Barn Croft, Torleven Road, Porthleven, Cornwall inc Scilly, TR13 9LZ

The Barn Croft website promises… ‘a peaceful haven in which to relax at any time of the year…. … the lawned areas outside Barn Croft can be used for meals picnics and barbeques.’

Only providing you are prepared to tolerate the family of drunks in the ‘long let’ 2 doors away fighting outside your front door, (the neighbouring property is empty although the owner sends their teenage sons round to check for damage / forced entry on a daily basis (we asked). The stench from the filthiest litter strewn bin area I have ever come across in a commercial let, (conveniently positioned below the kitchen window) A ‘garden’ the size of a handkerchief (it is the 10 x 6 foot area of grass around the table and chair in the main image on the web site. – This and a grassed kerb strip 2 foot x 6 foot adjacent to the parking space opposite the house is the limit of your ‘private’ garden area.

In terms of finish and equipment, the barn had limited kitchen utensils (many of those that were available were covered in rust), on our first day, I had to prepare our evening meal with a swiss army knife and we ate from the pan due to a lack of bowls. - The absentee landlord sent his cleaner round with an assortment of her own plates after we phoned and complained.

The bathroom walls were beginning to show their age, (mould in the corners and around the sink), kitchen was a bit tired, (20 year old fittings and fixtures). On the upside the Beds and front room furniture was comfortable though the TV was absolutely tiny.

If Barn Croft environs ever had a glory day that day is now long gone. If you do proceed with paying the landlord you hard earned cash this summer , manage your expectations well; (there are far better let’s to be found in the Porthleven / Praa sands area). At best B.C. might provide a mediocre off peak short let for a couple expecting to be out the house from dawn to dusk, but in my opinion this is not a let suitable for a young family in which security and privacy are important.

All in all a fairly ugly and dispiriting experience. The pictures you see on the website are very carefully framed (and from at least five years ago, a period in which the character and condition of the of house and it’s row has been in decline).

Caveat emptor !