Valency Wood
Lesnewth, Boscastle, Cornwall, UK
Swerving past orchid meadows and bluebell woods, arrival at Valency Wood is like stepping into the ambrosial scene of an antiquated oil painting. With a natural stone façade encompassing luxurious muted interiors, this spacious self-catering cottage invites six people and three dogs to experience a veritable paradise. Set in a secret north Cornwall valley location near Boscastle harbour, lose yourself in a whimsical adventure together.
Introduction
Having undergone several transformations - from carriage house to stable to harness room to piggery - today Valency Wood is a luxury self-catering family home filled to the brim with eye-catching artwork. Immerse yourself in the beauty and mysticism that the Cornish villages of Boscastle, Tintagel and Crackington Haven are renowned for, with Boscastle accessible via an hours' stomp through the pretty valley. Whispering legends of King Arthur, Tintagel Castle is the perfect place to capture heart and mind, whilst at Crackington - earthy landscapes and long days on the beach await. Swim in the harbour, picnic by the river and indulge in clifftop sundowners for memories to last a lifetime.
Inside
Look forward to lazy mornings underneath warm, weighty duvets as you wait for the mist to lift from the valley. When you're ready to start the day, an ornate spiral staircase leads to the cleverly designed open-plan living area where families can while away hours over buttery croissants dolloped with Boscastle Farmshop jam, drinking fresh coffee from the cafetiere. Then, it's time to lace up walking boots and set off on adventure. Upon return, rinse sandy toes and muddy paws in the outside shower and gather together in the dining room for plates of hot food and ice-topped drinks. For a relaxed evening, the living room awaits with woodburner a-roaring.
Outside
Valency Wood hides in the small north Cornwall hamlet of Lesnewth, two miles east of Boscastle and five south of Crackington Haven. The Valency Valley is a tranquil wooded idyll flanked by farmland and leads all the way down to the ocean at Boscastle harbour, peppered with quaint tearooms and traditional Cornish inns. For those who want to squirrel away in their own little world, there's no less than 140 acres of beautiful pasture to explore, with a trickling river, wild orchard meadows, reedy ponds and a well-tended private garden for sunbathing in during those long, balmy Cornish summers.
The Facts
- SleepsUp to 6 guests
From £1,650 per week, £1,250 per short break - Alternative group optionsUp to 2 or up to 4 guests
- Bedrooms and bathroomsOne first floor double bedroom with king-size bed and en suite shower room, one first floor zip-and-link bedroom (which can be set up as a super king-size double or a twin), one first floor single bedroom, one ground floor single bedroom. One first floor family bathroom, one ground floor wet room, plus an outside shower.
View bedrooms - FeaturesJacuzzi hot tub
- PetsThree well-behaved dogs are welcome
Each pet is charged at £60 per week or part thereof - Arrivals and departuresArrival Time: 4pmDeparture Time: 10am
- FamilyYes, children are very welcome. One cot and one highchair are available.
- PracticalitiesThere is ample parking for two cars. The property is well-equipped with a washing machine, microwave, Nespresso machine, tumble dryer, fridge and freezer. The owners live nearby and are on hand should you need them. If arriving by air, helicopters are welcome to land on the fields adjacent to the property.
- Homestay includesLuxury welcome hamper with local produce, Smart TV with Netflix and Amazon Prime, Damson Bluetooth speaker, DVD player, WiFi internet, gas barbecue, linen, towels, logs and kindling to get you started...House book - your property and destination guideDiscover more
- Private cateringSeeking a celebratory dinner or fully catered escape? Our recommended caterers will work with you to create personalised menus for your stay. Details are shared through our house book on confirming your booking.
- RetreatsFrom surf lessons to dawn yoga and adrenalin-fuelled adventures, we work with the most inspirational of experts to ensure a truly tailored stay. On confirmation of booking, these details will be shared within your house book.
- Other informationProperty terms and conditionsFrequently asked questions
Prices & Availability
Boscastle
Possibly one of the most enchanting fishing villages in north Cornwall, Boscastle is the kind of village you can expect to find selling magic wands amongst the Cornish clotted cream ice cream outlets.
Getting there
- On the Map Valency Wood is located in the pretty hamlet of Lesnewth in North Cornwall; close to Boscastle, Tintagel and Crackington Haven.
- By Car From London, take the M4 toward Bath, the M5 South and the A30 to Cornwall and follow the directions provided to the cottage.
- By Train The nearest train station is Exeter, which is around an hour from the property with regular routes to London.
- By Plane Newquay Airport is around an hour away. Helicopters are welcome to land on the grounds of Valency Wood.
From the owner
“We absolutely adore our Valency Wood and hope you do too. There´s nothing better than a reviving stomp through the breathtaking woodland before returning to this private haven; the perfect home-from-home where beauty abounds and peace reigns.”
From its construction in 1872 until 1994, Valency Wood went through several transformations; a carriage house, stables, harness room and even a piggery. Lying in about 140 acres of its own land, it is a real haven of tranquillity; the walk to the stream in the valley bottom is not to be missed!
Lesnewth is situated within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the area is rich in wildlife; the woods in the spring are carpeted with bluebells, whilst swathes of wild orchids can be seen in the meadow next to the church during May and June.
Interestingly, within the woodland walk there is an ancient Grade-II listed cattle pound, where in days gone by, the owners of cows or pigs on the loose would have to pay a fine for its subsequent release. There is an impressive Cornish cross in the churchyard and an ancient Holy Well lies just beyond. Glimpses of the Atlantic Ocean can be enjoyed from all over Lesnewth, including from the master bedroom!
A warm welcome awaits all and we really hope that you are every bit as taken with this secluded and beautiful part of North Cornwall as we are.
Simon & Natasha
Owner recommendations
Live like a local, discovering the best hidden gem restaurants, walks and attractions during your holiday in Boscastle with an insider’s perspective.
To Do
Take to the Lake
With Siblyback Lake, Roadford Lake and Tamar Lake all nearby, there are some thrilling activities to choose from ranging from classic on-the-water exploits such as sailing and kayaking, to Nordic walking and boot camp workouts.
To Do
South West Coast Path
The South West Coast Path, a paradise for walkers and nature-lovers, is unsurpassed in its drama and beauty. This stretch of coastline offers something for everyone; whether the days are calm and sunny or dark and brooding.
To See
Boscastle
October´s Boscastle Festival of Real Food, Arts & Crafts and April´s Boscastle Walking Week are hosted here - both a must visit if you are around. This beautiful location has also been used for filming many films and TV series, such as Doc Martin and Saving Grace.
To Eat
The Mill House Inn, Tintagel
Tucked away in the valley with its own garden and outside seating, the Mill House Inn serves great beer, excellent pub food and friendly service. Hosting occasional live music and events throughout the year, it is a firm-favourite amongst locals and visitors.
Guest Testimonials
Read reviews on TrustPilot and Google
The property was excellent, well furnished and spacious. Location was perfect the grounds to the property offered an array of walks perfect for us and the dog without getting in the car. The owner was extremely welcoming and helpful on hand with anything we needed. The welcome pack was superb and greatly appreciated and the grounds were outstanding.
The owner was an amazing host! He made us feel so welcome and was so accommodating. There were walks all mapped out and the owner´s land was to die for, the streams, and the fields were just stunning! What. A. Place!!!
We have stayed at a number of your properties which have all been very good. For us though, this is the stand out so far. Lovely minimalist style whilst still feeling homely and leaving a feeling of clutter free space. Incredibly well equipped with lots of practical consideration to the fact that dogs were allowed. Space for drying wet hound, dog towels, fully enclosed garden and a sense that dogs weren’t just allowed but welcomed. Simon is a generous and welcoming host and allowed us to walk around the farm which is stunning. Cannot compliment this one enough. We will definitely return.
I just wanted to take the opportunity to say what a wonderful stay we had at this property. We´ve stayed at a lot of your places and they are always wonderful but this one was particularly special and the owner could not have been more inviting and helpful. A beautiful house in a beautiful area. We will definitely come back here!
The cottage is a real gem and is finished to a great standard. The accommodation is very spacious and, despite its age, the property is warm and has plenty of light from the large windows. What is really special about this cottage is that it is full of local Cornish artwork, hand-selected by the owner. There are some excellent pottery, paintings and also some sculptures from Cornish artists that greatly enhance the decor. We liked the artwork so much; we had to purchase some for our home!
We really enjoyed our stay at Valency Wood - the property is stunning and the location perfect. Having never used Unique Homestays before we were unsure of what to expect. The information provided before our trip was great and the welcome hamper was fab. The property had everything we needed, and the owner was a great host. He took us on a tour of his land and let the children drive his farm buggy! We would definitely recommend Valency Wood and Unique Homestays, and we can´t wait to stay here again!
I love this property because it is right in the middle of the countryside with great walking opportunities. Every morning I would see all sorts of wildlife, and then top it all off with evenings spent in the hot tub. Just an amazing two weeks!
We have had such a wonderful week at your beautiful house. It has been the perfect relaxing getaway and we are very grateful to you for being so welcoming and full of great suggestions. We will certainly be returning as soon as possible!
Wow, wow, wow! A truly magical stay. We´re saddened to be returning home after an indulgent week here. The house is a gem and the area has confirmed that moving to Cornwall is now our aspiration. Thank you Simon for being so accommodating and empathetic. We´ve had such a fabulous time!
Two weeks at Valency Wood, just bliss! Simon and Natasha have thought of everything. A wonderful working kitchen and the hot tub is sublime, especially when it´s only a quick dash to the great shower. Our dog enjoyed roaming free in the meadow, stress free walking for us - yay! We will be back.
What an amazing week it´s been. I came here with my partner and our dog Bella to celebrate his birthday. The location is perfect, 10 minutes to the beach, 35 minutes from Padstow. Make sure you visit Boscastle, it´s such a lovely town. The house had everything we needed, the garden is even dog proof! Simon was the perfect host, along with his dog charlie, he made sure we had everything we needed. We look forward to visiting again next year.
We had such a wonderful winter break here at Valency Wood. Our dog loved the acres of fields that surround the property and we can definitely recommend the hour walk to Boscastle. We walked up on the cliffs there for the views and we were not disappointed. Thank you for being such a wonderful host. The hot tub was the icing on the cake when we came home from our adventures and the welcome pack was gorgeous. Thank you so much.
Who would rent a holiday cottage in Cornwall in the middle of December with storms forecast?Well we did and thoroughly enjoyed it! Valency Wood is so warm and welcoming and we stayed in by the fire more than expected. George, our Spaniel Bichon mix, loved the freedom to explore the fields and woods. Simon and Natasha you have a wonderful place here. Thank you for your hospitality, we hope to return soon!
We had an absolutely wonderful time at Valency Wood and will highly recommend it to anyone who is considering a trip to Cornwall. We spent some time talking with Simon, who was kind enough to show us around his property (his orchid meadows especially!) and the historic church that is situated on it.
It is an ideal setting if you have energetic children and a dog, as not only are there lots of beautiful places to visit locally, Simon has a vast amount of land that you are allowed to walk on. He made us all feel so welcome and couldn´t do enough for us.
The property and grounds were of a supreme quality and standard. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and were given a warm welcome and plenty of local information from the owner, who was very helpful throughout.
Amazing location, the walks were just stunning and right the doorstep, which is great for dog owners. Simon the owner was very friendly and helpful with knowledge of the local area. The house was really lovely and we´d definitely visit again. It´s a perfect location especially for dog walkers.
What makes this property especially appealing is the bright hospitality of the owners. They were never intrusive but always helpful. One even came into Boscastle and helped us follow him out to the cottage when we were lost. They were also helpful with directions and advised which restaurants provided the best food. We greatly enjoyed their company. It is not our habit to stay in the same place twice, but we were so impressed with this cottage that we look forward to staying again!
We were looking for a property in Cornwall and this one fit the bill very nicely. The quality of the property as well as the hospitality of the owners made this a very pleasant surprise. Simon and Natasha have furnished the home to a very high standard, but the artwork throughout the cottage is what makes this property very special.
The owner was extremely helpful and pleasant. He gave a guided tour of his land so that we knew exactly which walks we could go on. He was very knowledgeable about the area and gave recommendations for dining and walking in the region. Overall, a very pleasant stay and we would be very pleased to return.
As soon as we drove up the long drive we knew we were going to have a lovely relaxing time. Beautiful village, beautiful location, beautiful house. Everything was perfect. The owner was very accommodating. There is an abundance of lovely walks on his land alone, and he took the time to show us the walks, we all loved it, as did the dogs.
Press
Below are a selection of features in which Unique Homestays has appeared. If you would like to feature the property in an editorial capacity, please contact the marketing team on +44 (0)1637 882014.
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25 of the best autumn getaways
The Times
November 2024Good manors
Condé Nast Traveller
November 2024Ways to improve your life—from our experts
The Times
October 2024The UK´s most relaxing riverside stays
The Times
October 2024At one with nature
25 Beautiful Homes
September 2024Healing waters
Condé Nast Traveller
September 202425 of the UK´s best lakeside stays
The Times
September 2024Highland fling
25 Beautiful Homes
September 2024
Collections > Family-Friendly Self-Catering > UK > Cornwall > Boscastle > Valency Wood
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Disclaimer: These particulars, whilst believed to be accurate, are set as a guideline so should not be relied upon as a statement of fact. The photographs show aspects of the property at the time they were taken and it should not be assumed that the property remains precisely as displayed. If there are points of particular importance that need clarifying before you book, please contact us.