Parents looking for the perfect getaway location to keep the whole family happy – even when travelling with tinies, tweenies or teenagers – need look no further than Mesmear (www.Mesmear.co.uk ) on Cornwall’s North coast.  This trio of luxury, eco-friendly 18^th century converted barns has just been voted into its Top 10 ‘Chic Retreats’ and ‘Best for Foodies’ by Baby-friendly Boltholes. (www.Babyfriendlyboltholes.co.uk )

Owned and managed by the Rose family on their 160-acre farm at St Minver, near Rock, Mesmear offers a choice of three self-catered and catered properties, sleeping between 4 – 10 people.  The Mill, which comes complete with its own chef and housekeeper; The Barn and The Calf’s House have all been lovingly restored and refurbished, with every possible thought given to style, comfort and practicality.

With two young sons of their own, Tessa and Alan Rose have created a ‘home-from-home’ for their guests – thoughtfully providing toy boxes and libraries of books and DVD’s tailored to visitors’ ages.  By also providing travel cots, changing mats, high chairs and even child-sized cutlery and tableware, valuable space will be saved in the car boot on the journey to Cornwall!

Buckets and spades and crabbing nets wait by the door, in readiness for trips to the beach at nearby sandy Daymer Bay.  Cool surf dudes will appreciate the outdoor showers and drying room for wet suits after a day spent riding the waves at Polzeath and Rock.  The separate games barn features table tennis, air hockey and table football, to keep teenagers entertained; there is also a heated, outdoor swimming pool available for guests’ use throughout the summer months.

Other family-friendly activities and soft adventures on your doorstep at Mesmear include surfing, coasteering, rock climbing, kayaking, sailing, mackerel fishing and cycling the Camel Trail.  Exciting days out include Tintagel Castle, steam train adventures on the Lappa Valley or Bodmin & Wenford Railways, Crealy Great Adventure Park and the Maritime Museum in Falmouth.

Back at Mesmear youngsters enjoy collecting free-range eggs from Molly the hen and friends for breakfast and picking home-grown baby vegetables from the farm’s kitchen garden for their early children’s suppers.

But what about Mum and Dad?  Superb Links golf courses, award-wineries and breweries, internationally-renowned gardens such as The Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan and dinner at one of the foodie area’s celebrity chef eateries will undoubtedly be some of the holiday highlights.

Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall is close by at Watergate Bay and Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant in Padstow can easily be reached from Rock, using the water taxi.  You can even have your own half-day culinary Masterclass at Mesmear, priced at just £35pp (minimum of 2-3 guests) and the chance to enjoy your own private dinner party afterwards with friends and family.

Contemporary furnishings, indulgent bathrooms, Egyptian cotton bed linen, wood burning stoves, furnishings by The Designers’ Guild and original artworks by local artisans will also ensure that a stay at Mesmear is like having your very own, family-friendly boutique hotel.

A three-night break at The Mill, which sleeps up to 10 and includes daily full English breakfast, afternoon tea and three-course dinner with wine prepared by your own chef, is priced from £1,750.  Three nights, for up to four guests on a self-catering* basis is priced at £350 at The Calf’s House or from £450 in The Barn. Weekly rentals are priced from £700. (Based on dates from mid-February – mid April 2010).  For further information visit www.Mesmear.co.uk or call 01208 869 731.

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*Hand-prepared afternoon tea and tasty evening meals, featuring the freshest, locally-sourced ingredients, can be delivered to your table, to order, from just £10 for two.