Port Isaac is one of the most attractive little fishing villages on the coast of Cornwall. Set in a small cove with boats round the harbour, tiny houses creep up the cliffs. The place is justly famous, has been much filmed and is now the base for a popular TV series. The town has several restaurants and little shops.
To west and east the cliff paths provide walks and views of some of Cornwall ’s most spectacular scenery including other admired places such as abandoned Port Quin. Not only is Port Isaac deservedly famous, but its location makes it easy to tour around Cornwall. The beaches of Polzeath and Rock are three miles to the west, but there are many other small beaches and coves to explore in the area. To the northwest is much National Trust land, with hidden sandy coves, cliff walks and rock pools. More good pubs can be found in the country just south - in fine villages of 17th and 18thC buildings. It is not too far to visit the sights of Cornwall. The closest are Lanhydrock, Pencarrow, even Bodmin Moor is only a short drive away.
Parking in Port Isaac is impossible, and it is wonderful therefore that Mill and Wheel Barns have their own private parking and are a five minute walk down a green track from the centre of the village, which can not be seen from the house. You can drive through Port Isaac to reach the mill, but the easiest way is to turn off the main coast road at St Endellion, take a tiny lane and turn off down the long tarmac and concrete drive to the mill which includes a very steep section. This track past grazing cattle, has views over unspoilt country, empty fields and valleys, good views along the coast and of Port Isaac itself. Indeed this may be the most impressive and dramatic arrival of any Forgotten House.
The mill is at the bottom of the tiny valley about 600 yards south of Port Isaac. There is no sign now of the mill stream or of rushing water, only the stream that runs down the bottom of the valley. The owners have for many years lived in a house just up the hill from the Mill barns, whose renovation has been finished in the last couple of years. The fields immediately round the house are kept as green pasture. They also keep chickens which are to be seen scratching round the lower yard. The old Mill, in which much of the original machinery had unusually remained still retains much of interest for the historian.
This was the original mill, built at right angles to the hill side so that the water rushing down a leat could turn the overshot mill wheel. The millstream and water have long gone, but part of the mill wheel can be seen outside and inside, original mill machinery and workings can still be seen through a glassed in room - a very rare survival in Cornwall. The barn was built east west so faces south down a beautiful little valley of meadows rising to green hills in the distance. This rare and unusual mill was renovated as a house in 2005.
Most visitors come in on the garden floor from the yard, but the main entrance is through a covered porch on the first floor. This leads to a large room with high beamed ceiling, which is the sitting room, dining area and at one end a built in kitchen. This large room also has the remnants of three grinding wheels. One is hidden below the floor but the other two are on show. One has both upper and lower grinding stones in position and now forms the base for the round dining table. The other is below a fixed coffee table. There are windows on all four sides with the main ones looking down the valley.
The kitchen has an electric cooker, fridge with small freezer compartment, a dishwasher, microwave. Downstairs there is a bedroom with double bed and windows looking south. Off this room is a large bathroom which includes an airing cupboard and a shower over the bath. The other two small bedrooms both have two beds and use a shower room with WC and basin all newly fitted out. Both bedrooms have built in cupboards. Heating is by electric night storage radiators and an flame electric fire at one end of the sitting room. Both floors are fully and newly carpeted in plain colour.
Just outside the ground floor door is a laundry room, with washing machine and tumble drier, whose use is shared with the occupiers of Mill Barn. The fenced off garden to the south has lawn and quirky areas, all safe for children, and with small slopes for them to run up and down. There is a row of pigeon holes running round the house high up near the eaves. These were for farming young pigeons or “squabs” as meat for the table. The hen house is about ten yards away. There is parking in the yard and also a garage for one car.
Can be combined with Mill Barn to sleep 10. Dogs allowed.
