Welcome to West Cornwall, an ancient landscape bounded by the sea.

From its rugged moorland to spectacular coastline, bustling towns to secluded coves, this remote and beautiful part of the country has something to offer everyone.

The far west is home to world class beaches, gardens, galleries and restaurants and our properties are ideally situated for exploring everything the area has to offer, including St Michael's Mount, The Minack Theatre and St Ives.

We look forward to welcoming you,

Chris & Christen

ACCOMMODATION

Middle Colenso Farm

Set in the countryside, just a short distance from Prussia Cove, Middle Colenso Farm is the perfect location for a relaxing break.

Our three boutique holiday cottages, each with its own private garden, sleep between two and six people.

Self-catering accommodation in Penzance, Cornwall

Flat 1, The Bell Tower

Situated in the heart of Penzance, overlooking the harbour, The Bell Tower is one of the town's most historic buildings.

The flat accommodates two people. It has just undergone a major renovation and provides a stylish base for exploring vibrant Penzance and the surrounding area.

RETREATS

Fit Forever

Fit Forever is a midlife fitness retreat designed to help women find exercise and lifestyle strategies for perimenopause and beyond.

The three-day fitness retreat takes place at Middle Colenso Farm. Guests have their own private room in one of our cottages and all meals are provided.

The next retreat will take place in November.

Learn More

The Reading Party

The Reading Party is a retreat for readers, an opportunity to get away from it all and curl up with a book.

Meet fellow bookworms, explore the area or just relax and enjoy the peace and quiet.

All meals are provided so all you have to do is turn the page.

Learn More

Follow us on Instagram

Making a new batch of jam for our guests arriving this week. #jam #preserving #homepreserving #jammaking #afternoontea #cornishcreamtea #middlecolenso #host

Dreamy views from The Bell Tower today. The next availability is from 13th June. The flat also happens to be free for @penzancelitfest which is running from 1st to 5th July. The lineup is great and includes Rachel Joyce, Claire Fuller, Philip Marsden and Petroc Trelawny.
#penzance #lovepenzance #penzanceliteraryfestival #literaryfestival #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #harbourview #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #thebelltower

Did you know we have a wood-fired sauna here at Middle Colenso Farm? It's a fantastic way to relax and ease tired muscles after a surf session or a long walk on the coast path. #sauna #saunatime #saunalife #woodfiredsauna #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #middlecolensofarm #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #lieblingsquartiere

Some sunny moments from the long weekend. The gardens are looking lovely here at Middle Colenso the forecast is looking good for the next couple of weeks. We have some availability in all three cottages this month and we'd love to welcome you. Head over to the website to book your stay. #middlecolenso #cornwall #lovecornwall #cornwallholiday #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #cornwallgardens #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #lieblingsquartiere #may #springgardens

Breakfast at @flora_newyard - the perfect way to start the day. It's afavourite for us and our guests so make sure to add it to your list if you're staying with us. #floranewyard #cornwall #lovecornwall #explorecornwall #kernow #breakfast #cornwallfood #cornwallfoodanddrink

A sunny Saturday morning in the courtyard garden at Carter's Croft. What's everyone up to this long weekend?
#holidaycottage #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #cornwallholiday #outdoordining #fermob #longweekend #alfresco #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #lieblingsquartiere #middlecolenso

It's your last chance to book a stay at The Bell Tower this month. The flat is available from 10th to 15th May (three night minimum stay). Use the code BT10 at the checkout for a 10% discount.
June is also filling up fast so book now if you'd like to stay with us in sunny Penzance.
#selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #lastminutecornwall #lastminute #penzance #lovepenzance #thebelltower #kiphideaways #sawdaystravel

A little glimpse into the garden at Middle Colenso.
There's plenty of availability in The Old Granary from now into May. Smugglers Lane is next free from 27th April to 3rd May and Carter's Croft is available from 7th May.
You can find out more and book via our website.
#cornishgarden #cornwallgardens #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #gunnera #middlecolenso #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #lieblingsquartiere

It's a bit of a damp start to the Easter weekend here in the far west which makes it perfect for a lie in and a relaxed breakfast. What are your plans for the bank holiday? #bankholidayweekend #longweekend #slowstart #slowliving #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #cornishware #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #lieblingsquartiere

A late afternoon stroll around Penzance. #penzance #lovepenzance #cornwall #lovecornwall #explorecornwall #urbanwalk #townwalk

As a lover of all things Scandi, I've been a huge fan of @myscandinavianhome for ages so you can imagine how thrilled I was when Niki asked if she could feature The Bell Tower in her blog.
If you'd like to read more about the flat and some of the classic Scandinavian pieces I've included in the design, head over to My Scandinavian Home.
And if you'd like to experience it for yourself, we have some availability from tomorrow until the 17th and from the 24th April to 2nd of May. Three night minimum stay. Enter the code BT10 when booking for a 10% discount.
#scandidesign #scandiinterior #vintageinterior #midcenturymodern #børgemogensen #poulhenningsen #scandinaviandesign #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #thebelltower

The Jubilee Pool is now open for the season. While it's still a bit chilly for me to brave the water, we did stop off for a coffee this morning and it was looking glorious.
The pool is just a five-minute walk from The Bell Tower. The forecast's looking great for the next week and we have availability from Thursday if you fancy a last-minute break.
#lido #swimmingpool #jubileepool #penzance #lovepenzance #cornwall #lovecornwall #swimming #artdeco #springbreak

Don't forget you can book some time in our wood-fired sauna during your stay at Middle Colenso. It's even better paired with a Pilates or fitness session in the studio. Have a look at our website of message me for more info. #sauna #saunatime #saunalife #wellness #wellnessbreak #pilatesholiday #pilatescornwall #kiphideaways #lieblingsquartiere #sawdaystravel #middlecolenso

Definite signs of spring in the garden today. #spring #ceanothus #springgarden #cornishgarden #springshadows #walledgarden #middlecolenso

Slow Sunday mornings in The Bell Tower are the best. We love to sit in the window seats and watch the sun rise over the harbour.
We're fully booked until the end of the month but we still have some availabilty in April as well as five days in May from the 10th to 15th. You can check availabilty and book online via our website.
#selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #thebelltower #penzance #cornwall #lovecornwall #harbourview #windowseat #oldschoolhouse #vintageinterior #leachpottery #slowmoments #slowsunday #sundaymorning

Out and about on the South West Coast Path around Prussia Cove and Cudden Point. #southwestcoastpath #cornwall #lovecornwall #explorecornwall #kernow #walking #cliffwalk #walkingcornwall #ocean #prussiacove #cuddenpoint

A few highlights from The Reading Party. It's been a wonderful few days of conversation, fabulous food and, of course, reading. We also managed to tear ourselves away from our books for a tour of The Morrab Library, cliff walks and some sauna sessions.
The next retreat takes place in June so if you'd like to get away from it all, meet fellow bookworms or just immerse yourself in a good book, please do head over to the website for more information or ping me a message.
#readingretreat #readingretreats #cornwallretreat #retreat #thereadingparty #cornwall #lovecornwall #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #reading #reader #booksbooksbooks #bookstagram

It's not just about books at The Reading Party. We've been in the studio for Pilates and this afternoon we fired up the sauna for a good sweat. It was heavenly.
#sauna #saunatime #woodfiredsauna #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #wellness #middlecolenso #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways

Golden hour at Prussia Cove yesterday. #prussiacove #cornwall #lovecornwall #explorecornwall #eveninglight #eveningwalks #coast

It felt like spring was just around the corner at Godolphin yesterday. Just a 10-minute drive from Middle Colenso, this a magical place. Once the centre of one of Cornwall's great mining estates, the house is now a shadow of its former self but the still discernible lines of its medieval garden hint at its former glory.
#cornwall #visitcornwall #godolphin #godolphinhouse #countryhouse #manorhouse

Slow Sundays at The Bell Tower. If you fancy waking up here then head over to our website to book. We have some availability this month. Don't forget that we currently have a special offer for all of our properties - stay with us for four nights or more and enjoy one of those nights on us. Enter the code SPRINGFLING at the checkout. #sunday #sundaymorning #slowsunday #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #cornwallholiday #springbreak #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #thebelltower

A fresh batch of jam for our guests. #jam #jamfirst #creamtea #cornishcreamtea #selfcatering #hosting #preserves #homemade #middlecolenso

✨SPECIAL OFFER✨
Stay with us for four nights or more in March and receive one of those nights for free. Please book directly via the website. Enter the code SPRINGFLING when prompted at the checkout to take advantage of this offer and, of course, feel free to message me if you have any questions.
#springbreak #cornwallholiday #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #cornwall #lovecornwall #explorecornwall #middlecolenso

The last post in my little series about the cottages is all about our two-bedroom cottage Carter's Croft. My neighbour, whose family used to own all of the farms at Colenso, tells me it was once used to sort and bunch the flowers that were picked in the local fields.
In many ways this was the easiest of the three to renovate as it was in such a bad state when we moved in. It was so damp we had to strip it right back to the granite, allowing us to refinish it with lime.
The decor was more nautical than any of the ships Chris has sailed on and there was an extensive collection of seagulls on sticks and wooden lighthouses. I opted for a more rustic feel with exposed stone and reclaimed wood which means Carter's most closely resembles our own house.
#cottagecore #cornishcottage #modernrustic #vintageinterior #holidaylet #holidayletcornwall #midcenturymodern #myinterior #reclaimed

Today I'm talking about The Old Granary. With three bedrooms, this is the largest of our three cottages. As the name suggests, it started life as a granary and has a reverse level layout with the bedrooms and bathrooms downstairs and a large open plan kitchen, dining and living area. There's an enclosed garden with a gazebo, making it ideal for guests with children and dogs.
The vintage Ercol Grand Windsor dining table was an eBay find. Chris had to trek all the way to Portsmouth to collect it but it was worth the effort as it extends to seat up to 10 people. This is where we all gather for meals on The Reading Party and it's great if a group takes more than one cottage and would like to eat together.
I like to use reclaimed materials where I can and the floor upstairs and panelling in the twin room is made from douglas fir planks from a factory in Devon. I repurposed the floorboards from upstairs in my own house to make the fronts on the kitchen doors and drawers.
#holidaycottage #cornishcottage #selfcateringcornwall #modernrustic #vintageinterior #reclaimedinterior #ercol #vintageercol #poulhenningsen #middlecolenso

A few snaps from a recent winter wander around St Ives. My top tip for guests planning a visit is to take the train from St Erth. It's much easier than worrying about finding a parking spot in town, only takes 10 minutes and, as you can see from the last image, the view is glorious. #stives #lovestives #cornwall #visitcornwall #barbarahepworth #barbarahepworthsculpturegarden

A deserted beach and a glorious sunset. Winter can be a magical time to visit Cornwall. Head over to our website to book your stay. #winter #winterwalks #winterbreak #cornwall #lovecornwall #explorecornwall #beachwalk #staycation #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #lieblingsquartiere #middlecolenso

A slow Saturday morning in Carter's Croft. #saturdaymorning #weekendvibes #breakfastinbed #staycation #holidaylet #holidayletcornwall #cornwallholiday #modernrustic #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #middlecolenso

We did a little bit of wave watching on our walk yesterday. Now is the perfect time for stomping along the coast path or exploring Cornwall's almost deserted beaches. Warm up afterwards with a hearty pub lunch or perhaps a session in our wood-fired sauna. #winter #winterwalks #walking #cornwall #explorecornwall #kernow #prussiacove #swisbest #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways

Hello! We seem to have acquired lots of new followers recently so we thought we'd show our faces on the grid and tell you a little bit about ourselves.
Chris is now retired but spent his life working at sea. Since the 1970s he's worked on tall ships and has captained sail training vessels around the world including the UK, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong and Bermuda. He spent over a decade as captain of HMB Endeavour, the replica of Captain Cook's famous ship.
Christen worked as a journalist for over a decade before becoming a pilates teacher and personal trainer 15 years ago.
We moved to Middle Colenso Farm in early 2013. We live in the old farmhouse, which dates back to the 18th century, and run three holiday cottages in what were once the outbuildings. We have a Pilates studio on site and have recently built a wood-fired sauna.
In 2023, we added a new property to our portfolio, a flat in The Bell Tower which overlooks Penzance harbour.
We work full-time in the business, making sure that our guests' holidays are as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. Christen also runs fitness and reading retreats for those looking for something a little different.
You'll find more information on the website but please don't hesitate to message us if you have any questions.
#holidaylet #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #meetyourhost #hosts #middlecolenso #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways

Our new wood-fired sauna is the perfect way to warm up this winter. You can book your stay and a sauna session via our website #sauna #saunatime #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #winter #winterbreak #sawdaystravel #kiphideaways #lieblingsquartiere #middlecolenso

A beautiful winter's day for a train ride across the bay to visit The Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden. #barbarahepworth #barbarahepworthmuseum #sculpturegarden #stives #lovestives #cornwall #lovecornwall #trainride #scenictrainride

As 2024 draws to a close, we'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who's stayed with us either here at Middle Colenso Farm or The Bell Tower. It's been an absolute pleasure to meet so many of you.
Last year was very tough for us on a personal level but we're looking forward to a brighter 2025 and can't wait to welcome more guests to our little corner of Cornwall.
Thank you again for all of your support and very best wishes for the year ahead.
Chris & Christen
#middlecolensofarm #thebelltower #selfcatering #selfcateringcornwall #cornwall #lovecornwall #explorecornwall #kernow #cottagecore #holidaycottage #modernrustic #loftapartment #readingretreat

Happy Winter Solstice to all of our followers. We'll be cosying up by the fire but if you're in Penzance this afternoon and evening enjoy the Montol festivities. #wintersolstice #solstice #winter #stmichaelsmount #cornwall #lovecornwall #explorecornwall

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