Christian Holiday Cottage, Fowey – Coastal Retreat, Sleeps 5

Christian Holiday Cottage, Fowey — At the End of an Ancient Pilgrim Path

This Christian holiday cottage, Fowey, sits just a few minutes’ walk from one of Cornwall’s most historic parish churches. St Fimbarrus’ Church, Grade I listed and dating from the 14th century, takes its unusual dedication from Finbarr, the first Bishop of Cork, who is said to have travelled this way on pilgrimage to Rome and built a small timber church by the harbour more than a thousand years ago. The present building was rebuilt in 1336 after an earlier Norman church, badly damaged by a French raid in 1457 and restored with the help of the Earl of Warwick, whose badge can still be seen on the tower — the second tallest in Cornwall. In 1899, Kenneth Grahame — later the author of The Wind in the Willows — married Elspeth Thompson at St Fimbarrus’, a small but charming footnote to the church’s much longer history.

Fowey holds a particular significance for walkers with an interest in pilgrimage, because St Fimbarrus’ Church marks the end of the Saints’ Way, a roughly 27-mile footpath that crosses Cornwall from Padstow on the north coast to Fowey on the south. It follows the probable route taken by early Christian travellers from Ireland and Wales, who came ashore at Padstow and walked overland to avoid the dangerous sea passage around Land’s End before continuing their journey to Brittany and beyond. The route was largely forgotten until 1984, when local ramblers rediscovered a series of granite stiles marking its course, and it passes through the riverside village of Golant and its own ancient church, St Sampson’s, on the final stretch down to Fowey. Golant’s church is dedicated to St Sampson, one of the Celtic missionary saints who evangelised Cornwall and Brittany in the 6th century, and local tradition also places the legendary wedding of King Mark and Iseult at the holy well beside it — a reminder of how thoroughly this landscape’s Christian and Celtic stories have become intertwined over the centuries.

Lanhydrock, already mentioned above as the nearby National Trust property, has its own quieter monastic past: before it became the grand house and gardens seen today, the estate belonged to the Augustinian priory of St Petroc in Bodmin, right up until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the 1530s. Between the church, the pilgrim path and Lanhydrock’s own monastic roots, Fowey and its surrounding countryside carry a surprising amount of Christian history for such a small corner of Cornwall — alongside the sailing, beaches and coastal walks the town is best known for today.

Skylark Cottage itself is built for making the most of all this without needing a car: the harbour, shops, cafes and the church are all within five minutes’ walk, and the cottage’s small courtyard and central heating make it a comfortable, low-key base whatever the season. Fowey sits within Cornwall’s designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and was home for much of her life to Daphne du Maurier, whose novels drew heavily on the town and the river that runs past the cottage’s front door — one more thread in a small town with an unusually rich store of stories to tell.

Skylark Cottage is perfect for:

Couples or small families wanting to explore Fowey entirely on foot, with the harbour, shops and church all five minutes away
Walkers wanting to finish, or begin, the 27-mile Saints’ Way pilgrim path at St Fimbarrus’ Church
Guests interested in Cornwall’s Christian heritage, from Fowey’s own ancient church to Lanhydrock’s monastic past
Clergy and paid church staff, with a 10% nightly discount available on request
Owners of one small, well-behaved dog, for a £20 supplement

Location

Skylark Cottage, Fowey, Cornwall
How to get there:
There is a train from London Paddington which calls at Par Station (15min taxi drive from cottage).
Fowey is easily accessible by road, there is no parking directly at the cottage but Fowey has a number of car parks.
Nearest Town:
Cottage is in Fowey, nearest towns are St Austell and Truro.

Local Area

Fowey is a little coastal town situated on Cornwall’s beautiful south coast. It has a vibrant maritime history and numerous small, independent shops selling unusual gifts, art, clothing and books. There is a wide variety of cafes, restaurants and pubs for your attention – all within 5 mins walk of the cottage. There is a delicatessen within 50 yards and a small supermarket in town. Asda and Tesco will deliver to the cottage.
Fowey is in an area of outstanding natural beauty. There is a small beach in walking distance and the whole of south coast of Cornwall to explore, the north coast is 45 mins away and fantastic for surfing. There are beautiful coastal walks from the property and a National Trust property Lanhydrock nearby.

Facilities

Sleeps 4-5
Two bedrooms
One Kingsize, One Triple (two single and one smaller 2’6″ recommended for children only)
Family bathroom with separate shower
Smart TV, WiFi,
Oven and Gas Hob
Microwave, dishwasher, fridge/freezer
Washing machine / dryer
Bed Linen, Towels (not beach towels), T Towels included
Central heating throughout
Small courtyard
No Smoking
Small well behaved dog allowed.
Parking: There is no parking directly at the cottage. You are able to unload and then park in one of Fowey’s many car parks.

Additional Photos

Click to enlarge

Cosy living room with two armchairs, a sofa, wooden coffee table, flowers, snacks, TV, and a large window letting in natural light. Blue ceiling beams and neutral tones create a relaxing atmosphere.

Bright open-plan living and dining area with beige sofas, wooden dining table set for six, bookcase, a television, and fresh flowers on the table. Exposed beams and a window provide natural light.

A modern kitchen with grey cabinets, a stainless steel oven, a gas hob, a silver fridge, a microwave, and a vase of flowers on the worktop. Pots and pans hang on the wall. Bread and a kettle sit by the window.

Bright bedroom with a double bed, white bedlinen, blue throw, pillows, bedside tables with lamps, a wicker chair, and framed art on the wall; natural light from a window. — Bedroom

Bright bedroom with white walls, a double bed, green chest of drawers, wooden chair, open shelving, and a window with patterned Roman blind. Towels are neatly placed on the bed. Cosy and inviting decor.

Cosy attic bedroom with three single beds, white walls, striped rug, nautical decor, and soft lighting. Towels are folded on each bed, and a small bedside table with flowers sits between the beds.

Bright bathroom with a glass shower, white basin, mirror, toilet, shelf with toiletries, and a large window with a blue roman blind. Light beige panelling and wooden floor create a cosy atmosphere.

Modern bathroom with a bath, pedestal basin, corner shower, wooden floor, wall-mounted shelf, towel rail, and a framed picture on a half-panelled wall. Three ceiling lights provide illumination.

A small outdoor patio with two green chairs, potted plants, and a glass door leading inside. White walls and a stone wall with greenery are visible in the background.

Waterside village with white buildings, a quay, people dining outdoors, a yellow boat on clear water, and blue skies with fluffy clouds.

A calm blue bay with clear water, cliffs on each side, a sailing boat in the distance, and a few people swimming and on paddleboards under a bright blue sky.

Stone church with clock tower stands among village rooftops; leafy hills and sailing boats on a river are visible in the background under a bright sky.

Costs

January – April £90 per night;

May – June £120 per night;

July – August £150 per night;

September – October £120 per night;

November – December £90 per night (excludes Christmas – New Year)

£120 cleaning & laundry fee per stay regardless of time of year.

£20 for small well behaved dog.

10% discount per night (excluding cleaning fee) – available to clergy and paid church staff

Minimum 2 night stay.

Energy Provision:
Price is inclusive of energy and laundry etc

Availability

Available all year round.
Arrival and Departure times: 3.00 pm arrival time and 10.00 am departure time.
Booking arrangements:
Please check the website for availability and contact us directly for all booking requests.
Pets:
One small well behaved dog allowed, extra £20.

Contact the Owner

If you are interested in making a booking, or you would like further information, please get in touch using the following contact details:
Name: A. Bidgood
Phone Number:
Email Address: skylarkcottage.fowey@gmail.com

Skylark Cottage, Fowey, Cornwall.