In the bad old days far too many Cornwall holiday cottages were sad and unappealing affairs. Furnished to the basic minimum with cast-off furniture that didn’t match. You know the kind of stuff… 1970s B&B style. Candlewick bedspreads, nylon sheets and Formica camping tables. Sticky rugs and lumpy mattresses. Chronically bad heating systems. Unreliable hot water. Old lino and hideous patterned curtains. Dirty cupboards and broken kettles. Pans with no handles. You get the picture!

Happily those days have long gone. How come? Basic economics. When demand is low, there’s very little competition. Not so long ago almost all of us flew abroad for our holidays. Today, with the economy in shreds and more people thinking ‘green’, the ‘Staycation’ is huge. Masses of us are sticking firmly to the UK for our holidays and the numbers are increasing year on year. So competition between holiday cottage owners is fierce. And as a result, standards have risen. To amazing heights!

Now staying in your average Cornwall holiday cottage is a huge pleasure. Most are beautifully presented, a real home from home. Lovely old restored and polished wood floors. Exposed beams. Attractive contemporary rugs and thick, cosy carpeting. State of the art kitchens. Hotel quality showers and bathrooms. Good artwork on the walls. Well tended gardens. Stylish settees and posh dining room furniture. Appliances that work. Nice… very nice!

It’s good to know that as well as seeing massive improvements in the quality of accommodation, the sheer number of Cornwall holidays cottages has increased in line with the hike in demand. Yes, almost every county in the UK is enjoying a livelier home-grown tourist trade than ever, whether it’s camp sites, B&Bs, hotels or holiday cottages. But Cornwall is enjoying an unprecedented tourist boom. And it isn’t confined to the summer holidays.

Staycationers don’t just come to Cornwall to lie on the beach. They lap up Cornwall holiday cottages because they provide such a great base from which to explore the county at a gentle pace. Thousands of walkers, hikers, runners, cyclists, surfers and water sports fans are due to flock to Cornwall this year to enjoy the spectacular coastline, countryside, villages, towns, attractions, historical monuments, fun parks and so on. In comfort and style. At a cost that won’t break the bank. The word on the street? Book your stylish, cosy, beautifully appointed Cornwall holiday cottage early because they’re going like hot cakes!