A Perfect Day at Tresawle, Housel Bay

Here at Cornish Gems, we aim to delight, heal, and nourish the souls of our guests. This week, the owners of our fabulous new Gem, Tresawle, depict a perfect day at their luxury holiday home, way down on The Lizard Peninsula. Read on to find out more about this restorative retreat, where dramatic coastal scenes and wide open views rejuvenate the spirit…

A perfect day at Tresawle would start with a cup of tea overlooking the view. On a sunny day, uninterrupted sea and sky. The water still and aqua blue as the Aegean. On a wild day, the dramatic skies rolling in, crashing waves, witnessed from the snug safety of the kitchen table.


Before breakfast you’d head for a secluded swim. Step straight onto the south west coast path from the front gate and wander 5-10 minutes down to Housel Bay. Most likely you’ll have it to yourself. Step off the striped serpentine rocks into sparkling water. Suitably invigorated with that smug early swimmer feeling, get ready to wake the others up.


Back onto the sunbaked, well trodden coastal path, maybe you’d head east to picturesque Cadgwith Cove. After an hour’s walk with spectacular sea views, watch the fishing boats roll in and enjoy the spoils with a fresh crab sandwich, or grab a coveted sunny outdoor table and crisp pint at the local inn.


Or perhaps you’d head west to the famed Kynance. First stop would be the Lizard Point, where a 99 with clotted cream is essential, to be enjoyed while searching for sunbathing seals. Kynance is 45 minutes further, a walk featured in The Times, 2024. Admire the striking rocks, the golden sands, and have a dip in the turquoise sea. The adventurous could soak up more coast path splendour on their way to Mullion, or the weary can cut back to the Lizard along the double hedges, stopping in at Ann’s for a famed golden crusted pasty.

Rest up in the afternoon, sunbathing in the garden, read a book intermittently distracted by the view, snooze on the sofa, spot ships on the horizon or maybe even a pod of dolphins in the bay. Then cook freshly caught fish for supper (or get an excellent takeaway from Smugglers) watching the sun slip away with a glass in hand, waiting for the lighthouse to blink on in the distance.


The History of Tresawle

Our great grandmother was on holiday in the Lizard, staying at Cadgwith when she walked past Tresawle. She instantly fell in love with it, and without conferring with my great grandfather, put down the deposit to buy it. Later that evening, she rang him up and said, “Guess what? I’ve bought us a house.” After the initial shock, they both fell in love with the view and decided to retire there from Manchester in 1957. They both lived the rest of their lives there, and our great grandfather was an enthusiastic lifeboat volunteer – you can see his photo in the Top House Inn in the Lizard Village.


It was passed down the family, but as time went on the weather had its way with Tresawle, so it was rebuilt in 2010. It was designed to maximise the views, which, thanks to the National Trust, have not changed since our mother first visited in 1960. She remembers summers heading down to the beach, playing french cricket on the lawn and sitting down to a big tea of bread and jam with her four brothers, echoing the memories we make today.

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