Polean Farm Cottages – With Free Animal Feeding and Pony Rides and Free Access to a Nearby Pool

Hotel Description

You know what caught me off guard about Polean Farm Cottages? It’s actually as charming as the ridiculously long name suggests – and trust me, I was skeptical when I first saw “With Free Animal Feeding and Pony Rides and Free Access to a Nearby Pool” plastered across the booking site. But honestly, this place delivers on every single promise, which is rare these days. The cottages sit on proper working farmland just outside Looe, maybe a ten-minute drive from the harbor if you’re not stuck behind a tractor (which you probably will be, and somehow that just adds to the charm). I mean, you’re staying in converted farm buildings that actually feel like someone’s beloved countryside home rather than some sanitized holiday rental.

The animal feeding thing isn’t just a gimmick – there’s genuine excitement watching kids (and let’s be honest, adults too) get properly muddy while the goats basically mug them for food pellets. The ponies are patient saints, especially considering how many sticky fingers pat them daily. What I really appreciated was how the owners – who clearly live and breathe this place – just let you wander around without hovering or making you sign seventeen liability waivers. The pool access is at a neighboring property, which sounds weird but works brilliantly since it’s literally a two-minute walk through a gate, and you get the best of both worlds without the maintenance noise. Parking’s never an issue since you’re on a farm, though fair warning – your car will collect a fine layer of countryside dust, and good luck keeping your shoes clean.

The cottages themselves are properly done up – not that fake rustic stuff you see everywhere, but actual stone walls and beams that have been there longer than anyone can remember. Central heating works well (crucial for Cornwall’s moody weather), kitchens are stocked with everything you’d actually need, and the beds are comfortable enough that you’ll sleep through the occasional early morning rooster. You’re close enough to Looe that you can pop down for fish and chips or a proper Cornish pasty, but far enough out that you’ll hear sheep instead of traffic at night. The whole setup just works, especially if you’ve got kids who need to burn energy or adults who want to remember what quiet actually sounds like. It’s one of those places where the 8.7 rating makes perfect sense – not fancy enough to be intimidating, but thoughtful enough that you’ll probably book again before you’ve even left.

Facilities