Jasmine Cottage

Hotel Description

Look, I’ve stayed in plenty of places along Cornwall’s coast, but Jasmine Cottage in Lerryn caught me completely off guard – and honestly, that 9.4 rating makes total sense once you’ve been there. The thing is, most people rush straight to Fowey (it’s only about ten minutes away), but they’re missing out on this absolute gem tucked away in what’s basically a storybook village that time forgot.

The cottage sits right on River View – and I mean, they weren’t being clever with that street name, you literally wake up to the Lerryn River meandering past your window. It’s one of those places where you actually hear the water moving, especially at high tide when the boats bob around like they’re having a conversation. The whole setup feels properly Cornish without trying too hard, you know? None of that over-the-top nautical theme nonsense you get in some places. Just honest stone walls, low ceilings that make everything feel cozy (though my tall friend did bump his head twice – fair warning), and windows that frame the river like they were designed by someone who actually understood the view.

What really got me was how quiet it gets in the evenings. Lerryn doesn’t have the crowds that Polperro or St. Ives attract, so after about 8 PM, it’s just you, maybe a few dog walkers, and the sound of water lapping against the quay. The cottage itself is brilliantly positioned – you can walk to the Lerryn River path in literally thirty seconds, and if you’re feeling ambitious, the Saints’ Way footpath picks up right there too. Parking’s actually easier than you’d expect (there’s space right outside, which is basically a miracle in these old Cornish villages), and the hosts left proper local knowledge – not just the usual tourist leaflets, but handwritten notes about which pub does the best Sunday roast and when the tide’s best for spotting herons.

I’ll be honest, the cottage feels smaller than some of the photos suggest, but that’s part of its charm really. Everything’s been thought through – the kitchen’s compact but has everything you need, the bed’s genuinely comfortable (not just “cottage comfortable”), and the heating actually works, which matters more than you’d think in Cornwall, even in summer. The only tiny gripe? The Wi-Fi can be a bit temperamental, but honestly, that forced me to spend more time just sitting by the window with a cup of tea, watching the river do its thing. There’s something about being right on the water that makes you slow down whether you planned to or not. If you’re looking for somewhere that feels authentically Cornish without the tourist circus – and you don’t mind being a short drive from the bigger attractions – Jasmine Cottage delivers exactly what it promises, just with more character than you’d expect.

Facilities