Okel Tor Mine Cottages: Romantic Holiday Cottages for 2 in Cornwall

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ROMANTIC RETREAT

If it’s peace, tranquility and dramatic scenery you’re after, then choosing from these two converted mine buildings would be a good start. The Smithy and The Count House are the ideal getaway-from-it-all romantic cottages in Cornwall for two. With period features and decoration but modern conveniences, these unique Grade II Listed properties nestle in acres of natural woodland and offer the perfect romantic retreat.

The Location

Situated at Okel Tor Mine in the Tamar Valley, on the borders of Cornwall and Devon, the area is A DESIGNATED AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The renovated cottages (set 15 metres apart, but divided by trees) are off the beaten track and give a wonderful feeling of seclusion. When you wake up to the spectacular views across the valley, you’ll want to leap out of bed and get outdoors to explore the local varied landscape of woodland, rolling hills and valleys, alternatively you might wish to just stay in bed and take it all in! Historically significant, you’ll discover picturesque ruins dating to the area’s industrial past as a mine site, recognised by English Heritage as one of the best surviving 19th Century mines nationally. Not only is it an Ancient Monument it is also part of Cornwall’s World Heritage Site for mining.

THE NATIONAL TRUST’S COTEHELE HOUSE is within walking distance of the properties and Dartmoor, Bodmin Moor, Morwellham Quay and the sandy beaches at WHITSAND BAY on the south coast are a short drive away. The Cornish village of Calstock, where you’ll find a cafe with gluten-free and vegan options, an ARTS VENUE , pubs serving food and rail links to Plymouth is just a fifteen minute walk along the river bank.

To get to Okel Tor Mine by car, the journey is approximately 4 hours from London, or you can get the train from London Paddington and Reading to Plymouth, then on to Calstock. The owners will pick you up from the station if required.

What We Like
Facilities
The Owners
Environmental ethos

The feeling of being so remote and private, despite the local village being a short walk away, is wonderful
The cottages are so comfortable and cozy, especially having a log fire blazing in the evening after a day exploring
Everything has been thought of by the owners; a generous stock of wood for the fire, games for relaxing evenings, walking maps and information leaflets will inspire you
It’s so peaceful that you can hear sheep bleating across the valley and birds singing in the morning
For warmer evenings, there’s a decked area outside the property, ideal for a relaxing glass of wine
The view – simply stunning

Two cottages sleeping two in one bedroom with king size bed, with an additional double sofa-bed
Each cottage has a log-burning stove for toasty evenings by the fire as well as central heating from a carbon neutral wood pellet boiler
Satellite TV with DVD player plus a music system with DAB, CD player and Bluetooth are offered in both properties
Both cottages have en-suite shower rooms
There’s WiFi and a telephone in each property operated on an ‘honesty basis’. Mobile reception is not bad (depending on your network) but you can always connect to the WiFi for calls
Garden furniture and barbecue facilities are available
The Smithy and The Count House are no smoking accommodation. The cottages are dog friendly – there is a small charge of £25 per booking and supply throws for the soft furnishings

Nick and Greg bought Okel Tor Mine over 15 years ago, moving down from West Sussex. There was no grand plan – just an extraordinary sequence of events that led them to find, and fall in love with, this beautiful, unspoilt part of Cornwall. A chicken played an important role…

Greg soon found work at the National Trust’s Cotehele House and learnt how to make rope at the nearby Morewellham Quay Heritage Site. Nick, meanwhile, proceeded to convert the old Count House into the first holiday cottage. A few years later the Smithy joined it.

Nick, a boat builder, revelled in the task of transforming the stone ruins into warm, cosy hideaways. Greg contributed with his mortar mixing abilities plus his expertise in choosing paint colours. Farrow and Ball’s “Mouse’s Back” was a particular favourite.

Nick and Greg take their responsibility to the environment seriously and you can read more about that commitment on their website:

http://www.tinmine.com/eco-credentials