Exquisite views, perfect privacy and a setting among camellias, rhododendrons and azaleas at this Arts-and-Crafts property in Cornwall
Perran Cove, near Mawnan Smith, six miles from Falmouth, is perched high above the Helford River, taking in views of the waters and ancient woodland.


Arts-and-Crafts Perran Cove, near Mawnan Smith, six miles from Falmouth, in Cornwall, enjoys a south-west-facing ‘grandstand’ position offering jaw-dropping views over the Helford River, with its world-renowned sailing waters, and unspoilt ancient woodland.
For sale through Lillicrap Chilcott at an asking price of £2.85 million, this tranquil property is at the end of a private road on the Budock Vean estate, within walking distance of a golf course and wrapped in 1⅓ acres of landscaped park peppered with camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas and macrocarpas.
Barrelled ceilings, granite fireplaces, balconies and sun terraces brightened by wisteria offer plenty of character.
The 3,778sq ft interiors include five bedrooms, as well as a studio above the garage. The reception areas are vast, with a panoramic drawing room overlooking the gardens, woodland and river, a separate dining room and an open-plan kitchen and family room.
The gardens are glorious and a private right of way leads down to a little-known cove and there’s also a boat store.
Perran Cover is for sale at £2.85 million via Lillicrap Chilcott — see more pictures or enquire with the agent for further details.
Mawnan Smith: What you need to know
- Location: Mawnan Smith is 14 minutes' drive from Falmouth
- Atmosphere: The village has an early 18th-century inn (The Red Lion), a post office and shop, a surgery, a coffee shop, a restaurant and ahairdresser's, plus a vibrant community life with plenty of clubs and societies.
- Things to do: Sailing on the Helford River is the obvious option, but other activities include surfing, waterskiing, walking (this is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and much of the coastline belongs to the National Trust), visiting the gardens of Glen Durgan and Trebah and playing golf (there are five 18-hole golf courses within about 15 miles)
- Schools: The nearby Mawnan CofE VA Primary School is rated Good by Ofsted.
Find more properties in the area.
Sign up for the Country Life Newsletter
Exquisite houses, the beauty of Nature, and how to get the most from your life, straight to your inbox.
Credit: Strutt and Parker
Best country houses for sale this week
An irresistible West Country cottage and a magnificent Cumbrian country house make our pick of the finest country houses for
Annunciata grew up in the wilds of Lancashire and now lives in Hampshire with a husband, two daughters and an awful pug called Parsley. She’s been floating round the Country Life office for more than a decade, her work winning the Property Magazine of the Year Award in 2022 (Property Press Awards). Before that, she had a two-year stint writing ‘all kinds of fiction’ for The Sunday Times Travel Magazine, worked in internal comms for Country Life’s publisher (which has had many names in recent years but was then called IPC Media), and spent another year researching for a historical biographer, whose then primary focus was Graham Greene and John Henry Newman and whose filing system was a collection of wardrobes and chests of drawers filled with torn scraps of paper. During this time, she regularly gave tours of 17th-century Milton Manor, Oxfordshire, which may or may not have been designed by Inigo Jones, and co-founded a literary, art and music festival, at which Johnny Flynn headlined. When not writing and editing for Country Life, Annunciata is also a director of TIN MAN ART, a contemporary art gallery founded in 2021 by her husband, James Elwes.
-
Vertigo at Victoria Falls, a sunset surrounded by lions and swimming in the Nile: A journey from Cape Town to Cairo
Why do we travel and who inspires us to do so? Chris Wallace went in search of answers on his own epic journey the length of Africa.
By Christopher Wallace Published
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River Tay
Carnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
By James Fisher Published
-
A gorgeous Scottish cottage with contemporary interiors on the bonny banks of the River Tay
Carnliath on the edge of Strathtay is a delightful family home set in sensational scenery.
By James Fisher Published
-
Six rural properties with space, charm and endless views, as seen in Country Life
We take a look at some of the best houses to come to the market via Country Life in the past week.
By Toby Keel Published
-
380 acres and 90 bedrooms on the £25m private island being sold by one of Britain's top music producers
Stormzy, Rihanna and the Rolling Stones are just a part of the story at Osea Island, a dot on the map in the seas off Essex.
By Lotte Brundle Published
-
A home cinema, tasteful interiors and 65 acres of private parkland hidden in an unassuming lodge in Kent
North Lodge near Tonbridge may seem relatively simple, but there is a lot more than what meets the eye.
By James Fisher Published
-
A rare opportunity to own a family home on Vanbrugh Terrace, one of London's finest streets
This six-bedroom Victorian home sits right on the start line of the London Marathon, with easy access to Blackheath and Greenwich Park.
By James Fisher Published
-
A tale of everyday life as lived on Britain's most expensive street
Winnington Road in Hampstead has an average house price of £11.9 million. But what's it really like? Lotte Brundle went to find out.
By Lotte Brundle Last updated
-
Damon Hill's former home in Marbella is the perfect place to slow down
The glorious Andalusian-style villa is found within the Lomas de Marbella Club and just a short walk from the beach.
By James Fisher Published
-
A 327-acre estate in the heart of 'England’s Côte d’Or', with a 26,000sq ft Georgian style home at its heart
Stokes Hall in the Crouch Valley is an inspiring property looking for a new owner.
By Penny Churchill Published