Cornwall's cosiest coastal bolthole is perfect for autumn
When the effortlessly cool beach houses of Three Mile Beach in Cornwall opened in 2021, they attracted a lot of buzz. After all, the location is superb – just a three-minute stroll from a sensationally beautiful beach, Gwithian, which has to be one of the best beaches in Cornwall, if not the UK. But location isn't what really set them apart. These brightly painted timber beach houses raised the bar for self-catering accommodation and beach house rentals in Cornwall, with standards and service that rival and exceed many of the best places to stay in Cornwall.
And so, with a small collection of Beach Shacks added to the mix this year, we checked in to see if Three Mile Beach still retains its crown as the darling of the Cornish holiday scene.
Getting there
Depending on where you’re travelling from in the UK, getting to Three Mile Beach can involve a lengthy drive — but it's a journey that's well-rewarded. It's in a picturesque spot on Cornwall’s north coast overlooking St Ives Bay. Ten miles west lies the namesake town, but head eastwards from Three Mile Beach for an away-from-it-all coastline traced by the South West Coast Path for incredible scenic walks with the chance to spot seals and even the odd dolphin.
Arriving in the daylight is well advised. You get the joy of reaching the sea, rolling down your windows to breathe in that salty air and hear the waves, and then winding your way on the narrow road towards Three Mile Beach. It's the perfect scene setter to the adventures ahead.
First impressions
At first glance, the row of 19 clapperboard beach houses that wind up a hill look built purely with balmy summer days in mind. After all, as much consideration (and space) is dedicated to outdoor living as indoor with ample seating, a barbecue, and a sunken cedar hot tub and sauna inviting you to linger in the privacy of your garden, all screened from neighbours by thoughtfully designed fencing, softened by grasses and foliage.
When you step inside, there’s a generous hamper brimming with local goodies from decadent Cornish fudge and chocolate to fresh bread and scones, condiments, oils, and all those helpful basics like butter and milk. Plus, there's plenty of information on the local area, places to eat and drink, ideas of things to do, and how everything in your home-from-home works. We visited in autumn, so the fire was laid and ready to light, Prosecco was chilling in the fridge, and the hot tub was warm, ready, and waiting.
The Beach Shacks
We checked into one of the newly introduced Beach Shacks – two-bedroom accommodation designed primarily with families in mind, with a smaller footprint and lower price point than the existing Beach Houses. The interiors have been carefully curated and hand-picked with influences from Morocco, Danish hygge, and India – refreshingly avoiding the Cornish go-to of nautical stripes and seashell motifs.
Like the Beach Houses, the Beach Shacks are each named after songs — Crazy Diamond, Rebel Rebel, Into the Groove, and Lust for Life. They have the same exacting standards: deliberately simple yet carefully considered with high-end finishes. Three Mile Beach has splurged where it matters – smooth quality linens on super comfy beds, a well-equipped kitchen (they’ve thought of everything), and zero corner-cutting on finishes like remote-operated velux windows and blinds. But the overall effect is that you’re living a simpler life while you’re here – lending it a real sense of escapism.
The Beach Shacks' two bedrooms (a king-sized one for adults and a twin room) share a bathroom, so if you're travelling with little ones and it's easier to have a freestanding tub for bath time, you'd prefer your own ensuite, or you're planning a girls' trip, upgrade to a Beach House — they come in two-, three-, and four-bedroom versions. But we found Crazy Diamond to be just right for two adults and two tweens.
Cleverly cosy
The light and bright interiors with palm-tree embossed furniture and surf prints evoke a Californian summer, and white-washed finishes allow the candy-coloured palette of mint green and bubblegum pink to pop. Yet despite these summertime feels, the accommodation is exceedingly cosy (though far from your classic wood-beamed cottage escape), with underfloor heating throughout (hard floors are a must with so many sandy toes about. Plus, it's all dog-friendly accommodation). But the real snugness comes from the fabulous roaring log burner, complemented by the rose-pink Everhot oven that keeps things toasty warm around the clock.
Halcyon days
In October, we were still blessed with days of soft golden sunshine. A short stroll from the doorstep, the immaculate, honey-coloured Gwithian Beach commanded almost all of our time between rock pooling, slow strolls to spot seals, and coffee-and-cake stops in the local Jam Pot Cafe.
Then, of course, there's the surfing. Said to be up there with the likes of Portugal, Hawaii, California, and Australia, the beach has suitable spots for children and beginners despite the sometimes intimidatingly dramatic-looking waves. Your best bet is asking Three Mile Beach to book a lesson. It’s one of many activities options they can arrange, alongside coasteering, foraging walks, yoga, and more. A surf lesson comes with all the kit you need (we pre-ordered wetsuits, which were ready and waiting for us in the Beach Shack) and we had a quick intro session on the sand before hitting the waves under the watchful guidance of a patient instructor.
After windswept hours spent on the glorious beach, the hot tub and sauna were welcome retreats from the cool autumn air. And when a storm blew in and the wind howled, lighting the log burner and hunkering down for movies and Monopoly made it the perfect cosy break, and as equally enchanting as the idea of being here for long summer nights barbecuing and hot-tubbing.
A better kind of self-catering holiday
Three Mile Beach has been likened to a posh Centre Parcs — relax, it’s not. As a collection of fewer than 20 houses, thoughtful additions and a sense of stylishness elevate it far beyond your standard self-catering trip or holiday rental.
Keen cooks will find the well-equipped kitchen a joy, but if a holiday to you means stepping far away from the hob, you’re covered. Head to Three Mile Beach’s restaurant, Chomp, where homemade seasonal dishes are served (in autumn, it was delicious curries and dark chocolate chilli). You order from a food truck, which doubles up nicely as the cocktail bar. And although the setting looks designed for alfresco dining, complete with festoon lights, there’s a heated yurt and a couple of converted mini beach houses (the type you find on British beaches) where you press a button to warm them up. If the rain sets in and you can’t tear yourself away from your cosy abode, Chomp also delivers to the Beach Houses and Beach Shacks.
Chomp isn't your only dining option. During our stay, pizza night was a huge hit. An Ooni oven and a tray of fresh ingredients were hand-delivered to create our own. However, being on holiday means you don’t want to do any cooking at all, a private chef can be swiftly arranged.
If it sounds like it's all very easy to stay within a Three Mile Beach bubble, you're right — they've thought of everything. You could spend a whole week here without moving. But once you're down in Cornwall, don't miss exploring this incredibly beautiful county too, it's sensational foodie scene, and glorious beaches. If you want more time at Three Mile Beach (and who could blame you?), you'll just have to plan your return...
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