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Turnstones
Rural St Ives

£642 - £1494 per week
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This once derelict barn has been lovingly converted by the owners, making you feel relaxed and at home as soon as you park up outside your front door. Two bedrooms provide a peaceful night's sleep to either a family or two couples and you can have your first coffee of the day sat outside by the apple tree or leaning out of the stable door overlooking the everlasting views of meadows and stunning blue sea. Turnstones really is a haven, even better knowing that you can be right down amongst the hustle and bustle of the shops, bars, boutiques and restaurants of St Ives within a 25 minute walk through the fields. You may even see a Turnstone or two!

Perfect for any time of year, you can either enjoy views of the sparkling sea and bright blue skies, or storm watch as the waves crash against Godrevy Lighthouse. For avid walkers you are a stone's throw from the coastal path - turning right will take you down into St Ives and left will take you towards Zennor and the popular Tinners Arms for a well deserved tipple. You'll be booking your return holiday here before you've even packed to go home.

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Where you'll sleep

Bedroom 1

King

Bedroom 2

Zip and link

Entrance

one step from the driveway, leading straight into:

Kitchen/dining room

fridge/freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, electric hob and oven, table with four chairs, stairs to first floor, doors leading to:

Bedroom 1

king size bed, en suite shower room with basin, WC.

Bathroom

bath, basin, WC.

Bedroom 2

zip and link (super king or twin) beds, sea glimpse, patio doors leading to patio.

Sitting room

located on the first floor, two sofas, Smart TV, Bluetooth speaker, woodburner, sea views, stable door and 12 steps leading down to:

Outside area

mostly lawn surrounding the barn, patio with table and four chairs, bench, sea views.

Additional information

electric heating throughout, please note the road leading to Turnstones is via an uneven, narrow track so extra care must be taken and is not best suited for low slung sports cars, No children under 5, WiFi, short breaks available.

 
 

Turnstones in rural St Ives suits us extremely well, and having returned after a lovely stay last year we happily booked the same property for another stay of three full weeks for October 2025. The cottage is absolutely beautiful, with Neil’s extraordinary paintings and the distinguished renovation of the barn to cottage done to a very high standard. As ‘old house’ people ourselves with our own rural home and garden, we are exceptionally comfortable at Turnstones and its location and appreciative of the excellent care with which the wonderful owners Lesley and Neil maintain the property as well as their attention to guests’ comfort. We love the rural location in all weathers. We travel by train without an auto, and the combination of walking, the buses, and Ace taxis when needed at night or with luggage make everything go quite smoothly. Turnstones is truly a welcoming retreat from the bustle of the town. Rosanne and David Denhard, New England, USA

September 2024

It was a great holiday in a lovely cottage that is well looked after, settled in a quiet and stunning location. Lesley and Neil are great hosts and very helpful. This was our fourth stay at Turnstones and we are already looking forward returning in 2025.

August 2024

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Holidays in Rural St Ives

Idyllic Cornish countryside surrounds the harbour town of St Ives, offering a truly relaxing escape from the everyday. Immerse yourself in the spectacular landscapes, breathtaking clifftops, and rustic pathways that make up this scenic corner of St Ives. Away from the hustle and bustle of the seaside town, Rural St Ives is a haven for nature lovers and keen walkers, yet just a short drive from the harbour and beaches, meaning you can enjoy the best of both worlds.


Pull on your walking boots and embark on a Cornish adventure, discovering rambling trails and coastal paths, and breathing in the fresh sea air. 

Top tip

Walk through rugged moorland to Trencrom Hill to admire far-reaching views across West Cornwall.

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What our guests say...

We know how important honest reviews are when it comes to booking your holiday. To help you choose the right property for you, we publish all reviews left by guests who have stayed here in the past, with the few exceptions stated in our Review Guidelines. Please bear in mind that some facilities referred to by past guests in reviews can be removed or changed at any time.

Turnstones in rural St Ives suits us extremely well, and having returned after a lovely stay last year we happily booked the same property for another stay of three full weeks for October 2025. The cottage is absolutely beautiful, with Neil’s extraordinary paintings and the distinguished renovation of the barn to cottage done to a very high standard. As ‘old house’ people ourselves with our own rural home and garden, we are exceptionally comfortable at Turnstones and its location and appreciative of the excellent care with which the wonderful owners Lesley and Neil maintain the property as well as their attention to guests’ comfort. We love the rural location in all weathers. We travel by train without an auto, and the combination of walking, the buses, and Ace taxis when needed at night or with luggage make everything go quite smoothly. Turnstones is truly a welcoming retreat from the bustle of the town. Rosanne and David Denhard, New England, USA

It was a great holiday in a lovely cottage that is well looked after, settled in a quiet and stunning location. Lesley and Neil are great hosts and very helpful. This was our fourth stay at Turnstones and we are already looking forward returning in 2025.

Easy access via the lane in a Tesla Y (fast charging points at St ives leisure Centre for those that need them) and then Turnstones appears as you turn the corner and its even better that in the pictures. We stayed a family of 4 two children 14 & 8 who made use of the large garden playing football and cricket for hours. We walked to St ives on many occasions via both paths. But a must is the coastal path which drops you down to Porthmeor beach - stunning! I could go on all day but i recommend you go and see for yourself! Already booked for 2025! cant wait!

Lovely stay at Turnstones- lovely location, great views, quiet and beautiful garden. The house was very comfortable, super clean with lots of personal touches..A little walk into St Ives and so away from the hustle and bustle which was nice. Would definitely recommend this…

This was an amazing property. The location is perfect as it is quiet and peaceful with far reaching views. It is however within walking distance of St Ives. Lesley and Neil were really friendly and helpful, the perfect hosts! We will be returning next year as the place suited our son who has profound learning difficulties which happens rarely.

Turnstones was such a lovely place to stay. It was private and remote from the St Ives center but still close enough to walk down. The coastal path being right off the house was brilliant too.

The house was beautiful and perfect size. The attention to detail with all the little bits in the house was just perfect. Our kids loved playing in the big garden. Would definitely visit again!

Thank you

We had a fabulous stay at Turnstones. The cottage is situated in a nice and quiet spot and in an immaculate condition. The owners, Leslie and Neul, are most friendly and helpful with any questions. Would love to return any time.

Thoroughly recommend this property. Beautiful house, great location and stunning views. Really helpful owners and holiday company.

Turnstones is a fabulous property, in a wonderfully quiet location; one day sat in the garden, the only thing I could hear was bird song and the cows munching grass in the field next door! The property was well equipped and very comfortable, with lovely views across the St Ives Bay. The location is great - away from the hustle and bustle of St Ives, but close enough to get to amenities; it's also close to the coastal footpath and it's easy to walk into St Ives. The owners are really lovely and gave us a very warm welcome. We hope to return!

Turnstones is a fantastic cottage located close enough to St Ives, but far enough away to ensure peace and quiet. The location is an ideal base for touring around as far as Falmouth and Newquay which are around 1 hour drive, and some of the other amazing places closer by such as St Michael’s Mount. The standard of the cottage is much better than all of the other places we’ve used over the last 10 yrs! Booking and paying for the cottage was easy and good options available to make this affordable/convenient. We’d definitely recommend staying at Turnstones and we will be visiting again next year!

The cottage was excellent, very well equipped and thought out. A lovely place to come back to each evening, and the log burner was the best we've experienced in any holiday cottage. Great location within easy 20 minutes walking into the centre of St Ives. The owners who we met a day after arrival were really welcoming and helpful. Access down the narrow but level track is not a problem. Highly recommended!

Turnstones is a lovely cottage in a beautiful location with views towards St Ives. The owners are delightful, and nothing is too much trouble. The property is comfortable and full of lovely little touches. The stairs are a little steep, so may be an issue for anyone with mobility issues. Overall though I would totally recommend this cottage as there is so much to like about staying in this pretty property.

Reply from Aspects Holidays

Thank you for your comments; we are delighted to read how much you enjoyed this property and those beautiful views. Turnstones is set over two floors and has beautiful external stone steps leading from the first floor living room to the garden, so may not be suitable for guests with limited mobility. For this reason, it is not advertised as such. If accessibility is a concern, please don't hesitate to get in contact with us before booking and we can help advise you on one of the many accessible properties we market. Alternatively, you can filter accessible properties using the search function on the website. We hope to see you back again soon. Phoebe, Customer Services

We had a wonderful time at Turnstones, away from the madding crowds of St Ives but sufficiently close to go and enjoy the town when we wanted to, either by car or on foot.

The house and garden are really beautiful and the house was equipped with everything we needed for our holidays.

For lovers of sunrises, sunsets and walks in the country away from it all, this is the ideal situation!

We had a fantastic stay at Turnstones. It was comfortable, clean and cosy and the views from the upstairs living room were beautiful. Our 2 x thirteen year old boys enjoyed playing cricket and football in the large garden whilst myself and partner relaxed with wine on the garden bench. Lesley and Neil were very friendly and helpful throughout our stay and even gifted us a vegetable stock when we’d missed it off our shopping list! The house is tucked away to give you the feeling of being out of the crowds at St Ives, but a beautiful scenic walk along the coastal path or a 20 minute walk through fields and footpaths will take you straight to it all ( or a 5 minute drive!) We would highly recommend Turnstones as a holiday destination.

A beautiful cottage in a perfect location with a sea view. Really felt like I was getting away from it all. The garden was just lovely and even had its own standing stones. Very tastefully decorated with an easy walk into St Ives. Look forward to returning one day as definitely my happy place.

Excellent choice for visitors to Penwith

Our third stay at Turnstones was also just wonderful. The owners have again put a lot of effort into the decoration and we felt very comfortable. There are so many things to do. On the one hand, you can walk to lively St Ives within 30 minutes or to the Costal Path within 10 minutes. On the other hand, Turnstones also offers plenty of opportunities to simply relax. If you want to leave your car at home, you can walk to the nearest bus stop, which is only 5 minutes away. From there you can get quickly and easily to Penzance, for example. We have already booked again for next year.

Beautiful & well designed cottage. Wonderful hosts, She a perfect location to spend a holiday. Lovely costal walks on your doorstep

Turnstones Cottage is absolutely lovely: comfortable and artfully appointed and in a charming setting. The conversion of barn to cottage is outstanding in its architectural design and carpentry. Comfortable and relaxing. We enjoyed the walk into the town of St Ives during daylight hours. Sturdy waterproof boots are a necessity and be prepared to cross stiles when walking in most directions. We cooked often in the comfortable kitchen. The wood burner made quiet evenings in the lounge/living room very cosy indeed. Rosanne and David New England, USA

A beautiful cozy cottage with a great layout, well equipped kitchen and large usable outside space. It was lovely to meet the owners, very friendly and welcoming. Just wished we could have stayed longer.

A wonderful cottage with everything you might need for a relaxing escape. Great to have the wood burner in January - so cosy. A good stock of logs provided to get you started. Two bathrooms and two double beds made it perfect for two couples. Also parking for 2 cars… hard to find properties where these things all line up. Owners are on hand but don’t intervene unless you want help. We loved the peace and quiet and listening to the stormy weather whilst warm and dry was a treat. The weather had been horribly wet for weeks before our arrival making the lane to the costal path impassable without wellingtons. So if you are going in the winter months I would recommend you take them… lots to see locally and so close to St Ives which is magical.

Our third visit to Turnstones, previously just the two of us, but this time also with our son and partner. The property was equally suited to accommodating four adults given the excellent layout, equipment and space to eat and relax. We love the location with access to the coast path and breathtaking route into St Ives and the road route as an alternative should a more direct walk into town be needed. The location also makes driving out to places such as Penzance, St Just, etc much easier than if you were staying closer into town. Turnstones remains 'Highly Recommended' in our books.

Beautiful accommodation, well equipped . Lovely location just out of town but close enough to still enjoy. Welcoming hosts who respected our privacy but were only next door if needed. Would love to return.

Turnstones is an amazing place to stay. You can see that the owners look after the property themselves as everything is neat and clean. The property is well equipped and tastefully furnished and we felt very comfortable. The large outside garden offers the possibility for alfresco-dining as well as nice views across the fields towards the sea. Due to its location it is very quiet so that you can really relax and we enjoyed the walks to the coast and to St. Ives. We would like to thank Lesley and Neil for the nice stay and we can only say: keep it up.

Our stay at Turnstones was really great so that we have already booked again for next year.

A beautiful cottage in a quiet location , close to the coastal path. You can either take the energetic walk to St Ives or walk along a lovely wildflower path which can be reached shortly before you reach the coastal path. There are quite a few stlles but still a much easier walk . We loved the cottage which was comfortable, especially the bed and spotlessly clean The owners were nearby but were friendly without being intrusive. We didn't want to leave

The perfect place to unwind and soak up the surroundings. Very cosy and comfortable with welcoming touches after a long drive. Very well equipped and plenty of hot water for a soak in a bath after a long walk. With the coastal footpath on our doorstep it didn’t take long to walk into St Ives. for lunch. The walk in the other direction to Zennor was stunning and the pub there very welcome!

One of the loveliest places we ve stayed in . Wonderful to leave the car and walk along the coastline. Very welcoming and helpful owners

Absolutely stunning holiday home. Very clean, comfortable, cosy yet modern, well equipped with everything you need. Very quiet, lovely views, on site parking, rural but all other lovely places to visit on your doorstep.’ Friendly owners who have ticked every box making this this perfect place to stay. Will definitely be back.

What a lovely cottage! The location is perfect - we could walk into St Ives and forget about the car. Lovely views and so peaceful. Comfortable bed and sofa. Everything you could possibly need in the kitchen and more. Plenty of hot water for the shower. Bright, spotlessly clean and cosy. A great place to relax. Liked it so much, we’d definitely like to return.

Beautifully appointed and well equipped property. Ideally located in a quiet rural spot but within easy walking distance of St. Ives. Would thoroughly recommend.

Our second stay at Turnstones. Absolutely perfect property and location for us as it provides a wonderful contrast to and ‘haven’ from the busy centre of St Ives and we really enjoy the (stiff!) walk to and from town via the coast path in good weather or street route in not so good weather (still a little field path walking though). We didn’t use the car once during the whole stay. Lovely property if you want a balance of rural and town. Turnstones itself is wonderfully presented and equipped. No negative points whatsoever.

Excellent cottage. Very comfortable and spotlessly clean. Very well equipped with absolutely everything you need. Great location and outside area. Lesley and Neil very friendly and helpful. We have stayed in a lot of cottages and this is top of the list. Would definitely recommend it.

A haven of peace and tranquillity in the perfect position. Beautifully decorated and equipped with everything you need. Would return at the drop of a hat!

The property was decorated and furnished to a high standard, the owners who live next door were lovely people who left us alone, but were on hand if required. The location is excellent for walking the south west coastal path , a lovely walk in st ives if you want the beaches and shops, but the tranquility of the countryside in the morning to sit out and have breakfast in the sun .. highly recommended.. will definitely be rebooking

Turnstones was a true home from home it has everything you could possibly need and the best of both worlds being walking distance into St Ives but surrounded by coastal views and fields. The property catered for everyones needs it was clean and homely and the log burner was a welcome addition after some wet and windy walks along the coast. The decor in the barn is modern but cosy and it was immaculately clean with every facility you could possibly need. We will definitely go back.

We loved the location of Turnstones. You get the best of both worlds, the tranquility of the countryside while watching the local herd of cows surrounding the garden but within walking distance of St. Ives hustle and bustle! The conversion has been tastefully done and everything well thought out meaning a very homely and comfortable stay. We enjoyed our week so much that we have rebooked for next year.

We chose Turnstones in part because of the standard of accommodation offered and also because we wanted to be outside of St Ives town itself this year for the first time in decades. Turnstones lived up to and exceeded all expectations. The walk into/from St Ives will not be for everyone as it is either 30 minutes or so along the coastal path or a short stretch over a field then through housing areas for 20 minutes-ish, both are uphill on the way back. For us though this was not a problem, even in poor weather especially knowing we would have such wonderful accommodation at the end. The track to the house is very narrow and a little rutted, but we had no problem in a standard estate car and we fortunately met no one else the couple of times we did drive from the house. Overall, a wonderful choice if you want the convenience of St Ives and the seclusion of being on open countryside.

The property location is amazing, with access to the coast just outside the front door and has been renovated to a very high standard. It was spotlessly clean on arrival. Our week in Cornwall coincided with the arrival of storm Alex and which made for interesting walking conditions, but great in the knowledge we had a lovely place to retreat to and we made good use of the woodburner, whilst attempting to complete our first ever 1,000 piece jigsaw! We should have originally stayed in June this year but still had a fab time in October, it was so nice to see the Sea directly from the barn, when the weather obliged.

It was a shame the weather made it impossible to spend time in the lovely gardens.

The owners are very friendly too.

From the minute we arrived at Turnstones, to our departure, we had smiles on our faces. This property is exceptional and is a credit to the owners. The quality of the renovation of this property is exceptional. The location is perfect, close to the SW coastal path, and close enough to walk into St Ives, yet far enough out to escape the crowds. The perfect holiday property, and the perfect location, where you can either relax in a great rural setting, or enjoy busy St Ives.

We returned from our holiday at Turnstones two days ago & I can honestly say that everything about this converted barn was absolutely perfect! On arrival, we were extremely pleased to find that the cottage was beautiful & cleaned to a very high standard.The kitchen was well equipped with everything you need for cooking meals & even included extras such as a cafetière.It was really handy to have a dishwasher & washing machine too.There was also a washing line in the garden & an airer to hang our washing on indoors which we needed after getting covered in sea foam when we went to watch the waves at Porthleven during storm Francis!! The barn has been converted & decorated to a very high standard & everything is colour coordinated with pretty blues & turquoise to fit in with the coastal theme. The location of the barn is perfect too...it is surrounded by fields so it is extremely tranquil & quiet.The view from the back windows is beautiful with the Atlantic Ocean & St Ives in the distance. It is only a 20 minute walk across the fields in St Ives where there are the most wonderful beaches (the harbour beach is our favourite),lots of amazing restaurants (we love The Sloop Inn) & great little shops full of lovely gifts & keepsakes to take home.The walk back to Turnstones takes a little longer as there are a few steep hills! We spent a few days in St Ives but we also travelled to a few other great places such as Marazion, Mousehole, Lands End & Porthcurno which are not far away. The owners of Turnstones are very friendly & live in the farmhouse next door.Whenever we saw them, they would always ask how our day had been & were really lovely...Neil even hosed down my little car after it got completely covered in sea foam when I parked it by the harbour at Porthleven during the storm!! We loved this place so much that we popped down to Aspects in St Ives to make an advanced booking for August 2022 before we left on Friday! Thank you so much Aspects for a perfect holiday!

The Youngs family x

We had a wonderful holiday and loved our stay at Turnstones, it's a gem! A very well thought out property with everything you need.

From the moment you arrive you're welcomed by a lovely clean cottage.

The location is peaceful with lovely walks nearby and beautiful views.

You won't be disappointed if you book to stay here. We can't wait to return!

Lovely break following lockdown. We really enjoyed our stay in this well appointed barn. Owners next door if any problems but otherwise very private. Garden is beautiful with views of the sea. Well positioned for walking the coast path or into St Ives. We have a normal family saloon and had no problem with the drive. Hope to return.

Don't miss the chance to book a holiday at Turnstones! We were the first guests to stay at this lovely cottage following the re-opening of holiday homes in England on 4th July 2020, and had an absolutely fantastic stay. Turnstones is by far the nicest holiday cottage we have ever stayed in and was so lovely and inviting, from the sympathetically-restored building itself to the homely decor and special touches. The property was also immaculately clean and well-presented; despite the current Covid-19 pandemic, we felt very safe during our stay as it was clear how much care had been taken to deep clean and safeguard the property. There are two good-sized bedrooms with comfortable beds (the singles were brought together for us to make a very comfortable double) and two well presented bathrooms. We spent most of our time in the kitchen and dining area, cooking and talking long into the evening with a glass of wine. Upstairs, there is a lovely sitting room with great views of St. Ives on one side and the local bovine heard on the other. Unfortunately the weather was not quite good enough for us to make use of the outdoor patio area, but the gardens surrounding Turnstones are lovely and well cared for. From your front door you can jump on the coastal trail to Zennor (stop off in the pub garden of the Tinners Arms for refreshment and some cheesy chips) or walk into St. Ives. We found plenty to do within an hour's drive (the location can't be beat). Finally, the owners, who live close by, were incredibly friendly and welcoming, and made sure our stay was as comfortable as could be. We would highly recommend Turnstones to family and friends; and to you, too!

We had a fantastic holiday despite both Storms Clara and Dennis!!. The barn conversion is beautifully completed and so for once it was a pleasure to stay in!! Well located for those that like the countryside but an easy walk into ST Ives through the countryside or through the town. We’ll definitely back, hopefully for some sunshine.

Wonderful Choice....Turnstones is fabulous .. you can be isolated or walk the short distance into St Ives to be among lots of people theatre.... Shops ...seaside Fabulous break ...fabulous choice of well looked after property..cleanliness ..warmth .. comfort... beautiful views...lovely look forward to returning... Thankyou for Christmas tree as well so pretty and Christmas treats ... appreciated Many Thanks Jackie ..Nick ..Nick West Sussex

The converted barn has been decorated to a high standards and is ideal for couples or a small family. The garden surrounding the property is stunning and lots of room to take advantage on sunny days with access ideal access to the garden via the 1st floor. Shower room off master bedroom and family bathroom with a bath. Well equipped clean kitchen. The owners are approachable and friendly. The lane as you approach the property is very narrow and can be muddy and wet after rain. Able to walk to the town in 30 minutes. Would book again.

Turnstones is a cosy place which is tastefully furnished. The owners have done a great job in converting a barn into this lovely holiday home. It's an awesome place at a quiet and peaceful spot of the Penwith Peninsula. The owners living next door are very friendly and helpful.

We really enjoyed our stay and will definitely come back again.