Worvas Counthouse

St Ives, Cornwall

A beautifully renovated country cottage in the peaceful village of Halsetown, on the outskirts of St Ives and Carbis Bay

3 nights from £629 Book Now

Features
Overview
Things to Know
Rooms
Availability
Location
Reviews

key features

Within 5km From Beach

Hot Tub

Wi-Fi

Pets Accepted

Parking

Garden/backyard

Woodburner / Open Fire

Children Welcome

Freestanding Bath

Family Friendly

Bathtub

Washing Machine

Tumble Dryer

Dishwasher

Cot Available

High Chair

Stair Gates

Coffee Machine

Hair Dryer

Microwave

Refrigerator

Oven

Iron

Overview

Set in a quiet countryside location not far from St Ives' beautiful beaches, Worvas Counthouse is a truly relaxing retreat for families and friends.

The cottage which has recently undergone a contemporary makeover, sympathetically combines the old with the new. Tasteful furnishings sit alongside authentic features, so together with the ample space on offer both inside and out, creates a luxurious and comfortable holiday home. The spacious sitting room has a woodburner and is just the place to unwind in after a day out exploring the local area, while the amply equipped kitchen and open plan dining room (also with woodburner) are perfectly suited to home cooking and mealtimes with all the family. Upstairs, the home’s three bedrooms have lovely views over the surrounding scenery, and the cottage has two stunning family bathrooms, both with freestanding bathtubs.

Outside, there’s a sprawling garden where children, dogs and grown-ups can stretch their legs or bathe in the sunshine. A large electric hot tub offers the chance to indulge in a decadent soak any time of the day or evening, while a fire pit and outdoor woodburner invite you to enjoy drinks and entertainment long after the sun has set.

Roughly a 10-minute drive from Carbis Bay, St Ives harbour and Porthminster Beach, Worvas Counthouse is superbly placed for enjoying all that the area has to offer. Wander the pretty boutique-lined streets of St Ives or pop into the Tate St Ives for a dollop of culture. A thriving foodie scene means you can choose between eateries like Adam Handling’s Ugly Butterfly, One Fish Street, Silco Bar & Kitchen, and many more. If you fancy grabbing a quick bite, there are many terrific bakeries and fish n chip takeaway places to pick from, or kick back with a glass of wine and a crab sandwich at Porthminster or Porthmeor’s beach café’s.

Porthkidney Sands and Upton Towans are less than 20 minutes’ drive, while Gwithian is just 5 minutes’ further along the coast so for those looking to indulge in beach days, surfing and water sports, it doesn’t get much better.

Travel cot and high chair are located within the property. Stair gates are available on request.

Things to know

Check in time: 16:00
Good Housekeeping Bond or Accidental Damage Waiver
We ask our guests for a £200 Good Housekeeping Bond, pre-authorised against your credit card. This is in case there is any damage to the property during your stay. The money is simply reserved and then released afterward if there is no damage. We will contact you nearer the time of your arrival to arrange this. 
Alternatively, a one-off, nonrefundable Accidental Damage Waiver of £30 can be added to your booking to replace the Good Housekeeping Bond and can be added as an extra when processing your booking.
Pets: 4 pets allowed, £40 per pet per week, in line with our house rules we do ask that pets are not left alone in the property, do not use the furniture or go in the upstairs/bedroom areas
Number of steps: 6 external steps to access, 1 flight of internal stairs
Type of heating: Electric heating
Linen & Towels: Bed linen is provided for your stay, however, if you require use of the travel cot you will need to bring your own cot linen. Each guest will be supplied with one hand towel and one bath towel for their stay. (if your holiday is longer than 10 days, please contact the Luxury Coastal team to discuss a mid-stay linen change)
Infant equipment: Travel cot and high chair are located within the property. Stair gates are available on request.
Wi-Fi: This property offers free Wi-Fi for guests, however, we cannot guarantee the speed and connectivity. Therefore, if you are planning to work during your holiday, we recommend bringing a wifi dongle.
Woodburner: Wood provided for first fire
Coffee Machine: Rowlett pod coffee machine (compatible with Nespresso-style pods), pods not provided
Hot Tub: Electric
Smoking: All of our properties are non-smoking and we ask that any party member who smokes, do so off the premises.
Property surroundings: Please note that this property has a large pond within its garden so guests will need to supervise children and dogs

Room Information

Living
Please note that this property has a large pond within its garden so guests will need to supervise children and dogs

Living Area
Situated on the ground floor and open plan with the dining room and kitchen, the living room accesses the garden
Furnished with two large sofas and two armchairs, there a huge stone fireplace and *woodburner as well as a built-in bench seat with cushions
Smart TV with Freeview and a record player (Bluetooth), as well as a collection of LP’s for guests to play

*Logs and firelighters supplied for first fire
Kitchen & Dining
Kitchen
The spacious kitchen is open plan with dining room and features ample worktop space, electric cooker with induction hob, microwave, fridge/freezer, kettle, toaster and Rowlett pod coffee machine (compatible with Nespresso-style pods)
Iron, ironing board, vacuum cleaner
A range of cookware, utensils, crockery, cutlery and glasses

Utility Cupboard
In the ground floor family bathroom housing a washer/dryer

Dining Room
Open plan with the kitchen this lovely room features a dining table with 8 chairs and access to the garden
*A fireplace with woodburner

*Logs and firelighters supplied for first fire
Bedrooms
All three bedrooms are situated on the first floor

Bedroom One
This spacious bedroom has lovely views over the countryside and features a king size bed, bed side tables and lamps, a built-in wardrobe, two armchairs, a dressing table and mirror

Bedroom Two
This bedroom also has lovely rural views and is furnished with twin beds, and a bedside table with lamp

Bedroom Three
Furnished with a double bed, this room has beautiful views over the landscape, with a bedside table, lamp, and a stand-alone wardrobe
Bathrooms
Bathroom One
This uniquely designed ground floor wet room style bathroom features a rainfall shower head in the middle of the room as well as a large, free-standing bath (with hand-held shower attachment), hand basin, cabinet, heated towel rail, mirror and WC

Bathroom Two
Located on the first floor, this room features a free-standing bath with hand-held shower attachment, hand basin, cabinet, mirror and WC
Outside
A large, private garden wraps around the cottage and features plenty of lawn for relaxation and al-fresco entertainment. Festoon lighting creates a magical atmosphere in the evenings. Special features include a lovely electric hot tub, a seating area around the outdoor woodburner, a firepit, and a gravel area with dining set.
Please note that children and dogs will need to be supervised when outside due to there being a large pond, and the garden not being fully enclosed
Parking
Access down to the house is via a gravel track. There is parking for four cars on the drive

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Good Housekeeping Bond or Accidental Damage Waiver

We ask our guests for a £200 Good Housekeeping Bond, pre-authorised against your credit card. This is in case there is any damage to the property during your stay. The money is simply reserved and then released afterward if there is no damage. We will contact you nearer the time of your arrival to arrange this. 

Alternatively, a one-off, nonrefundable Accidental Damage Waiver of £30 can be added to your booking to replace the Good Housekeeping Bond and can be added as an extra when processing your booking.

Welcome to St Ives

There’s something special about holidays in St Ives and we just can’t quite put our fingers on it. It could be the beautiful light that’s attracted artists to the resort for generations, the cobbled streets and coastal views…or that feeling of being a world away from the hustle and bustle.

More about St Ives

Reviews

Overall Rating - 4.4

A curate's egg (good in parts)
3.3/5

Internally the property was clean, generously proportioned and most things worked. However, there were a few anomalies which should be rectified: - The mattress in the main bedroom was 'shot', the springs creaked, the pillows thin and unsupportive and the door latch was impossible to open quietly in the night. - The second bedroom sash window was screwed shut and could not be opened - this is contrary to UK Fire Regulations. Had the weather been warmer, this bedroom would have been unusable. - The toilet pedestal in the upstairs bathroom was not secured to the floor and 'rocked' alarmingly when sat on. - The external delivery pipe to the quite excellent upstairs bath was insecure, the tap does not have a 'nozzle' and the water dribbles down onto the floor when the bath is being filled. Also the overflow is not connected to the drain. - The downstairs walk-in shower is an adventure, and flip-flops or anti-slip mats are recommended for those who are unsure of walking on a wet tiled floor. Similar to the toilet upstairs, the pedestal is unsecured and the delivery pipe to the bath is also in need of attention. - Crockery and cooking utensils are minimal. The washing up bowl was missing, a food mixing bowl was not provided, the coffee machine was risable (bring your own) and there was exactly the right number of plates, glasses and cutlery for six people. This meant having to run the dishwasher after every meal (breakfast, lunch, supper) or wash up - without a bowl. - Outside, the romantic pond (seen in the photograph) is now protected with an ugly, badly installed, poorly finished post and rail fence - I've seen better in a farmyard. The pond is dirty, badly maintained, full of weeds and needs filling. - The garden is a disappointment. On arrival, not only was the grass not cut, but its also not grass! The borders presumably once pretty are full of nettles, brambles, old hedge trimmings, and miscellaneous industrial cast-offs. However the jacuzzi did work, was clean but poorly sited next to the pond (see above). The stone steps down from the parking area to the front door do not have a handrail and their rough surface represents a trip hazard. - Looking through the hedge to the property next door, the less than salubrious view is of an abandoned portacabin and makings of a recycling yard for old cars and machinery. You can't see this in the brochure or on Google Earth. - Overall, this 'luxury' holiday rental is just about acceptable inside but outside it falls well short of the mark. Local roads are typically Cornish and in high season will be very busy and it will pay to memorise every passing place.

Stephen, 30 Jun 2026

Hi Stephen, Thank you for taking the time to provide such detailed feedback following your stay. We are pleased to hear that you found the property clean, spacious, and generally well equipped, and that you enjoyed features such as the bath and hot tub. We are sorry that several aspects of the property did not meet your expectations. Please be assured that we have carefully reviewed all of the points you raised with the owner and maintenance team. The items requiring attention have since been inspected, and the necessary remedial works have been carried out. This includes addressing the issues highlighted with the bathrooms, bedroom furnishings, window operation, and various maintenance concerns throughout the property. We have also reviewed your comments regarding the kitchen inventory, garden presentation, and external areas. Feedback such as yours is invaluable in helping us identify where improvements are needed, and measures have been taken to ensure future guests enjoy a better experience. Thank you again for sharing your observations. We appreciate your constructive comments and hope that, despite the issues encountered, you were able to enjoy your time exploring Cornwall. We would welcome the opportunity to host you again in the future. Best wishes, The Luxury Coastal Team

Hope - The Luxury Coastal Team

Love this place
5/5

I love this place - its my third stay - the tranquility is second to none - love the log burners - easy access to St Ives town on foot - hot tub is great - porth kidney/carbis bay beaches all nearby - Tescos have the best on line delivery drivers btw - all good & will be re-booking xx

Tracey, 03 Jan 2026

Hi Tracey, Thank you so much for your lovely review! We’re thrilled to hear this was your third stay and that you continue to enjoy the tranquillity, log burners, and hot tub. It’s great to know the location works perfectly for exploring St Ives and the nearby beaches too. We really appreciate your loyalty and can’t wait to welcome you back for your next visit, thank you for choosing us again! Best wishes, The Luxury Coastal Team

Hope - The Luxury Coastal Team

Ideal spot
5/5

Plenty of room for the six of us, and everything we needed was provided. Good location and wonderful hot tub in the garden.

Guest, 05 Jul 2025

Thank you for taking the time to leave a review following your recent stay. It's great to hear that the property had everything you needed and you loved the hot tub. We hope we can welcome you back again in the future. Best wishes, Laura

Laura - The Luxury Coastal Team

A beautiful, idyllic cottage with superb grounds!
4.5/5

We absolutely loved our stay at Worvas! And wouldnt hesitate to come back again. The situation of the cottage and grounds were just stunning, the best weve stayed in by a mile! Our dogs just loved the outside gardens and pottered around all day and evening (worth mentioning that the drive is ungated though so for dogs that do stray it would not be ideal as it leads on to a country lane) The cottage is huge and we had so much space! We found everything to be well equipped and super comfortable and regretted not booking for 10 nights instead of a week. Super little pub at the end of the street and most things just a short drive away. We throughly explored the whole of the south west while we were down there. St Ives and Carbis Bay just a stones throw away and easy enough to drive up to Newquay or to do some shopping in Truro when the sun was not shining! Thank you for a very relaxed stay, we were not bothered by anyone and just had the most chilled of weeks. Would hope to return next year!! The Broughtons xx

Claire, 24 Jun 2025

Hi Claire, Thankyou for taking time to leave a review. We are delighted to hear that you loved your stay at Worvas Counthouse and found the cottage had lots of space and everything was well equipped! The garden is a beautiful space for dogs to walk around and enjoy all of the scents they find. This property is definitely in a perfect location for exploring the local areas such as St Ives but also to venture further down the coastline, we are so pleased you were able to see the whole of the South West. We cant wait to welcome you back in the future and are so happy that you had a chilled weekend! Best Wishes, The Luxury Coastal Team.

Charlie - the Luxury Coastal team

Could be amazing.....needs so much work.
2.3/5

We stayed at this property for 1 week during May. The location is perfect and the property and grounds itself could be amazing, BUT it needs alot of work to make it appealing for its guests. As we arrived at the property we were disappointed with the messy looking caravan and vehicles to the left of the entrance, and the state of the grass which clearly hadn't been cut in weeks if not months. I contacted the company straight away about the grass as we were staying for a full week and we wanted to enjoy the outside area, only to be told that the owner would cut the grass once wed left.....that quite frankly isn't good enough, and I'd have expected the grass to be cut the very next day. As you stepped into the property, there was damp o In every single room, some worse that others with paint flaking off the walls and sealings and black mould on some walls. There was dust on most surfaces, stains on the carpet, unfinished carpet fitting in the bathroom (carpet was missing from the step, with the underlay and grippers on show) a whole curtain rail and curtain had been ripped out of the wall in one of the bedrooms and chucked on top of the wardobe, and all other bedroom curtains didn't fit there windows, leaving gaps either side. All 3 bedrooms had very cheap and nasty bed frames, it was a case of picking the best out of a bad bunch to sleep in. On using (or trying to use) the 1 shower ij the property it was broken. We then discovered that both bath taps were broken (upstairs and downstairs) and one of the taps didn't even run into the bath, but instead it ran onto the bathroom floor. The downstairs toilet was wobbly to the point where we couldn't sit on it. Luxury coastal sent a plumber who took 3 days to resolve the shower problem and half fix the toilet, however they didn't bother fixing the two bath sinks. They also sent the cleaner back to dusk, we know this as they left the packaging for the new duster on the kitchen table for us to come home to and clean up, they also tried wiping the damp off the ceiling in the bedroom we were staying in.....which must have been a "to hard to do job" as the paint fell off, onto all of my toiletries and pyjamas and was again just left there for us to come back to, and for me to clean up. The hot tub was immaculate and the kitchen had everything you needed, with both sofas in the living room being very comfy. This property could be amazing as the property is beautiful, as are the grounds, but it needs some immediate care and attention to bring it up to scratch, especially for the price we've paid. And the location was just perfect. Luxury coastal and the owner need to revise there pricing for the property OR take it off the market whilst work is carried out to make it safe. If we hadn't spent so much to stay there then we would have left the first day and stayed somewhere else, without damp, with a functioning bathroom and with comfortable beds. Very disappointed and underwhelmed with our stay.

Llawela, 29 May 2025

Hi Llawela, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. We appreciate all comments, as they help us enhance the experience we offer our guests. Worvas Counthouse is a traditional Cornish cottage set in its own private grounds and is a recent addition to the rental market. We’re pleased to hear your comments about the location, living area, and kitchen, these elements were thoughtfully designed to reflect the charm and comfort of a classic Cornish retreat. In response to your feedback, the owner has taken several steps to make improvements. Whilst the owner initially embraced a more natural look for the gardens, we do understand your perspective and the owner has now appointed a gardener to maintain the garden on a weekly basis. The curtain rail has been securely refixed, and although this issue had not been reported prior to your arrival, they are now implementing additional checks before each guest’s stay to prevent similar oversights when damage happens. The property has also been redecorated to address the cosmetic concerns you raised. The plumber has assured us that all issues were addressed as quickly as possible during your stay, and we’ve confirmed that all plumbing issues have been resolved. The taps are freestanding by design, which allows for flexibility. Additionally, they are currently reviewing the beds to ensure they meet the high standards we aim to provide. We were grateful that you made contact during your stay and the local team were able to go in and look to rectify the situation to enable you to enjoy the rest of your stay. We also offered compensation during your stay, which was accepted, and we hope this helped to acknowledge the inconvenience and demonstrate our commitment to guest satisfaction. Thank you once again for your valuable feedback, it has been useful in helping us make changes, and we remain committed to making Worvas Counthouse a welcoming and memorable place for all our guests and to enhance its uniqueness. Best wishes, The Luxury Coastal Team

Hope - The Luxury Coastal Team

Cornish retreat
4.7/5

Lovely character property set within a wrap around garden. Very convenient location for beaches in area and St Ives.

Sherrie, 08 Mar 2025

Hi Sherrie, Thankyou for taking time to leave a review. We are glad you found the character of Worvas Counthouse lovely and found the location convenient. We would love to welcome you back in the future. Best Wishes, The Luxury Coastal Team.

Charlie - the Luxury Coastal team

Absoultely outstanding!
5/5

My partner and I absolutely loved our stay at Worvas. We used the hot tub every single night without fail and it was beautiful as we felt so secluded. The 2 fireplaces are 2 of the best fireplaces I've used. The heat that they produce is extraordinary; sitting in the lounge watching a film with a glass of red and the fire on was so cosy. The house was very clean and the kitchen was well equipped. We used the main bedroom and the bed and pillows were very comfy. It is a 5 minute drive in to the town or a 30 minute walk. There are some lovely footpaths nearby also and the hosts have left a walking guide in the welcome pack. All in all, our stay was absoultey amazing and we're already planning our next trip back!

Poppy, 04 Nov 2024

Hi Poppy, thank you for your kind words, we are delighted to hear you had an absolutely outstanding stay at Worvas Counthouse and enjoyed the hot tub. Your evenings in front of the fire with a glass of red sound like a wonderful way to end a day of walking and exploring the area and we are pleased to hear you are planning another stay there - we look forward to welcoming you back again! Best wishes, The Luxury Coastal Team.

Mary - Luxury Coastal

Wonderful stay at Worvas !
5/5

This is a beautiful property set down its own private lane with private garden. Everything was perfect for us....except the weather! We brought our dog who loved the outdoor space! The kitchen is well equipped, 2 beautiful spacious bathrooms and the 2 log burners in the living spaces made this place really cosy! Outside there is a hot tub, pond, seating areas, firepits, BBQ and festoon lighting. There is nothing about this property that we did not love! We are frequent visitors to Halsetown and love that it is just a short distance from the bustle of St Ives but far enough away to feel like you were in remote countryside. We will definitely be booking again !

Jennifer, 30 Oct 2024

Hi Jennifer, thank you for your kind words, we are delighted to hear you had a wonderful stay at Worvas Counthouse. It certainly is a wonderful property and we are pleased to hear everything was perfect - sorry we couldn't have made the weather better, but maybe next time! The owners have worked hard to make sure the house is well equipped and will be so happy to know that there was nothing you did not love. We look forward to welcoming you back again one day. Best wishes, The Luxury Coastal Team.

Mary - Luxury Coastal

Glorious Worvas
5/5

We had a fabulous stay at Worvas. We loved the serenity; hot-tub; grounds; record player; log burners ; layout just everything about the place . Beautiful walk into St.Ives and all that has to offer! Cant wait to go back .!!

Tracey Donna, 19 Oct 2024

Hi Tracey, Thank you so much for your wonderful review! Were so pleased to hear that you had a fabulous stay at Worvas Counthouse and enjoyed all the amenities, from the hot tub and log burners to the serene grounds and record player. Its great to know that the layout and the beautiful walk into St. Ives added to your experience. We cant wait to welcome you back for another memorable stay! Best wishes, The Luxury Coastal team

Hope - The Luxury Coastal Team