South West Coast Path goes past – walk north to Bedruthan Steps for the Carnewas tea rooms (National Trust) or south towards Newquay. Whichever way you choose you’ll be rewarded with glorious views.

Mawgan Porth is handily placed for Newquay and Watergate Bay where you’ve more sandy surfing beaches. The towns of Newquay, Padstow and Wadebridge are all within easy reach, where there are many places to eat plus galleries and things to do – check out my guide to Newquay here.

The nearest airport and railway station are at Newquay, and an easy taxi ride away (it’s Cornwall though, so pre-book). If you are driving, Mawgan Porth is not far off the A39 and there’s parking for three cars on the driveway.

DOG-FRIENDLY?

Yes, two well behaved dogs allowed and Mawgan Porth beach is dog-friendly year round. The garden is fully enclosed too, and there are outside showers front and back, great for washing sandy paws (of dog – or kids).

sauna at sunset sea view The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

ACCESSIBILITY

Consult the property’s very thorough access statement here – there is a king size bedroom on the ground floor with access from the garden but there is a step, and the bedroom hallway is also accessed up three steps, so is not suitable for wheelchairs.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

interior detail shots at The Palm House Mawgan Porth Cornwall Beach Retreats

We had the nicest few days and would quite honestly have happily moved in for a month, never mind just stayed for a longer holiday. The Palm House is uber-stylish but not precious; sofas and chairs are inviting and comfortable, not just for show. You can see where previous generations have used the coffee and kitchen tables. It is for living (your best life).

Good for: Families, in particular lovers of interiors and stylish spaces; there’s a really good amount of living space here – the adults can enjoy sitting on the sunshine terrace while the kids are in the back garden, and the sitting room feels grown up, and there’s plenty of work space for those that need it, with great wifi.

Not for: The beauty of Mawgan Porth is that is quiet, so if you’re after walking distance from a proper town, this might not be for you.

The damage: From £2,128 pw – property this luxe doesn’t come cheap but it does sleep 4 adults and up to 6 children. From Thur 1 May to Sun 11 May Mawgan Porth is the focus of Beach Retreats Your Beach. Found takeover – there is a 25% flash sale called Gone with the tide for the majority of their Mawgan Porth properties (including The Palm House). Book for a week stay for any dates from 1 May up to the end of October 2025 plus 15% off short breaks too. T&C apply.

Beach Retreats lives for the feeling that being footsteps from the right beach can bring. They know the coastline and industry inside out and their belief in the power of beach living is as strong now as it was when they first started. Every property on their books has a beach within walking distance, everything guests need nearby and an interior that lifts spirits the moment they walk in; from outdoor heated showers to window seats with a view, putting beach life at the heart of a stay. Because this isn’t just sandy toes and surf wax. It’s an escape, a retreat, a balance-bringer, an eye-opener, a way of being, a principle that runs deep.

The Palm House, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, TR8 4DW

Review: The Palm House, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall

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