North Street, Tywardreath, Par, Cornwall, PL24

There is something wonderfully inviting about this characterful cottage in the heart of Tywardreath. Dating back in part to around 1730, it is a home with real history and personality, where period character sits comfortably alongside relaxed, easy-going living.

Perched within this very pretty Cornish hilltop village, Tywardreath itself has a fascinating past. Its name translates as “House on the Strand”, a reminder of a time when the water reached much closer to the village and a name made famous by Daphne du Maurier's novel of the same name.

Step inside and the character is immediately apparent. The dining room is particularly special, with exposed beams and a wonderful sense of the cottage's history, while the separate lounge, with its Victorian fireplace, provides a cosy place to settle in at the end of the day. The kitchen opens through French doors to a sheltered seating area and the garden beyond.

And what a garden it is. Extending to approximately 40 metres, it offers a surprising amount of outside space for a village home. There is room to sit out with a morning coffee, enjoy long summer lunches, grow your own vegetables or create a summerhouse tucked away at the end.

Upstairs are three bedrooms together with the family bathroom. The cottage has previously been enjoyed as a holiday let and the owner is willing to consider selling it substantially furnished and equipped, opening up possibilities as either a permanent home, Cornish retreat or holiday property.

But perhaps the biggest attraction is life outside the front door. Perched within its pretty hilltop setting, Tywardreath has all the charm and character you would hope for from a traditional Cornish village, with convenient access via Vine Place offering an easy, relatively level walk to the village amenities. The shop, butcher, takeaway, pub and historic church are all close at hand, while the beach is around half a mile away.

It is the sort of location where morning walks towards the coast, an evening drink at the village pub or simply wandering out for something for supper can become part of everyday life. Tywardreath has a genuine community feel too, with its own primary school, while Fowey, St Austell, the Eden Project and wider transport links are all within easy reach.

For anyone who has imagined owning an old Cornish cottage close to the coast, with fireplaces, beams, a remarkable garden and a proper village on the doorstep, this is exactly the kind of place that dream is made of.

Freehold. Offered with no onward chain. EPC Rating D.