Boconnoc House sits at the heart of a quintessentially Cornish estate. In four acres of lawn and woodland, palms pop their head out above magnolias, rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas and other exquisite plant species.
Centuries-old trees, burbling fountains, a waterfall, marble bath and exotic flora all create a kind of tropical oasis. Endless trails wend their way through Boconnoc’s (Lostwithiel’s) lushly wooded valley. Walk the deer-rich parklands, take a picnic out to the lake, enjoy a glass of Lantic Gin, from the onsite distillery, on the terrace, keep the party going around the firepit.
But maybe the drinks can wait. There is tennis to be played on the court, a short walk from the house, giant Jenga on the lawns and table tennis and table footie in the stable-yard games room. Use one of the estate mountain bikes to explore the grounds, or they can set up one of the paddle boards on the lake for you. Recover with a pizza, cooked in the pizza oven (that the estate can set up for you) on the terrace or cook on the BBQ. Save a sausage for your pooch. He’ll need the energy for the four acres of woodland and private garden.
Spaces here are so serene and stately that you will want to sit and enjoy the view or relax by the bar with a chilled glass of Chablis. Then move through to the Smoking Room for a candle lit dinner around the table.
It would be wrong to say you can’t move for elaborate cornicing, original picture rails, roaring fires and rich fabrics. There’s plenty of room to move, in magnificent spaces perfect for group gatherings or individual great escapes. Yet they’re homely, too – ripe for special candlelit suppers or games nights in front of flickering flames.
Bring your Netflix or Amazon Prime passwords and get down to the library for a movie night in front of the pop-up projector screen. Drink in the copper-topped bar, limber up in the yoga studio with the cork mats and blocks, escape to the library to lose yourself in literature. Stream the superfast broadband, bang out tunes on the Bluetooth, chill for England.
If the prospect of a candlelit supper appeals, you can book in one of the private chefs who work closely with the team at Boconnoc. One of their private-dining experts can bring you a taste of Cornwall with in season produce all sourced locally from farmers, fisherman, growers and dairies.
If you would rather cook for yourselves, Sarah Fortescue, the interior designer at Boconnoc has recently renovated the kitchen. You will find a contemporary kitchen with gas oven, six-burner gas hob, fridge-freezer and separate wine fridge. Eat around the long table in the dining room, or out on the terrace in the sunshine on long trestles with steaks from the Weber barbecue.
Make it a great night in by collecting a takeaway from The Coddy Shack, for five-star fish and chips, chicken burgers and more, or Sunny Spice for fragrant food from India’s southern states and local wines from Wadebridge Wines. Enjoy a drink on the green by the river from The Ship Inn in Lerryn or find great pub food in Haveners in Fowey or The Crown in Lanlivery.
Head down to Fowey for a unique fusion of Italy and Cornwall at Appleton’s, where the menu includes squid-ink linguine or flat-iron steak. Or try out Fitzroy, also in Fowey, for the finest seafood. Alternatively, The Longstore in Charlestown, a restaurant in a renovated sail loft, is great for steaks and seafood and overlooks Charlestown Harbour.
End each gorgeous day wrapped in crisp white linen under sumptuous duvets. Boconnoc House sleeps 19 in nine bedrooms disturbed only by a stray hoot from the ancient woodlands. There are 6 doubles and 3 twin bedrooms. Every room has its own bathroom..
Bedroom one, Chintz Room, is a double with a bath, while bedroom two, Madras, is a twin room with bath. The Blue Room, bedroom three, offers a shower room, while bedrooms four and five, Chinese and Kings (the master), are doubles with baths.
In the Tower, Church View is a twin with a bath, The Butler’s offers a double with a shower and a bath and the Love Love is a double room with extra single mattress accessed through the Lady Maid’s Room. These two rooms lead into their own bathrooms beyond, with a shower and bath.
Bring granny, bring grandad, bring Aunty Ann, cousin Chris and your dog, too. Boconnoc House is the family-friendly, pooch-perfect country escape built for multi-generational fun in a bunch of beautiful reception rooms and nine bedrooms ready for you to settle into your holiday. There is no chance of missing home.
On site, you have toys at every turn. Stay out for the summer beefing up your backhand on the tennis court. Pack a picnic for the lake amid four acres of parks and woods. Spot deer in the distance. Or eat out on the terrace with sausages and steaks from the Weber barbecue. Burn them off with a game of giant Jenga.
Take on the grown-ups at table football and table tennis in the stable yard. Winner gets bragging rights and the chance to bag the best bedroom. Four-poster, anyone? Inside, the Wi-Fi’s superfast and the TV projector’s about to pop up in the library. So grab your popcorn and remember your passwords.
Gone are the days when the only way to view a house was solely by way of poring over flat and sometimes confusing floor plans. With the emergence of 360-degree video we have an exciting new way of being introduced to the layout of a house.
With a few clicks you can be leisurely making your way through living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, kitchens and bathrooms – the whole house in all its beauty waiting for you to step on in for an effortless and insightful virtual tour.
