Cornwall is a popular holiday spot within the United Kingdom, but did you know that there are also some rather quirky places to stay in Cornwall?
I was just reading up on some quirky locations around the world the other day and realized that you could actually stay in a converted railway carriage in St Austell, Cornwall!
And that actually got me searching and thinking about whether there were other quirky places to stay in Cornwall? Well, turns out there are and I actually managed to find a good 17 unusual places to stay in Cornwall!
If you’re planning a trip to quirky places to stay in Cornwall sometime soon and you haven’t nailed down your accommodation plans yet, why not consider staying in a quirky place? Not only is it great for holiday memories, but imagine the travel stories you’d tell!
Now they say sharing is caring so here are my top 17 picks of quirky stays in Cornwall:
1. The Siphon, St Austell
2. Stunning Boat ‘Anny’, Charlestown
3. Beggars Roost, Penhallow
4. Lower Yurt, Botlet
5. Lost Meadow Treepod, Bodmin Moor
6. Nessa, Ekopod
7. The Bunker, Sennen
8. Doyden Castle, Port Quinn
9. Wooden Horsebox, Nancledra
10. The Water Tower, Trelissick
11. Gypsy Caravan Wildflower Cottage, Truro
12. Atlantic Surf Pods, Bude
13. Cynefin Roundhouse, Bude
14. Seaspray Log Cabin, St Austell
15. The Owl Nest, Lostwithiel
16. Millstream Cottage, Tintagel
17. Jam & Clotted Cream, North Looe
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1. The Siphon, St Austell
First up is of course the place that started this whole article on cool places to stay in Cornwall – The Siphon in St Austell. Stay in a converted, repurposed railway carriage that not only offers you a different holiday experience but also minimizes your carbon footprint.
The Airbnb owners source as much of their materials from local suppliers and encourage all guests to recycle and compost.
When you stay in The Siphon, you’ll also only be able to use solar power for light and charging your phone.
Not to mention it’s also close to Cornwall’s famous garden house attraction The Eden Project, adding to the green element of the whole holiday.
Prices start from £130 ($171) a night, excluding cleaning and service fees.
2. Stunning Boat ‘Anny’, Charlestown
Currently moored in Charlestown Harbour, Anny is a classic 1930 sailing ship and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and has appeared on shows such as Daver Copperfield and Dr. Who.
You can host up to a party of eight on this ship and also opt to live aboard the ship while it is at the harbor or out at sea.
Prices start from £390 ($513) per person for a 4-night sailing trip.
3. Beggars Roost, Penhallow
A converted chapel in Penhallow, Beggars Roost comes with three bedrooms and can sleep up to eight people. It apparently overlooks an active cemetery so you may find visitors to the cemetery from time to time in front of your accommodation.
Set in tranquil countryside, it offers peace and serenity in unique accommodation, making this one of the must-visit hidden places to stay in Cornwall.
Prices go from £706 ($929) for 2 nights. There is also a good housekeeping bond of £200 ($263).
4. Lower Yurt, Botlet
Stay in a Yurt on the Tamblyn family land where three generations have lived and have hosted guests since the 1930s.
The Yurt is set on a stream-crossed farm and woodland and sits a distance away from the main farmhouse where shower and washroom facilities are located.
Going back to basics, staying in the Yurt means you’ll need to use wood burner heating, cold water pumped straight from the orchard, and very subtle use of electric lighting to simulate a more natural lifestyle.
You can also opt to take part in meditation sessions or restorative massages.
Prices start from £88 ($115) a night.
5. Lost Meadow Treepod, Bodmin Moor
Situated high above among the branches in Broom Park Farm, this Lost Meadow Treepod is truly one of the most unique places to stay in Cornwall, given the suspended nature of this bedroom. As you move around the treepod, you might even feel some gentle movement.
Since you’re in the middle of a forest, don’t be too surprised if you see wildlife like deers and kingfishers as you live there. You can also explore the nearby Fowey river.
Prices start from £105 ($138) a night.
6. Nessa, Ekopod
This space at Ekopod is truly hands down one of the most unique places to stay in Cornwall, tucked away in the middle of nowhere on the Cornish hills. Feel your stress melt away as you surround yourself with the countryside.
The Ekopod is located in the vicinity of key Bodmin attractions like The Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan – eco-retreat, anyone?
Prices start from £125 ($164) a night.
7. The Bunker, Sennen
Staying in a bunker and experiencing peace, comfort and luxury seem out of the ordinary but you’ll experience exactly that at this bunker-styled accommodation. Given its identity, the bunker is initially difficult to spot.
The interior is entirely luxurious, a stark difference from what you might imagine a bunker to be. Located in Sennen, staying at The Bunker also gives you easy access to spots around Penzance like Marazion or St Michael’s Mount!
Prices start from £693 ($911) per week.
8. Doyden Castle, Port Quinn
Be your own royalty and stay in this unique accommodation in Cornwall – a full-fledged castle with a fortress at the edge of the cliffs. Be pampered by sea views when you wake as you live in this quirky accommodation in Cornwall.
It’s located close to the surfing beach of Polzeath and tourist hotspot Padstow which also has a wide variety of food choices. Fair warning though, staying at a castle does come with a price.
Prices start from £1429 ($1878) per week.
9. Wooden Horsebox, Nancledra
This Wooden Horsebox is one of St Ives unique stays because it’s well, situated right within a horsebox! Parked in an Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty, you’d be sure to be incredibly relaxed within minutes of checking in.
If the surrounding flora and fauna are not enough, St Ives, Penzance, and Zenno are a short ten minutes drive by car out.
Prices currently unavailable on the site – contact the Airbnb owner at the listing link for further dates and prices.
10. The Water Tower, Trelissick
If you’re not quite ready to live in a castle then maybe this The Water Tower located on the Trelessick estate in Truro would be a better in-between.
Formerly used as a reservoir in the 1800s, this Victorian-styled building takes you back in time with its architecture and surrounding countryside.
The best part – we hear there’s even a private beach on the estate! Not quite a medieval indulgence, but we’re sure you don’t mind having a private beach to yourself!
If this isn’t a quirky holiday in Cornwall, we’re not quite sure what else counts as one.
Prices currently unavailable on the site – contact the National Trust at the listing link for further availabilities and prices.
11. Gypsy Caravan Wildflower Cottage, Truro
Now, this isn’t quite a quirky cottage in Cornwall but it looks just like one. This Gypsy Caravan, located in the Truro wilderness is a caravan styled just like a cottage.
Choose from different designs depending on availability – its cozy and quaint space makes it an ideal quirky place to stay in Cornwall for curious couples.
Prices start from £65 ($85) a night.
12. Atlantic Surf Pods, Bude
Set on a farm in Bude, a short distance from Bude’s iconic surfing beaches, these Atlantic Surf Pods provide such luxury accommodation that almost makes it seem like it’s a unique hotel in Cornwall.
Besides surfing, you can also explore the walking trails, restaurants, and pubs in the pod’s vicinity.
Prices start from £79 ($103) a night.
13. Cynefin Roundhouse, Bude
Yet another quirky place to stay in Cornwall that resembles a unique hotel in Cornwall instead – this gorgeous Roundhouse is located in Bude, North Cornwall, and also comes equipped with a private hot tub – talk about luxury!
Prices start from £104 ($136) a night.
14. Seaspray Log Cabin, St Austell
The epitome of peace and quiet, this quirky accommodation in Cornwall is located on a cliff above East Portholland Bay. True to its name Seaspray Log Cabin, you’ll also enjoy plenty of sea spray as the water crashes against the cliffs below your accommodation.
Prices start from £90 ($118) a night.
15. The Owl Nest, Lostwithiel
No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you – this is a raised woodland cabin in Lostwithiel that looks just like an Owl’s Nest. In line with the avian theme, the owners of this cabin also have a bird of prey for visitors to view or book a handling experience with.
Prices start from £120 ($157) a night.
16. Millstream Cottage, Tintagel
If you thought you’ve seen enough of quirky cottages in Cornwall, then you haven’t seen this one yet. This quaint circular cottage is located on the banks of a mill stream in Tintagel and was converted from a former mill building/home.
While the interior is relatively modern, the surroundings are kept rustic, allowing you to feel like you’ve gone back in time. This cottage is also located in the vicinity of key Tintagel attractions like Tintagel Castle.
Prices are currently unavailable on the site – contact the owner at the listing link for further availabilities and prices.
17. Jam First & Clotted Cream, North Looe
What’s are visits to quirky places to stay in Cornwall or England without some jam and clotted cream, right? In this case, Jam First & Clotted Cream refers to two adjacent glamping pods in North Looe which are situated in a picture-perfect garden setting with stunning sea views.
Once you’re nicely settled in, you can explore the nearby beaches and ports, go-kart, or go wine-tasting. This is also one of the unusual places to stay in Cornwall with dogs.
True to its moniker, you can also opt for a Cornish hamper of goodies upon arrival and this includes the classic Cornish cream tea. Talk about the all-Cornish experience!
Price ranges from £260 to £310 ($342 to $556) per, with a minimum of 3 nights’ stay.
How To Get To Cornwall?
If you’re wondering how to get to Cornwall – most people get to Cornwall via London taking the Great Western Railway (GWR) from London Paddington to Newquay in Cornwall, which would take about five hours.
What To Do In Cornwall?
There isn’t a shortage of what to do in Cornwall – Cornwall is home to many interesting sights and attractions, with the most popular ones being the Eden Project, St Michael’s Mount, and Land’s End.
Some other attractions you could consider visiting should you have the time to do so, outside of checking out quirky places to stay in Cornwall, include:
- The Lost Gardens Heligan
- Tate St Ives
- Minack Theatre
- Fistral Beach
- Bodmin Moor
- Pendennis Castle
Interesting Foods To Try In Cornwall
Cornwall is home to so much good food that even the BBC has come up with a list of the top 10 foods you need to try in Cornwall. Stemming from the list, my take on interesting foods to try in Cornwall are:
- Cornish Cream Tea
- Cornish Pasty
- Crab Sandwich
- Warren Beef
- Kern
- Saffron Cake
Conclusion
Cornwall has its own quiet charm but beneath that charm also lies these quirky places to stay in Cornwall .
I hope that as you plan your trip to these quirky places to stay in Cornwall, you’ll not only find my list of accommodations useful but that you’ll eventually get to stay in one or some of these quirky accommodations.
If you do head there, capture these stays on Instagram and tag me at @aishapreece to let me know if it was as quirky as it was listed or maybe even quirkier!
Oh, and definitely don’t forget to have some amazing Cornish cream tea – it really wouldn’t be considered a holiday in Cornwall if you didn’t.
Have an amazing trip to Cornwall, you deserve it!
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