Skipper's

Little wonder Dylan Thomas dubbed Mousehole the loveliest village in England: lush, sub-tropical gardens, delightful tea shops, a boat-filled harbour – the postcard-perfect fishing village pronounced ‘Mouzel’ provides a storybook Cornwall experience. Wake up to the sound of seagulls, take long lazy walks along the rugged coast, stop for a Cornish cream tea overlooking the harbour… who needs to holiday beyond England’s shores?

The perfect Cornish self-catering property in which to play house, this darling little rental cottage, Skipper’s, is a ten-minute drive from Penzance. Tucked in the corner of a hidden-away pedestrians-only square in Mousehole, Skipper’s is a patch of Fulham on the coast. All-white walls lend a seaside freshness and low, beamed ceilings and a narrow staircase provide a diminutive stature which is part of Skipper’s charm (although under-6ft guests may enjoy it most). And why the south-west London reference? Joss and Philippa, its owners, ditched the rat race in London, and scurried to Mousehole to dip their toes into property renovations and hospitality. Mr & Mrs Smith were the first-ever guests in this, their first finished product, a totally transformed former pilchard press, now a chic retreat for two, furnished in an adorable Chelsea-does-the-countryside décor. Freshly cut flowers, pretty polka-dot crockery, local artwork of Cornish scenes – it is the prettiest pied-à-terre possible, a world away from city life.

Enter a stable-style door from the courtyard into the eat-in kitchen, with its big range cooker and every culinary implement you could wish for, begging for the cookbooks to be made use of. And those who don’t fancy themselves as frustrated Jamies, Nigellas or Delias can enlist Joss and Philippa’s fridge-stocking services, and request some foolproof steaks or ready-to-eat lobsters to await their arrival. In summer, the little outdoor courtyard can host a barbecue, so say the word and an organic BBQ pack can also be at your disposal. Joss and Philippa are keen to discourage the need for guests to visit any big supermarkets and will provide local food and drink where possible – they even have their own sommelier.

A huge bathroom, also on the ground-floor, begs for guests to enjoy some R&R at Skipper’s, and where giants would be hunched under the low ceilings, they’d have no problem stretching out in the freestanding Albion bath. A delightful window onto the old brick wall outside is made a feature of and compensates for there being little view of the outside world. But chances are its your olfactory senses that will be overwhelmed; the air is infused with a delicious fig-scented air perfume (mimosa in the bedroom), and also on hand are some heavenly local Seboni products including a fragrant candle, indicative of the exemplrary attention to detail.

Upstairs, light a fire in the wood-burning stove and cosy up on the beaten leather sofa in the sitting room in front of a huge flatscreen promising the full digital gamut and DVD options. Then when the sea-air has worked its soporific powers on you, collapse into the super-comfortable bed and drift into a slumber like no other.

Reviewed by Juliet Kinsman