Having visited St Mawes on numerous occasions over the years, and having more recently stayed at The Tresanton Hotel a number of times, we were looking for a self catering house in the area due to the arrival of a new baby in the family.

Although the price was at the top end, we were confident that the Tavern Rocks would deliver and it did.

The decoration and general appointment of the property is smart, modern and relaxing with not a little hint of The Tresanton Hotel next door (no bad thing). Good touches have been added to raise the experience above a typical self catering house in Cornwall (dressing gowns / linen / toiletries and a mid week cleaning service provided). The house is spacious on the ground floor with a superb kitchen and comfortable furniture. The upstairs is slightly more cramped but the rooms are great and bathrooms faultless.

A great feature for lunches and evening dinners, if the weather permits, is a large decked terrace at the top of the garden with a huge outside dining table and parasol with wonderful views over the headland and out to sea.

We did use the Pencoose Pantry for one night - a great service whereby a local ex-chef can either prepare food and deliver for easy cooking or actually cook on the premises. Well worth a go.

The pros: unbeatable views to wake up to / quality feel to the property / good location within the village / overall experience was very professional.

The cons: pricey / third bedroom is a small twin for children only really / could do with turning off the underfloor heating in the summer !

We will return to the Tavern Rocks not least to simply sit and stare at the views.

Tavern Rocks is a Victorian house directly overlooking the sea in a very beautiful fishing village. St Mawes is on the Roseland penninsula in Cornwall and looks out over the sheltered harbour at Falmouth. There is a gem of a Tudor castle in the village and several very pleasant pubs and restaurants, together with a well stocked general store, baker, newsagent etc.

The 3-bedroom house has been restored with great attention to detail and to a very high standard and is furnished with a number of antiques. (It is probably more suitable for adults wanting quality accommodation than for children). The main bedroom and sitting room look out directly over the sea with fantastic views. The brand new kitchen includes all the equipment you need to cook meals (should you choose not to go out!). There is an attractive garden at the rear that climbs up the hillside to a pleasant deck area with garden furniture.

Thoroughly recommended.

We have just returned from a truly wonderful New Year week staying at Tavern Rocks, a luxurious seaside retreat in St Mawes on the south coast of Cornwall.

This beautiful house is situated next to the trendy Tresanton Hotel and benefits from the same magnificent views across the bay. Interior designed to a fault, the owners have thought of all creature comforts down to the white fluffy towels and mini bathroom toiletries from The White Company in the bathrooms to the lobster pots and pickers and David Mellor cutlery in the kitchen. There is also a good selection of books in which to indulge, a Denon CD player, flat widescreen television and DVD player.

Tavern Rocks even boasts a wonderful decked terrace at the top of the architecturally designed garden - the views are so good we ate our supper up there twice despite it being late December!

There is as much or as little as you want to do in St Mawes - we went for long windy walks along the headland, climbed and played in the rockpools, ate delicious and freshly made Cornish pasties and even travelled to Falmouth by a little chugging ferry and spent a wonderful afternoon at the new and highly innovative National Maritime Museum.

If you are looking for a luxury break without the anonymity of a hotel, then this is a place for you. Wonderfully relaxing, a real treat.

We have just returned from a stay in what must be the most beautifully-appointed rental property in Cornwall. Tavern Rocks is a charming Victorian seaside villa in the village of St Mawes on the Roseland peninsula, and as soon as we walked through the door it was apparent that every requirement we might possibly have of the house had been considered. The views are unbeatable, with the sea practically on the doorstep and the house is obviously furnished, decorated and kitted out to an uncompromisingly high standard. The garden is a delight. As a result we were able to wallow in the luxury of our own sea front haven, in easy reach of good eating and drinking, knowing that we were enjoying that rare treat - a well-earned rest in an environment that has been designed expressly for the purpose. We will certainly be returning to this wonderful house, if only to enjoy being soaked by the biggest shower-head we have ever encountered!
We would unreservedly recommend Tavern Rocks as a house to rent in Cornwall.