Holiday Life on the Lizard: A Glimpse into Col Ros from the Owners’ Perspective

Martin and Caroline fell in love with Cornwall when they were children. Both their families had many wonderful holidays there for many years staying in self-catering holiday cottages and often returning to the same cottage each year. They both have many happy memories of long lazy days spent on the beach, rock pooling and surfing for hours on end (long before the days of wetsuits!). Family holidays in Cornwall were very special.

In time, they brought their own young family down to The Lizard Peninsula and, inspired by their own childhood memories, decided to buy Col Ros and endeavour to create the same magical holidays for their own children.

That was almost 28 years ago and since then, their children have grown up holidaying at Col Ros every year and have all fallen in love with this very special part of Cornwall. Now it is the turn of the grandchildren and they get just as much pleasure building sandcastles and surfing on the beach below Col Ros as their parents and grandparents have done before them. In fact, Caroline’s mother and grandparents stayed in Mullion during the 1940’s, so there have been 5 generations that have swum in the sea at Polurrian Cove.

 “We hope that our guests will find that the peace and tranquillity of Col Ros, with its position above the beach, as restorative and revitalising as we do. The house was built in the 1950’s and has been extensively remodelled and updated to provide all the modern comforts and amenities that we have all come to expect from our holidays.”

“We try to provide that little extra touch to make Col Ros feel like home for every guest whether that is by providing pre-loved toys for children, an extensive library of well-thumbed books to choose from, or jigsaw puzzles and games for when the Cornish weather is just not playing ball.”

The newly installed Neptune kitchen has become one of the focal points of the house. It has plenty of space to accommodate everyone round the large table and is the ideal kitchen for entertaining friends and family who can spill onto the terrace outside for that evening glass of wine or morning coffee to enjoy the wonderful view.

“We love The Lizard Peninsula for its rugged coastline, glorious unspoilt sandy beaches and the feeling that you really are at the furthest tip of the country, being only 5 miles from the most southerly point.  The Lizard has something for everyone whether that is enjoying seal watching at Lizard Point as they bask on the rocks in the heat of the summer, walking the stunning coastal path along the cliff tops and across the beaches, visiting the world famous National Trust or privately owned gardens or enjoying the fabulous restaurants and shops in nearby Porthleven.”

“However, we often find that all anyone really wants to do is to laze in the garden, listening to the sound of the waves breaking on the beach below and watching the gulls and buzzards flying in blue skies above. It is not often that one can find a house where one can go to sleep listening to the sound of the waves and most of the bedrooms allow you to do just that. What better way to unwind!”

“Well-being is very important to us and we have tried to create a home that is restful and calming but also practical. There is enough space for everyone to find a quiet area to read or enjoy the view of Mullion Island and Mount’s Bay. Being nearly at the end of a half mile lane, there is no passing traffic and one can really switch off. However, should you need to cast an eye over your inbox there is Wifi and good broadband speed.”

“Col Ros is not just a summer holiday destination, the winter months can be equally restorative. We love to make a cup of tea, light the fire and watch the huge waves crash around Mullion Island just as much as donning our coats and taking a bracing walk along the cliffs.”

“Our recent re-fresh with Cornish Gems has been wonderfully helpful in creating a gentle, calm colour palette which complements the lovely garden and beautiful scenery beyond. Tara and Phoebe had some fantastic ideas and were able bring a different perspective to the overall interior design concept.”

“Our ethos is all about sustainability and we up-cycle as much as possible. We have tried to create the feeling of a beach house, where people feel that they can kick off their shoes and relax. To continue with our sustainability ethos we have upcycled some much loved furniture by repainting and reupholstering many pieces. When recently recovering an antique armchair we discovered that it was filled with hay and horsehair – we have kept a record of this which is sewn into the new upholstery, ready for the next ‘refresh’ in perhaps another hundred years!”

“Surf boards, children’s buckets and spades are all provided. It saves that last minute panic when packing up the car for the journey home and you find that the surf board will just not fit in! It also means less waste going to landfill. We have also installed an Ev charger for those who want it.”

Col Ros is the perfect holiday home from which to explore The Lizard either by car or on foot along the coastal path. One of Martin and Caroline’s favourite things to do is to walk across the cliffs to the Marconi Monument above Poldhu Cove. From there you can walk down to the Poldhu Café for coffee, a delicious cream tea or an early evening pizza for the children. Walking back home afterwards when the sun is setting is truly magical.

Book Col Ros for your family’s next Cornwall adventure like no other.