The Roundhouse
Cornwall, United Kingdom
Bodrifty Farm
- Our low price promise from £175 €199 p/n
-
Roundhouse
Sleeps 2
- One super king-size bed
Not suitable for children
Not suitable for pets
Overview
The Roundhouse is genuinely unique; tranquility, the stars, the romance of sleeping in an Iron Age Roundhouse. Bodrifty Farm is a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life and to capture the spirit of a distant time, in significant comfort. Tell stories by the open fire and then spend a peaceful night tucked up in Egyptian cotton sheets, under a duck-down duvet in your handmade four-poster bed. Seize the once in a lifetime opportunity to sleep in ancient grandeur and wake to the sound of birdsong and the wind swishing through the trees. You will have exclusive use of the Treehouse during your stay at the Roundhouse, built around a living tree, which has a kitchen, sitting room and bathroom. After bathing and breakfast get ready to stroll across the moors, scattered with ancient monuments, to one of the many stunning beaches nearby.
Read more
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 4 PM - 8PM always TEXT or WhatsApp Emma your estimated arrival time the day before, as signal can be intermittent and she may not receive voicemails or phone calls. The number will be provided upon booking.
- Check out: 11 AM
- The Roundhouse is an constructed Celtic roundhouse, and like the authentic Celtic Roundhouses it does not have a chimney. Your hosts by popular demand have placed a fire bowl in the Roundhouse for your use which when first lit can make things a little smoky. While it is fine once it gets going, it may be smoky for a while. The Roundhouse does smell strongly of woodsmoke at all times . Therefore it's not suitable for children, babies or anyone allergic to or who doesn’t like the smell of smoke
- The Roundhouse is thatched so no candles or open flames are permitted
- An initial supply of firewood is supplied to get you started. Additional wood can be purchased at £15 per barrow load
- The Roundhouse has storage space for wet weather gear, wetsuits, even kayaks and surfboards
- There is car parking available by the Treehouse, please do not park on the beautiful lawn outside the Roundhouse
- The Roundhouse and Treehouse both have electricity, ow level lights and plug sockets
- Bring wellies, walking boots and torches
Sleeping arrangements
- One super king-size bed
Cooking
- Kitchen is located in the Treehouse which is separate to the Roundhouse
- Hand-built kitchen equipped with a gas hob, electric oven, kettle, toaster, an undercounted fridge and an icebox
- Crockery, glassware and cutlery for two
- Dining table with seating for two
- Weber barbecue (please bring charcoal)
Washing
- Bathroom in the Treehouse is a large walk-in rainforest shower with plenty of hot water, and a flushing toilet
- Towels, toiletries & toilet roll
Heating, lighting & bedding
- The main source of heat comes from the radiator behind the bed
- Four-poster bed with duvets and organic hand sprung mattress
- Bed linen and towels
- Underfloor heating in the Treehouse
- Hot water bottles
Entertainment
- Board games such as backgammon, cards and scrabble
- Maps
- Books
Read more
Getting there
Bodrifty Farm, Newmill, Penzance, TR20 8XT
What3Words: ///noses.firms.misty - What3Words is a new more accurate version of a postcode. This will take you directly to the front entrance so we recommend using this in your Sat Nav, but always remember to look at the owners’ directions too!
Check in time is 4pm – please always text Emma your estimated arrival time as signal can be intermittent and she may not receive voicemails or phone calls.
By train
The nearest mainline train station is Penzance, accessible directly from London Paddington. Pick-ups can be arranged or you can take a taxi from the station or you can hire a car (in advance) from Europcar who have an office at the station.
By car
The M5 and the A30 take you all the way to Penzance then follow signs first to Newmill then Bodrifty. Detailed directions will be provided upon booking.
Be wary of sat nav as it will take you to a field in the middle of nowhere. Please refer to the What3Words above.
Read more
Food & Drink
At The Roundhouse
Tea, coffee, sugar and store cupboard basics supplied but please bring fresh milk and all the other supplies that you need
Local Shops
Newlyn (5.4 miles) - a great place to do your shopping – it has a good independent cheese shop, a coffee and bottle shop, a cocktail bar, a greengrocers, a bakers, a butchers. As the main fishing port in England there’s plenty of super fresh fish and crab to be found.
Co-Op Food (4.4 miles)
Jelberts home made ice cream parlour (5.4 miles) – ask for the speciality which is vanilla with Clotted cream and a flake.
Pubs & Restaurants
The Gurnard's Head (3.5 miles) is the nearest dining pub to the Roundhouse and is a truly spectacular 10 minute drive or an hours walk away. We recommend that you ask for a table in the Bar and they can call you a taxi back to the Roundhouse if you have eaten too much to walk back!
The Tinner’s Arms (3.8 miles) is a great little pub in the beautiful village Mermaid of Zennor – worth visiting the church when you are there to see the famous Mermaid of Zennor carved on a church pew. Great stopping off point for a pint before you get back on the wildest most awe inspiring part of the South West Coast path. Top tip – the SWCP is accessed behind the Tinners Arms.
Tremenhere Kitchen at Tremenheere is one of our favourite places for breakfast or Sunday lunch. It has an interesting sculpture garden, an art gallery, an award winning nursery and is also a great place to sit outside (South facing and sunny all day long) and enjoy the views of St Michaels Mount. It’s easy to park and off the beaten track.
Porthminster café, Porthminster Beach, St Ives (6 miles). Located right on Portminster beach with stunning views of St Ives and out to Godrevy Lighthouse, and is consistently voted as Best Coastal or beachside Café. The café specialises in Mediterranean and Asian seafood cuisine and it deserves its reputation as one of the best seaside restaurants in Cornwall. Top tip: Ask for a beachside table outside.
Argoe Restaurant - a newly opened casual harbourside restaurant, serving the best of local Cornish produce. We focus on fish and seafood, caught by the fishermen whose boats we overlook here in Newlyn harbour. We take inspiration from traditional European methods of cooking and serve small plates, encouraged to be shared, accompanied by natural wines and Cornish beers on tap.
Mexico Inn Great Local pub – serving great food , beers and cocktails. Our favourite place for Sunday lunch. Located in Long Rock so a great place for a stroll on the beach to Marazion. Booking recommended
Mackeral Sky Hugely popular seafood bar on Newlyn Bridge, no bookings, just walkins. Open daily 12-9.Always a queue, but good service. All plates are taster size
Lovetts Coffee shop by day, cocktail bar and bottleshop by night wine bar/bottleshop
Origin - specialising in coffee, they also serve a variety of delicious cakes, smoothies & cheese toasties
sit in or takeaway – unreserved seating only Tues – Sat 9am-2pm
Natural, low intervention wines, cocktails, craft beer, bar snacks, cheese and charcuterie.Tues – Sat 5-10pm. Recently started doing Sunday Brunch
The Old Coastguards Hotel. Mousehole. Great place for lunch, dinner or a drink. Great views out to Mousehole island and a fantastic beer garden
Read more
Activities
At the Roundhouse
In the Summer you can eat alfresco and chill in the beautiful surroundings of the Roundhouse and the Treehouse, with nature and wildlife all around you.
Enjoy all the great walks straight from the door up through our fields to the real Iron Age Village and beyond to an awe-inspiring landscape littered with ancient monuments and which has changed very little since medieval times.
Lack of light pollution at Bodrifty Roundhouse means you can sit outside with the fire bowl and star watch for shooting stars and the Milky Way. To complete the feeling of otherworldliness, take a moonlit walk up Mulfra Hill to see the Neolithic Quoit and look across at the legendary St Michael’s Mount set in the silver waters of Mount’s Bay. Top tip: Bring a telescope!
Places to visit
Bodrifty Roundhouse is located in West Penwith which is home to some of the best beaches in the World and none are more than 15 mins away, and one very secret beach is a hike across the moors away. The Roundhouse feels isolated but is 10 mins from Penzance and 15 mins to St Ives so nothing is far.
Bodrifty Iron Age Village - Bodrifty Roundhouse is situated in West Penwith, which contains some of the best preserved and legible records of continuous human occupation of the landscape in Western Europe. Bodrifty Iron Age Village is one of the best preserved Iron Age villages in Western Europe and is of international importance. There are many other ancient monuments that are in walking distance from Bodrifty Roundhouse including the Nine Maidens, Men an Tol and the stunning Carn Galver with it’s magnificent views over the Atlantic ocean.
The Eden Project - with its world-famous biodomes and tropical regions
The Lost Gardens of Heligan - a network of magical gardens, woodland walks and farmland brimming with interest and intrigue; and with over 200 acres.
St Ives - Tate - St Ives is an Aladdin’s cave of delights from The Tate, the Leach Pottery and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden to the stunning beaches, crooked streets and Mediterranean feel. From Porthminster beach you can see Godrevy Lighthouse in St Ives Bay, the inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s ‘To The Lighthouse’.
St Michaels Mount - Marazion has a safe beach – St Michael’s Mount itself which is well worth the walk across the Causeway and a climb up to the castle. Marazion also has several galleries and cafés and a good bakery that does excellent pasties. There is a newly renovated pub called the Goldolphin which has fantastic views to the Mount.
Porthcurno – Minack theatre - Porthcurno is a fabled beach and the Minack Theatre the theatre under the stars is well worth a visit and very popular with our guests.
St Just - St Just is a proper Cornish mining town with many great places to eat and drink, and things to do. There are two good galleries, a deli, two excellent butchers and a very civilised café bookshop plus lots of pubs included the atmospheric Star Inn with a free juke box.
Trengwainton (2 miles) - known as the first established garden in the 16th Century, is very close (2 miles) and has an abundance of exotic trees and shrubs. Also worth a visit is the Tremenheere sculpture garden and the the Tremenheere Kitchen 10 mins from Bodrifty Roundhouse.
Newlyn Filmhouse - great arthouse independent cinema with a good restaurant and Bar. It has 2 screens and a no rustling policy.
Outdoor and Active
The South West Coast path - the stretch from Zennor to St Ives or the other way to St Ives is very popular with our guests.
Waters Edge - West Penwith is also known as the Land’s End Peninsula, and is at the south-west extremity of England, surrounded on three sides by the pounding waters of the Atlantic Ocean and separated from the rest of Cornwall by a low-lying isthmus at Hayle River. It feels like you are at the end of the world at the waters edge – where the land meets the sea and you will understand when you are here why so many artists have been attracted to the quality of light and the stunning surroundings.
West Penwith peninsula is a perfect and magical place to explore on foot, by bike or by car. There is lots to see and do including the beautiful towns and villages of Newlyn, Mousehole, Marazion, St Ives, Lamorna and Porthcurno all less than 10 mins away from Bodrifty Roundhouse.
Tinners Way - The Tinners’ Way footpath which is Penwith’s Neolithic Ridgeway running from St Ives to St Just is a stunning walk. There are many places to stop and it can be done in sections. It takes about half an hour to walk to The Gurnard’s Head pub from Bodrifty.
Penzance Lido - the UK’s only saltwater lodo and now also has a geothermal pool
Lands End - Is 10 minutes away and best approached from the South West Coastpath.
Surfs Up - Sennen (voted by Conde Nast as one of the world’s best beaches) has a long and highly popular beach with a very good surf school. The beach café has a great view of the sunset.
West Penwith - home to some of the world’s best beaches and is surrounded by the stunning South West coast path which makes for some stunning walks.
There is a thriving art scene in West Penwith and there are lots of galleries showcasing fine art and crafts. The Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange in Penzance are award winning venues which showcase the very best of national and international contemporary art, some of which is produced within West Cornwall. Both have free admission.
Festivals & events
Probably because of the great quality of the light, West Penwith continues to provide a source of inspiration for artists, performers, writers and photographers as the home to the Newlyn School and the artists’ community at St Ives. The area also provides inspiration for the many visitors who come to experience the distinctive landscape and settlement character, and to enjoy the wide range of recreation and access opportunities including the South West Coast Path, high-quality beaches and many water-based and artistic activities.
Golowan Festival in June is a midsummer festival in Penzance which pretty much takes over the town for 7 days of cultural mayhem.
Penzance Literary Festival in July is a festival for everyone who enjoys words. Thie 2013 line up includes Salley Vickers and Patrick Gale.
Newlyn Fish Festival is a massive celebration of all things maritime and fishy and always takes place in the last Monday in August.
Courses & classes
Probably because of the great quality of the light, West Penwith is home to many nationally and internationally renowned artists, painters, sculptors, writers and artisans. Therefore, three-day painting breaks (as featured in The Guardian, Jul 12) can be combined with stays at the Roundhouse.
The good news is that Penny, Fred and Emma know many of them and have built up a team of specialists who, by arrangement, can provide the following bespoke one-to-one tuition designed to your needs:
Landscape painting Spend a happy day sketching and drawing the landscape.
Foraging Walks Go foraging and discover the myriad flora and fauna around Bodrifty.
Archaeological tours of standing stones and other historic features of the Lands End peninsula can be arranged. There's also the opportunity to try silver and gold smithing.
Film and Photography Document your trip to the Roundhouse after learning new techniques from a Cornish-based film director or local photographer. Two of the photographers you can get one-to-one tuition with are Ian Kingsnorth who took all of the beautiful photos in the Bodrifty galleries, and Adam Gibbard, who took the dramatic images of Green Bay and Jubilee Pool in this section.
Read more
Meet your hosts
Meet Emma, Penny and Fred Mustill
They are your hosts and owners of the Bodrifty Farm which is an 100 acre organic hill farm home to rare breeds - on it’s land is Bodrifty Iron Age village, one of the most well preserved Iron Age villages built on Bronze age foundations in Western Europe. Bodrifty Roundhouse was built by Fred Mustill (and by family and friends) in 1999 to celebrate the millennium. It was opened by Time Team in 2000, to critical acclaim and has featured in many press articles including The Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian, The Independent , Archaeology Today, Lonely Planet Magazine, Esquire, The Observer and the Sunday Times.
Wildlife and Environment
There is plenty of wildlife to see/live with during your stay at the Roundhouse including kestrals, peregrine falcons and buzzards that nest in the trees and hunt above the Roundhouse.
The extensive woods at Bodrifty were planted 30 years ago and are a haven for wildlife. The arrival of the first swallows has been noted since 1976 and the moors are rich in skylarks.During your stay, you'll probably hear owls hooting and foxes barking as well as see badgers, rabbits and buzzards. A pair of fox cubs may come past, normally around 8:30pm, and eat any snacks you have left outside!
Design & history
Bodrifty Roundhouse is some 400 metres from the original Bodrifty Iron Age Settlement, on the high ground of the watershed between the Atlantic and the English Channel in the Land's End Peninsula in the far west of Cornwall. West Penwith is the first place in Britain to be mentioned in writing. This was in 325BC by an ancient Greek called Pytheas. He wrote: 'The people are friendly to strangers and from their contact with foreign merchants are civilised in their way of life.' And we would say that nothing has changed.
Celtic Britain
On the 100-acre organic farm, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are the authentic remains of an Iron Age (600BC - AD43) settlement, consisting of eight roundhouses within a low enclosing bank. All of Celtic Britain was once covered with roundhouses. They were the standard dwelling and perhaps the purest and most elegant form of architecture with their simple aerodynamic shape and economic form, which enclosed the largest space for the least use of materials. Strangely, they were rare in the rest of Europe.
Celtic Britons lived in roundhouses with predominately granite walls and conical thatched roofs. The earlier houses are small with doorways facing south west; the larger, later houses have doorways facing south east, towards the sun but away from the prevailing winds. Fragments of banks, thought to be walls of gardens or animal pens, are attached to some houses. The surrounding enclosure wall was built to protect their cattle and sheep. Bodrifty site was excavated in the 1950s and a wider area was surveyed in 1985. Further details are available in the book collection.
Area of Outsatnding Natural Beauty
Bodrifty is an organic farm and nature reserve (home to a herd of Belted Galloway) with a central ethos of low impact sustainable living coupled with with maximum sensitivity to the natural environment. Recycling and composting systems are well established and we encourage you to leave only your footprints. Bodrifty Farm has an impressive organic market garden that supplies vegetables, herbs and salad to the Roundhouse and farmhouse, as well as a number of local restaurants including the award-winning Gurnard's Head and the up-and-coming Coldstreamer Inn. Bodrifty and the surrounding area has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an Environmentally Sensitive Area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the organic farm is home to a herd of rare breed Belted Galloways.
Read more
-
Overview
The Roundhouse is genuinely unique; tranquility, the stars, the romance of sleeping in an Iron Age Roundhouse. Bodrifty Farm is a wonderful place to escape the hustle and bustle of modern life and to capture the spirit of a distant time, in significant comfort. Tell stories by the open fire and then spend a peaceful night tucked up in Egyptian cotton sheets, under a duck-down duvet in your handmade four-poster bed. Seize the once in a lifetime opportunity to sleep in ancient grandeur and wake to the sound of birdsong and the wind swishing through the trees. You will have exclusive use of the Treehouse during your stay at the Roundhouse, built around a living tree, which has a kitchen, sitting room and bathroom. After bathing and breakfast get ready to stroll across the moors, scattered with ancient monuments, to one of the many stunning beaches nearby.
Read more
-
Essentials
The important stuff
- Check in: 4 PM - 8PM always TEXT or WhatsApp Emma your estimated arrival time the day before, as signal can be intermittent and she may not receive voicemails or phone calls. The number will be provided upon booking.
- Check out: 11 AM
- The Roundhouse is an constructed Celtic roundhouse, and like the authentic Celtic Roundhouses it does not have a chimney. Your hosts by popular demand have placed a fire bowl in the Roundhouse for your use which when first lit can make things a little smoky. While it is fine once it gets going, it may be smoky for a while. The Roundhouse does smell strongly of woodsmoke at all times . Therefore it's not suitable for children, babies or anyone allergic to or who doesn’t like the smell of smoke
- The Roundhouse is thatched so no candles or open flames are permitted
- An initial supply of firewood is supplied to get you started. Additional wood can be purchased at £15 per barrow load
- The Roundhouse has storage space for wet weather gear, wetsuits, even kayaks and surfboards
- There is car parking available by the Treehouse, please do not park on the beautiful lawn outside the Roundhouse
- The Roundhouse and Treehouse both have electricity, ow level lights and plug sockets
- Bring wellies, walking boots and torches
Sleeping arrangements
- One super king-size bed
Cooking
- Kitchen is located in the Treehouse which is separate to the Roundhouse
- Hand-built kitchen equipped with a gas hob, electric oven, kettle, toaster, an undercounted fridge and an icebox
- Crockery, glassware and cutlery for two
- Dining table with seating for two
- Weber barbecue (please bring charcoal)
Washing
- Bathroom in the Treehouse is a large walk-in rainforest shower with plenty of hot water, and a flushing toilet
- Towels, toiletries & toilet roll
Heating, lighting & bedding
- The main source of heat comes from the radiator behind the bed
- Four-poster bed with duvets and organic hand sprung mattress
- Bed linen and towels
- Underfloor heating in the Treehouse
- Hot water bottles
Entertainment
- Board games such as backgammon, cards and scrabble
- Maps
- Books
-
Location
Getting there
Bodrifty Farm, Newmill, Penzance, TR20 8XT
What3Words: ///noses.firms.misty - What3Words is a new more accurate version of a postcode. This will take you directly to the front entrance so we recommend using this in your Sat Nav, but always remember to look at the owners’ directions too!
Check in time is 4pm – please always text Emma your estimated arrival time as signal can be intermittent and she may not receive voicemails or phone calls.
By train
The nearest mainline train station is Penzance, accessible directly from London Paddington. Pick-ups can be arranged or you can take a taxi from the station or you can hire a car (in advance) from Europcar who have an office at the station.
By car
The M5 and the A30 take you all the way to Penzance then follow signs first to Newmill then Bodrifty. Detailed directions will be provided upon booking.
Be wary of sat nav as it will take you to a field in the middle of nowhere. Please refer to the What3Words above.
-
Food & Drink
At The Roundhouse
Tea, coffee, sugar and store cupboard basics supplied but please bring fresh milk and all the other supplies that you need
Local Shops
Newlyn (5.4 miles) - a great place to do your shopping – it has a good independent cheese shop, a coffee and bottle shop, a cocktail bar, a greengrocers, a bakers, a butchers. As the main fishing port in England there’s plenty of super fresh fish and crab to be found.
Co-Op Food (4.4 miles)
Jelberts home made ice cream parlour (5.4 miles) – ask for the speciality which is vanilla with Clotted cream and a flake.
Pubs & Restaurants
The Gurnard's Head (3.5 miles) is the nearest dining pub to the Roundhouse and is a truly spectacular 10 minute drive or an hours walk away. We recommend that you ask for a table in the Bar and they can call you a taxi back to the Roundhouse if you have eaten too much to walk back!
The Tinner’s Arms (3.8 miles) is a great little pub in the beautiful village Mermaid of Zennor – worth visiting the church when you are there to see the famous Mermaid of Zennor carved on a church pew. Great stopping off point for a pint before you get back on the wildest most awe inspiring part of the South West Coast path. Top tip – the SWCP is accessed behind the Tinners Arms.
Tremenhere Kitchen at Tremenheere is one of our favourite places for breakfast or Sunday lunch. It has an interesting sculpture garden, an art gallery, an award winning nursery and is also a great place to sit outside (South facing and sunny all day long) and enjoy the views of St Michaels Mount. It’s easy to park and off the beaten track.
Porthminster café, Porthminster Beach, St Ives (6 miles). Located right on Portminster beach with stunning views of St Ives and out to Godrevy Lighthouse, and is consistently voted as Best Coastal or beachside Café. The café specialises in Mediterranean and Asian seafood cuisine and it deserves its reputation as one of the best seaside restaurants in Cornwall. Top tip: Ask for a beachside table outside.
Argoe Restaurant - a newly opened casual harbourside restaurant, serving the best of local Cornish produce. We focus on fish and seafood, caught by the fishermen whose boats we overlook here in Newlyn harbour. We take inspiration from traditional European methods of cooking and serve small plates, encouraged to be shared, accompanied by natural wines and Cornish beers on tap.
Mexico Inn Great Local pub – serving great food , beers and cocktails. Our favourite place for Sunday lunch. Located in Long Rock so a great place for a stroll on the beach to Marazion. Booking recommended
Mackeral Sky Hugely popular seafood bar on Newlyn Bridge, no bookings, just walkins. Open daily 12-9.Always a queue, but good service. All plates are taster size
Lovetts Coffee shop by day, cocktail bar and bottleshop by night wine bar/bottleshop
Origin - specialising in coffee, they also serve a variety of delicious cakes, smoothies & cheese toasties
sit in or takeaway – unreserved seating only Tues – Sat 9am-2pm
Natural, low intervention wines, cocktails, craft beer, bar snacks, cheese and charcuterie.Tues – Sat 5-10pm. Recently started doing Sunday Brunch
The Old Coastguards Hotel. Mousehole. Great place for lunch, dinner or a drink. Great views out to Mousehole island and a fantastic beer garden
-
Experiences
At the Roundhouse
In the Summer you can eat alfresco and chill in the beautiful surroundings of the Roundhouse and the Treehouse, with nature and wildlife all around you.
Enjoy all the great walks straight from the door up through our fields to the real Iron Age Village and beyond to an awe-inspiring landscape littered with ancient monuments and which has changed very little since medieval times.
Lack of light pollution at Bodrifty Roundhouse means you can sit outside with the fire bowl and star watch for shooting stars and the Milky Way. To complete the feeling of otherworldliness, take a moonlit walk up Mulfra Hill to see the Neolithic Quoit and look across at the legendary St Michael’s Mount set in the silver waters of Mount’s Bay. Top tip: Bring a telescope!
Places to visit
Bodrifty Roundhouse is located in West Penwith which is home to some of the best beaches in the World and none are more than 15 mins away, and one very secret beach is a hike across the moors away. The Roundhouse feels isolated but is 10 mins from Penzance and 15 mins to St Ives so nothing is far.
Bodrifty Iron Age Village - Bodrifty Roundhouse is situated in West Penwith, which contains some of the best preserved and legible records of continuous human occupation of the landscape in Western Europe. Bodrifty Iron Age Village is one of the best preserved Iron Age villages in Western Europe and is of international importance. There are many other ancient monuments that are in walking distance from Bodrifty Roundhouse including the Nine Maidens, Men an Tol and the stunning Carn Galver with it’s magnificent views over the Atlantic ocean.
The Eden Project - with its world-famous biodomes and tropical regions
The Lost Gardens of Heligan - a network of magical gardens, woodland walks and farmland brimming with interest and intrigue; and with over 200 acres.
St Ives - Tate - St Ives is an Aladdin’s cave of delights from The Tate, the Leach Pottery and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden to the stunning beaches, crooked streets and Mediterranean feel. From Porthminster beach you can see Godrevy Lighthouse in St Ives Bay, the inspiration for Virginia Woolf’s ‘To The Lighthouse’.
St Michaels Mount - Marazion has a safe beach – St Michael’s Mount itself which is well worth the walk across the Causeway and a climb up to the castle. Marazion also has several galleries and cafés and a good bakery that does excellent pasties. There is a newly renovated pub called the Goldolphin which has fantastic views to the Mount.
Porthcurno – Minack theatre - Porthcurno is a fabled beach and the Minack Theatre the theatre under the stars is well worth a visit and very popular with our guests.
St Just - St Just is a proper Cornish mining town with many great places to eat and drink, and things to do. There are two good galleries, a deli, two excellent butchers and a very civilised café bookshop plus lots of pubs included the atmospheric Star Inn with a free juke box.
Trengwainton (2 miles) - known as the first established garden in the 16th Century, is very close (2 miles) and has an abundance of exotic trees and shrubs. Also worth a visit is the Tremenheere sculpture garden and the the Tremenheere Kitchen 10 mins from Bodrifty Roundhouse.
Newlyn Filmhouse - great arthouse independent cinema with a good restaurant and Bar. It has 2 screens and a no rustling policy.
Outdoor and Active
The South West Coast path - the stretch from Zennor to St Ives or the other way to St Ives is very popular with our guests.
Waters Edge - West Penwith is also known as the Land’s End Peninsula, and is at the south-west extremity of England, surrounded on three sides by the pounding waters of the Atlantic Ocean and separated from the rest of Cornwall by a low-lying isthmus at Hayle River. It feels like you are at the end of the world at the waters edge – where the land meets the sea and you will understand when you are here why so many artists have been attracted to the quality of light and the stunning surroundings.
West Penwith peninsula is a perfect and magical place to explore on foot, by bike or by car. There is lots to see and do including the beautiful towns and villages of Newlyn, Mousehole, Marazion, St Ives, Lamorna and Porthcurno all less than 10 mins away from Bodrifty Roundhouse.
Tinners Way - The Tinners’ Way footpath which is Penwith’s Neolithic Ridgeway running from St Ives to St Just is a stunning walk. There are many places to stop and it can be done in sections. It takes about half an hour to walk to The Gurnard’s Head pub from Bodrifty.
Penzance Lido - the UK’s only saltwater lodo and now also has a geothermal pool
Lands End - Is 10 minutes away and best approached from the South West Coastpath.
Surfs Up - Sennen (voted by Conde Nast as one of the world’s best beaches) has a long and highly popular beach with a very good surf school. The beach café has a great view of the sunset.
West Penwith - home to some of the world’s best beaches and is surrounded by the stunning South West coast path which makes for some stunning walks.
There is a thriving art scene in West Penwith and there are lots of galleries showcasing fine art and crafts. The Newlyn Art Gallery and The Exchange in Penzance are award winning venues which showcase the very best of national and international contemporary art, some of which is produced within West Cornwall. Both have free admission.
Festivals & events
Probably because of the great quality of the light, West Penwith continues to provide a source of inspiration for artists, performers, writers and photographers as the home to the Newlyn School and the artists’ community at St Ives. The area also provides inspiration for the many visitors who come to experience the distinctive landscape and settlement character, and to enjoy the wide range of recreation and access opportunities including the South West Coast Path, high-quality beaches and many water-based and artistic activities.
Golowan Festival in June is a midsummer festival in Penzance which pretty much takes over the town for 7 days of cultural mayhem.
Penzance Literary Festival in July is a festival for everyone who enjoys words. Thie 2013 line up includes Salley Vickers and Patrick Gale.
Newlyn Fish Festival is a massive celebration of all things maritime and fishy and always takes place in the last Monday in August.
Courses & classes
Probably because of the great quality of the light, West Penwith is home to many nationally and internationally renowned artists, painters, sculptors, writers and artisans. Therefore, three-day painting breaks (as featured in The Guardian, Jul 12) can be combined with stays at the Roundhouse.
The good news is that Penny, Fred and Emma know many of them and have built up a team of specialists who, by arrangement, can provide the following bespoke one-to-one tuition designed to your needs:
Landscape painting Spend a happy day sketching and drawing the landscape.
Foraging Walks Go foraging and discover the myriad flora and fauna around Bodrifty.
Archaeological tours of standing stones and other historic features of the Lands End peninsula can be arranged. There's also the opportunity to try silver and gold smithing.
Film and Photography Document your trip to the Roundhouse after learning new techniques from a Cornish-based film director or local photographer. Two of the photographers you can get one-to-one tuition with are Ian Kingsnorth who took all of the beautiful photos in the Bodrifty galleries, and Adam Gibbard, who took the dramatic images of Green Bay and Jubilee Pool in this section.
-
Your Hosts
Meet Emma, Penny and Fred Mustill
They are your hosts and owners of the Bodrifty Farm which is an 100 acre organic hill farm home to rare breeds - on it’s land is Bodrifty Iron Age village, one of the most well preserved Iron Age villages built on Bronze age foundations in Western Europe. Bodrifty Roundhouse was built by Fred Mustill (and by family and friends) in 1999 to celebrate the millennium. It was opened by Time Team in 2000, to critical acclaim and has featured in many press articles including The Telegraph, The Times, The Guardian, The Independent , Archaeology Today, Lonely Planet Magazine, Esquire, The Observer and the Sunday Times.
Wildlife and Environment
There is plenty of wildlife to see/live with during your stay at the Roundhouse including kestrals, peregrine falcons and buzzards that nest in the trees and hunt above the Roundhouse.
The extensive woods at Bodrifty were planted 30 years ago and are a haven for wildlife. The arrival of the first swallows has been noted since 1976 and the moors are rich in skylarks.During your stay, you'll probably hear owls hooting and foxes barking as well as see badgers, rabbits and buzzards. A pair of fox cubs may come past, normally around 8:30pm, and eat any snacks you have left outside!
Design & history
Bodrifty Roundhouse is some 400 metres from the original Bodrifty Iron Age Settlement, on the high ground of the watershed between the Atlantic and the English Channel in the Land's End Peninsula in the far west of Cornwall. West Penwith is the first place in Britain to be mentioned in writing. This was in 325BC by an ancient Greek called Pytheas. He wrote: 'The people are friendly to strangers and from their contact with foreign merchants are civilised in their way of life.' And we would say that nothing has changed.
Celtic Britain
On the 100-acre organic farm, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are the authentic remains of an Iron Age (600BC - AD43) settlement, consisting of eight roundhouses within a low enclosing bank. All of Celtic Britain was once covered with roundhouses. They were the standard dwelling and perhaps the purest and most elegant form of architecture with their simple aerodynamic shape and economic form, which enclosed the largest space for the least use of materials. Strangely, they were rare in the rest of Europe.
Celtic Britons lived in roundhouses with predominately granite walls and conical thatched roofs. The earlier houses are small with doorways facing south west; the larger, later houses have doorways facing south east, towards the sun but away from the prevailing winds. Fragments of banks, thought to be walls of gardens or animal pens, are attached to some houses. The surrounding enclosure wall was built to protect their cattle and sheep. Bodrifty site was excavated in the 1950s and a wider area was surveyed in 1985. Further details are available in the book collection.
Area of Outsatnding Natural Beauty
Bodrifty is an organic farm and nature reserve (home to a herd of Belted Galloway) with a central ethos of low impact sustainable living coupled with with maximum sensitivity to the natural environment. Recycling and composting systems are well established and we encourage you to leave only your footprints. Bodrifty Farm has an impressive organic market garden that supplies vegetables, herbs and salad to the Roundhouse and farmhouse, as well as a number of local restaurants including the award-winning Gurnard's Head and the up-and-coming Coldstreamer Inn. Bodrifty and the surrounding area has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, an Environmentally Sensitive Area and a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the organic farm is home to a herd of rare breed Belted Galloways.
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Reviews
Our guests say...
Rae
I surprised my partner to a couple of nights away in this fantastic property; I wanted to find somewhere unique, spiritual and well-positioned to explore deepest Cornwall. The Roundhouse was perfect!
17/06/2024Russell
We had a wonderful unique experience staying in the magical roundhouse at Penzance. Emma was so friendly and helpful on text. We had everything we needed, and felt at home in nature.
25/05/2024Gemma
Fabulous! Perfect break to get away from work and general humdrum of life. Great setting, perfect host and facilities. The roundhouse was amazing and everything we needed was just a few steps away in the tree house, including plenty of hot water. Sitting around the fire pit in the evening was lovely and the heated mattress topper on the bed, a game changer! Short walk to the iron age settlement on the ridge was really worthwhile. We were completely left alone to enjoy the tranquility but Emma the host was only a whatsapp away if we needed anything and was very attentive.
04/05/2024Nikki
Amazing, magical place. Excellent hosts
17/09/2023Chris
Our stay was absolutely fabulous! A unique and special venue, tucked away and (almost!) completely off grid. The Roundhouse is a work of art. Very cosy too! Our hosts were brilliant, provided really helpful local recommendations. Could not recommend The Roundhouse enough! Wish we’d stayed for longer!
12/07/2023Laura
My stay on Bodrifty Farm was truly delightful. Emma was a great communicator and her parents, Penny and Fred, were very welcoming. The farm was a lovely rest from the chaos of life whilst being interesting in relation to learning about life in the Iron Age. Everything I needed was supplied. I can honestly recommend a stay in The Roundhouse.
13/06/2023Fiona
Magical. The Roundhouse was cosy, the thatch is completely watertight but you can still hear the birds outside (owls at night, crows all day). The Roundhouse stands in its own private enclosure, but the Mustill's farmhouse is a few yards away and they are the perfect hosts - came up to welcome us, told us to drop in if we needed anything but left us in peace. The bed looks primitive and feels fantastic - a mattress just soft enough to be comfortable, firm enough to rest on. It really felt like living in the woods (but with all the glamping comforts!)
08/06/2023Julie
Unbelievably peaceful, beautiful, unique. Super comfortable, little luxuries and thoughtful touches.
17/03/2023Anna
Loved our stay in the roundhouse! A really unusual place to stay, very magical with wonderful hosts and the comfiest bed ever!
31/08/2022Rhi
We had an awesome two nights at The Roundhouse and slept so so so well. I loved the contrast between the authentic roundhouse and the modern treehouse with great facilities.
01/07/2022Kerry
Wonderful and atmospheric stay at the round house. The treehouse is a great little space too. We walked up to see the historical village, about 5 mins away, at sunset and it was fantastic to see.
03/06/2022Tanya
The roundhouse is absolutely special.....the most atmospheric place we have ever stayed. Bodrifty settlement is a further jewel in the crown. Our host Penny was a joy with nothing too much trouble, attention to detail and welcome pack a nice surprise, and the bed provided us with the best nights sleep ever.
29/05/2022Clare
Great location, the email with careful directions was really helpful. We were greeted warmly and were made to feel very welcome. The accommodation was totally unique and charming. We were ideally situated for all the places we wanted to visit, it was a wonderful escape. Emma kept us updated and provide good recommendations of places to eat and to visit. The wine, cream tea and goodies were a very nice welcome. On the last day Emma asked for our home address so she could send a book as a present that featured our accommodation.
16/05/2022David
Absolutely magical - thanks so much!
27/12/2021Ruth
A wonderful and unique stay.
11/09/2019Nat
We saw this property and noticed that it was free on the weekend that we had free. As an imitation Celtic roundhouse, it offered us a chance to get back to basics a little. And the building itself looked (and was!) beautiful. We booked in and planned a trip around some Cornish highlights. The roundhouse was perfect, as even though it had electricity, we didn't have WI-FI, so we were able to turn all of our electrics and disconnect. It was excellent. We took our telescope with us to view the night sky and were not disappointed. The lack of light pollution made the view fantastic.
06/09/2019Sacha
wonderful setting, amazing hosts and peaceful location.
05/07/2019Imran
A very special place, especially if you have an interest in pre-history
14/06/2019David
We had the most wonderful stay. We slept so well in the beautiful bed and kept warm by the fire in the most beautiful surroundings. We would definitely stay again!
25/10/2018Harriet
We loved everything about our stay. The owners have created something really magical. Especially appreciated the mix of timeless simplicity and also having 21st century comforts to hand (a great kitchen and excellent shower). Have to mention: BEST BED EVER! Super comfortable :-) and being immersed in nature felt so relaxing, healing in fact :-)
10/10/2018Guy
Beautiful, magical space.
01/09/2018Liz
The Roundhouse is a wonderful spot for a romantic getaway - tremendously atmospheric and cosy, we were comfortable despite the monsoon. Our hosts were helpful, but not intrusive, and gave us a few ideas of what to do while there which we appreciated hugely. I'd heartily recommend this place as a couple's escape.
27/07/2018Caroline
Had a brilliant short stay in a brilliant place
29/10/2017Stephen
This place was simply perfect. Everything we wanted, didn't need to ask for anything extra as everything was thought of, they even thought about leaving marshmallows for toasting over the open fire. We felt completely at ease in this magical setting. Felt like we stepped back in time. Thank you so much!!!!!
06/10/2017Pip
The roundhouse is a beautiful, peaceful and relaxing place to stay. It was just what we needed for a week-end break, a stay-cation as we live only a 30 minute drive away.
15/09/2017Stacey
Wonderful! We adored the roundhouse and tree house and would like to return at some point in the future. It had exactly the atmosphere we were looking for and all three of us enjoyed our stay immensely.
03/09/2017Louise
Absolutely magical! The Roundhouse was pretty special.
25/07/2017Sanphy
I booked this as a surprise for my husband after we got married in Cornwall for our 'minimoon' We had had such a hectic lead up to our wedding I wanted somewhere very chilled, secluded away from everyone and something different so he would be blown away!
04/09/2016Samantha
Magical experience which matched expectations . Our five year old slept in the hammock all night and loved the experience as much as us. Thank you
01/09/2016Kirsty
The Roundhouse was magical beyond words; from the moment we arrived it felt other worldly and put us at peace. The setting is quite spectacular and the sense of being in nature - while having access to an excellent shower and kitchen - is unrivalled in my experiences thus far. The surrounding areas are breathtaking and served only to further enhance the feeling that we were staying somewhere truly special. We took a stunning costal car drive to nearby St. Ives and ended the stay with a boat trip to Seal Island where we saw dolphins too!
13/05/2016Dave
We had the most wonderful time away at the roundhouse in the peace and quiet. We spent evenings by the fire listening to owls and felt like a King and Queen sleeping in an amazing 4 poster bed that was on another comfort level. Evenings were spent making conversation, without WiFi and mobile phones and we managed to get lost in our books. Thoroughly recommend it for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life!
17/10/2015Nina
"YES. Oh so much. The roundhouse is such a unique place to stay and a real experience. The fresh flowers and all the little touches made the holiday!! It was perfect (apart from the rain) and we'd definitely go back again! So so impressed!!"
27/08/2014Ami
"I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. It was very peaceful and a very very welcome break and chance to recharge. As an active and working, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and daughter, I have a large family who need support, comfort, advice and help in equal measure. There is always someone needing something and this 3 day break was a bit of me-time that I would not have taken for myself. Visiting nearby Newlyn and eating fresh caught fish in a working fishing port, watching a seal play and eat a fish while fighting off the seagulls trying to pinch his dinner, watching the smoke filter through the thatch roof of the Roundhouse creating a misty magical sight, sitting in the place that would have been the bed in the ruins of the real Iron Age settlement roundhouse a short walk from the replica we stayed in, these are all highlights of my stay and there are many more. We would highly recommend The Bodryfty Roundhouse as it is a unique experience but with creature comforts added."
06/08/2014Barbara
"We wanted something memorable and different and it didn't disappoint! It was totally unique - peaceful and magical. The owner was informal, friendly and very helpful about the surrounding area and where to walk. The Tree House was just what we needed to add the modern conveniences where necessary! We have shown all our friends the photos and, without exception, they were all amazed and envious in equal measure! Thanks for a fantastic holiday!"
27/07/2014Ann
"An amazing experience which we will never forget. The architecture was amazing and the fittings really added to the authentic atmosphere using cow hides, fire pits and timbers and twine. A lovely owner who added some nice touches for our stay but left us to it once we touched down. We had lovely weather but you almost want it to rain to see experience the sounds and how the thatched roof handles the elements."
20/07/2014Daniel
"Surpassed expectations which is always nice! No normal hotel will ever cut the mustard from now on!"
04/07/2014Jessica
"This was a birthday gift for my boyfriend and, even on day 3, was he still shaking his head and saying he couldn't believe we were staying in a iron-age roundhouse. It was such a unique place to stay - I doubt we'll ever match it."
26/06/2014Donna
"It was fantastic! The roundhouse was HUGE, and the treehouse annex nearby was perfect for cooking and washing in. It was a lovely mixture of 'roughing it' and pampering. We had so much fun lighting the fire bowl every night, and tucking into our giant, cozy bed. The lady who owned the farm even lent us hot water bottles to keep our feet warm. During the day, we were free to wander over the fields. There are some beautiful bits of coast in walking distance."
01/05/2014Jacqueline
"Loved it still buzzing from it. We long for a simpler life without the nonsense of modern living that we all have to deal with. We've returned feeling energised and reconnected with our roots."
21/09/2013Chelsea
"Our stay was the most amazing, chilling experience we've had. Not only being away from everything, and I mean everything including light pollution at night, but sharing our space with nature and history. We were a couple of fields away from the most amazing remains of an iron age settlement, untouched and on the top of the moors, leaving you with the eerie feeling of being in another time. The best thing was the peace, quiet and the history. Nothing bad at all."
12/07/2013Nicola
"We had a wonderful time. The bed was amazing, the cooking and washing facilities were as good as 4 or 5 star hotel. Everything was excellent and the worst thing was having to leave."
08/07/2013Lucy
"It was perfect. My girlfriend and I really enjoyed our stay in the Roundhouse. We were delighted to see the facilities in the adjoining 'Treehouse' hut (bathroom/kitchen/living room). The Bodrifty Farm/Roundhouse owner - Penny - made us feel very welcome, and provided us with fresh herbs and vegetables, as well as the soya milk we specifically requested! The Roundhouse was a very atmospheric and beautiful place in which to sleep. The big, cosy 4 poster bed was delightful - especially as the nights were quite chilly. The fire pit also lent to the atmosphere, and I enjoyed the challenge of keeping the fire alive and warming up the space. All guidance leading up to the stay was great. The welcome pack, the directions, everything really!"
24/06/2013Ian
"Loved it, the setting was beautiful the hosts very friendly. Really different experience, fresh flowers and wine in the fridge was a really nice touch"
31/05/2013Emma
"The roundhouse was an amazing experience, in a great location. A gorgeous, comfortable bed, great fire-pit and amazing starry skyline at night"
14/09/2012Simon
"Loved it, really didn't want to return to the real world! The wonderful wonderful bed and real fire. Long walks to superb pubs.The seclusion, mainly rabbits and foxes for company"
13/07/2012Karren
"It was fun and adventurous at the same time. Good weather a huge advantage on this break as a trip to the bathroom at 3am was a magical experience with the stars you could see as there is no light pollution. Loved lighting the fire and seeing the smoke appear through the thatch."
17/06/2012Michael
"thoroughly enjoyed our stay, it was very magical and incredibly relaxing"
08/03/2012Hayley
We love to stay in odd, eccentric or historic buildings and have previously been in castles, Gothick summerhouses, towers, fairytale cottages and, most recently, a windmill. But we have never, ever, EVER stayed in a place as magical as The Roundhouse.
25/09/2011A&P
It's one thing to have the skill and knowledge, but I think it was imagination and a vision that really built the Roundhouse. That's what made our stay special, to be an appreciative part of someone's dream, who re-tied the knot between us and our country's history.
19/06/2011Lynne & Mark
The roundhouse is INCREDIBLE. Location was perfect. High on the moors, very private but close enough to civilisation and, very importantly for us, surf. Authentic, raw, natural and filled with a very welcoming 'energy'... The BED. Oh, the bed. What a bloody lovely bed.
09/07/2010Holly
Reviews
An incredible tranquil place to stay. We loved the round house. It is beautiful surrounded by nature. Very comfortable.
24/08/2024Rae
I surprised my partner to a couple of nights away in this fantastic property; I wanted to find somewhere unique, spiritual and well-positioned to explore deepest Cornwall. The Roundhouse was perfect!
17/06/2024Russell
We had a wonderful unique experience staying in the magical roundhouse at Penzance. Emma was so friendly and helpful on text. We had everything we needed, and felt at home in nature.
25/05/2024Gemma
Fabulous! Perfect break to get away from work and general humdrum of life. Great setting, perfect host and facilities. The roundhouse was amazing and everything we needed was just a few steps away in the tree house, including plenty of hot water. Sitting around the fire pit in the evening was lovely and the heated mattress topper on the bed, a game changer! Short walk to the iron age settlement on the ridge was really worthwhile. We were completely left alone to enjoy the tranquility but Emma the host was only a whatsapp away if we needed anything and was very attentive.
04/05/2024Nikki
Amazing, magical place. Excellent hosts
17/09/2023Chris
Our stay was absolutely fabulous! A unique and special venue, tucked away and (almost!) completely off grid. The Roundhouse is a work of art. Very cosy too! Our hosts were brilliant, provided really helpful local recommendations. Could not recommend The Roundhouse enough! Wish we’d stayed for longer!
12/07/2023Laura
My stay on Bodrifty Farm was truly delightful. Emma was a great communicator and her parents, Penny and Fred, were very welcoming. The farm was a lovely rest from the chaos of life whilst being interesting in relation to learning about life in the Iron Age. Everything I needed was supplied. I can honestly recommend a stay in The Roundhouse.
13/06/2023Fiona
Magical. The Roundhouse was cosy, the thatch is completely watertight but you can still hear the birds outside (owls at night, crows all day). The Roundhouse stands in its own private enclosure, but the Mustill's farmhouse is a few yards away and they are the perfect hosts - came up to welcome us, told us to drop in if we needed anything but left us in peace. The bed looks primitive and feels fantastic - a mattress just soft enough to be comfortable, firm enough to rest on. It really felt like living in the woods (but with all the glamping comforts!)
08/06/2023Julie
Unbelievably peaceful, beautiful, unique. Super comfortable, little luxuries and thoughtful touches.
17/03/2023Anna
Loved our stay in the roundhouse! A really unusual place to stay, very magical with wonderful hosts and the comfiest bed ever!
31/08/2022Rhi
We had an awesome two nights at The Roundhouse and slept so so so well. I loved the contrast between the authentic roundhouse and the modern treehouse with great facilities.
01/07/2022Kerry
Wonderful and atmospheric stay at the round house. The treehouse is a great little space too. We walked up to see the historical village, about 5 mins away, at sunset and it was fantastic to see.
03/06/2022Tanya
The roundhouse is absolutely special.....the most atmospheric place we have ever stayed. Bodrifty settlement is a further jewel in the crown. Our host Penny was a joy with nothing too much trouble, attention to detail and welcome pack a nice surprise, and the bed provided us with the best nights sleep ever.
29/05/2022Clare
Great location, the email with careful directions was really helpful. We were greeted warmly and were made to feel very welcome. The accommodation was totally unique and charming. We were ideally situated for all the places we wanted to visit, it was a wonderful escape. Emma kept us updated and provide good recommendations of places to eat and to visit. The wine, cream tea and goodies were a very nice welcome. On the last day Emma asked for our home address so she could send a book as a present that featured our accommodation.
16/05/2022David
Absolutely magical - thanks so much!
27/12/2021Ruth
A wonderful and unique stay.
11/09/2019Nat
We saw this property and noticed that it was free on the weekend that we had free. As an imitation Celtic roundhouse, it offered us a chance to get back to basics a little. And the building itself looked (and was!) beautiful. We booked in and planned a trip around some Cornish highlights. The roundhouse was perfect, as even though it had electricity, we didn't have WI-FI, so we were able to turn all of our electrics and disconnect. It was excellent. We took our telescope with us to view the night sky and were not disappointed. The lack of light pollution made the view fantastic.
06/09/2019Sacha
wonderful setting, amazing hosts and peaceful location.
05/07/2019Imran
A very special place, especially if you have an interest in pre-history
14/06/2019David
We had the most wonderful stay. We slept so well in the beautiful bed and kept warm by the fire in the most beautiful surroundings. We would definitely stay again!
25/10/2018Harriet
We loved everything about our stay. The owners have created something really magical. Especially appreciated the mix of timeless simplicity and also having 21st century comforts to hand (a great kitchen and excellent shower). Have to mention: BEST BED EVER! Super comfortable :-) and being immersed in nature felt so relaxing, healing in fact :-)
10/10/2018Guy
Beautiful, magical space.
01/09/2018Liz
The Roundhouse is a wonderful spot for a romantic getaway - tremendously atmospheric and cosy, we were comfortable despite the monsoon. Our hosts were helpful, but not intrusive, and gave us a few ideas of what to do while there which we appreciated hugely. I'd heartily recommend this place as a couple's escape.
27/07/2018Caroline
Had a brilliant short stay in a brilliant place
29/10/2017Stephen
This place was simply perfect. Everything we wanted, didn't need to ask for anything extra as everything was thought of, they even thought about leaving marshmallows for toasting over the open fire. We felt completely at ease in this magical setting. Felt like we stepped back in time. Thank you so much!!!!!
06/10/2017Pip
The roundhouse is a beautiful, peaceful and relaxing place to stay. It was just what we needed for a week-end break, a stay-cation as we live only a 30 minute drive away.
15/09/2017Stacey
Wonderful! We adored the roundhouse and tree house and would like to return at some point in the future. It had exactly the atmosphere we were looking for and all three of us enjoyed our stay immensely.
03/09/2017Louise
Absolutely magical! The Roundhouse was pretty special.
25/07/2017Sanphy
I booked this as a surprise for my husband after we got married in Cornwall for our 'minimoon' We had had such a hectic lead up to our wedding I wanted somewhere very chilled, secluded away from everyone and something different so he would be blown away!
04/09/2016Samantha
Magical experience which matched expectations . Our five year old slept in the hammock all night and loved the experience as much as us. Thank you
01/09/2016Kirsty
The Roundhouse was magical beyond words; from the moment we arrived it felt other worldly and put us at peace. The setting is quite spectacular and the sense of being in nature - while having access to an excellent shower and kitchen - is unrivalled in my experiences thus far. The surrounding areas are breathtaking and served only to further enhance the feeling that we were staying somewhere truly special. We took a stunning costal car drive to nearby St. Ives and ended the stay with a boat trip to Seal Island where we saw dolphins too!
13/05/2016Dave
We had the most wonderful time away at the roundhouse in the peace and quiet. We spent evenings by the fire listening to owls and felt like a King and Queen sleeping in an amazing 4 poster bed that was on another comfort level. Evenings were spent making conversation, without WiFi and mobile phones and we managed to get lost in our books. Thoroughly recommend it for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of city life!
17/10/2015Nina
"YES. Oh so much. The roundhouse is such a unique place to stay and a real experience. The fresh flowers and all the little touches made the holiday!! It was perfect (apart from the rain) and we'd definitely go back again! So so impressed!!"
27/08/2014Ami
"I thoroughly enjoyed my stay. It was very peaceful and a very very welcome break and chance to recharge. As an active and working, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and daughter, I have a large family who need support, comfort, advice and help in equal measure. There is always someone needing something and this 3 day break was a bit of me-time that I would not have taken for myself. Visiting nearby Newlyn and eating fresh caught fish in a working fishing port, watching a seal play and eat a fish while fighting off the seagulls trying to pinch his dinner, watching the smoke filter through the thatch roof of the Roundhouse creating a misty magical sight, sitting in the place that would have been the bed in the ruins of the real Iron Age settlement roundhouse a short walk from the replica we stayed in, these are all highlights of my stay and there are many more. We would highly recommend The Bodryfty Roundhouse as it is a unique experience but with creature comforts added."
06/08/2014Barbara
"We wanted something memorable and different and it didn't disappoint! It was totally unique - peaceful and magical. The owner was informal, friendly and very helpful about the surrounding area and where to walk. The Tree House was just what we needed to add the modern conveniences where necessary! We have shown all our friends the photos and, without exception, they were all amazed and envious in equal measure! Thanks for a fantastic holiday!"
27/07/2014Ann
"An amazing experience which we will never forget. The architecture was amazing and the fittings really added to the authentic atmosphere using cow hides, fire pits and timbers and twine. A lovely owner who added some nice touches for our stay but left us to it once we touched down. We had lovely weather but you almost want it to rain to see experience the sounds and how the thatched roof handles the elements."
20/07/2014Daniel
"Surpassed expectations which is always nice! No normal hotel will ever cut the mustard from now on!"
04/07/2014Jessica
"This was a birthday gift for my boyfriend and, even on day 3, was he still shaking his head and saying he couldn't believe we were staying in a iron-age roundhouse. It was such a unique place to stay - I doubt we'll ever match it."
26/06/2014Donna
"It was fantastic! The roundhouse was HUGE, and the treehouse annex nearby was perfect for cooking and washing in. It was a lovely mixture of 'roughing it' and pampering. We had so much fun lighting the fire bowl every night, and tucking into our giant, cozy bed. The lady who owned the farm even lent us hot water bottles to keep our feet warm. During the day, we were free to wander over the fields. There are some beautiful bits of coast in walking distance."
01/05/2014Jacqueline
"Loved it still buzzing from it. We long for a simpler life without the nonsense of modern living that we all have to deal with. We've returned feeling energised and reconnected with our roots."
21/09/2013Chelsea
"Our stay was the most amazing, chilling experience we've had. Not only being away from everything, and I mean everything including light pollution at night, but sharing our space with nature and history. We were a couple of fields away from the most amazing remains of an iron age settlement, untouched and on the top of the moors, leaving you with the eerie feeling of being in another time. The best thing was the peace, quiet and the history. Nothing bad at all."
12/07/2013Nicola
"We had a wonderful time. The bed was amazing, the cooking and washing facilities were as good as 4 or 5 star hotel. Everything was excellent and the worst thing was having to leave."
08/07/2013Lucy
"It was perfect. My girlfriend and I really enjoyed our stay in the Roundhouse. We were delighted to see the facilities in the adjoining 'Treehouse' hut (bathroom/kitchen/living room). The Bodrifty Farm/Roundhouse owner - Penny - made us feel very welcome, and provided us with fresh herbs and vegetables, as well as the soya milk we specifically requested! The Roundhouse was a very atmospheric and beautiful place in which to sleep. The big, cosy 4 poster bed was delightful - especially as the nights were quite chilly. The fire pit also lent to the atmosphere, and I enjoyed the challenge of keeping the fire alive and warming up the space. All guidance leading up to the stay was great. The welcome pack, the directions, everything really!"
24/06/2013Ian
"Loved it, the setting was beautiful the hosts very friendly. Really different experience, fresh flowers and wine in the fridge was a really nice touch"
31/05/2013Emma
"The roundhouse was an amazing experience, in a great location. A gorgeous, comfortable bed, great fire-pit and amazing starry skyline at night"
14/09/2012Simon
"Loved it, really didn't want to return to the real world! The wonderful wonderful bed and real fire. Long walks to superb pubs.The seclusion, mainly rabbits and foxes for company"
13/07/2012Karren
"It was fun and adventurous at the same time. Good weather a huge advantage on this break as a trip to the bathroom at 3am was a magical experience with the stars you could see as there is no light pollution. Loved lighting the fire and seeing the smoke appear through the thatch."
17/06/2012Michael
"thoroughly enjoyed our stay, it was very magical and incredibly relaxing"
08/03/2012Hayley
We love to stay in odd, eccentric or historic buildings and have previously been in castles, Gothick summerhouses, towers, fairytale cottages and, most recently, a windmill. But we have never, ever, EVER stayed in a place as magical as The Roundhouse.
25/09/2011A&P
It's one thing to have the skill and knowledge, but I think it was imagination and a vision that really built the Roundhouse. That's what made our stay special, to be an appreciative part of someone's dream, who re-tied the knot between us and our country's history.
19/06/2011Lynne & Mark
The roundhouse is INCREDIBLE. Location was perfect. High on the moors, very private but close enough to civilisation and, very importantly for us, surf. Authentic, raw, natural and filled with a very welcoming 'energy'... The BED. Oh, the bed. What a bloody lovely bed.
09/07/2010Holly
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An incredible tranquil place to stay. We loved the round house. It is beautiful surrounded by nature. Very comfortable.
24/08/2024