Nestled amongst the rolling green hills, lush fields and tumble-down stone walls of mid-Cornwall, Wisdom Lodge is a beautiful bolthole which is the ideal setting for a countryside escape whether it’s spring, summer, autumn or winter.
Location
Wisdom Lodge is ideally located for families and groups who want to explore everything that Cornwall has to offer, from its quaint fishing villages to its wide, open beaches. Sitting on the outskirts of the charming village of St Stephen-in-Brannel, Wisdom Lodge occupies a secluded, rural setting within a picturesque farm.
There’s a pretty, short walk from Wisdom Lodge if you head through the farmyard and past the cow shed, before taking a grassy path that leads you to the fields and through the village of St Stephen. There are lots of beautiful walks nearby, including Tregargus Wood where you can wander through the trees and through the tumbledown buildings that were once a China Stone Mill.
Accommodation
Clad in stone – quarried from the local cliffs – Wisdom Lodge sinks into the surrounding unspoiled landscape, perched on the banks of a gentle hill and overlooking the dense thickets and hedge-lined paddocks. The picturesque lodge, standing at the heart of a working farm, was converted by the owners in 2021 and opened alongside its neighbouring holiday cottage, Snug Barn. A driveway snakes through the farm and up to the doors of Wisdom Lodge; a three-bedroom property that wraps around a thick lawn and flagstone patio.
The lodge is very functional and practical, but also boasts stylish design features making it stand out from your normal holiday home. The large, open-plan living space has big sliding doors that frame the views of the surrounding countryside and flood the home with light, even in the depths of winter! A chic copper log burner is suspended from the ceiling and transforms the lounge space into a snug and cosy area to snuggle up with a glass of wine and a boardgame, or unwind with a movie after a busy day exploring. Bold-coloured throws and furnishings lift the neutral space which is finished with natural-inspired furniture.
There’s a fully-equipped kitchen enabling you to enjoy cooking and dining at home, or simply to snack in-between meals out at the plethora of local pubs, restaurants and eateries. Nearby St Stephen and St Austell are home to countless takeaway restaurants so you can eat at home even if you don’t fancy cooking.
A beautiful, statement glass and tree root dining table provides an ideal spot for dining together while there’s also garden furniture out on the patio for al-fresco dining. And, in the summer, you can take a blanket out onto the lawn for a picnic in the sunshine or sink into the hammock that swings beneath the willow tree with a cup of coffee and a good book.
The whole cottage has been well considered and planned, with everything you need provided for a comfortable and enjoyable stay. There are three bedrooms – one double and two that can be set up as twin beds or kings – as well as two bathrooms, one with a large rainfall shower and the other with a luxurious freestanding bathtub.
Wisdom Lodge is the perfect setting for a family escape or a group getaway and we had a wonderful time staying with our dog, Storm, and our friends. We spent our evenings drinking wine, playing boardgames and soaking in the hot tub. For a relaxing evening in, there’s a large flatscreen TV with access to streaming services like Amazon Prime so you can enjoy a movie or occupy the kids with cartoons while you enjoy a formal dinner or relax with a drink in the private hot tub outside.
The hosts – Daniel and Becky, who live next-door – want their guests to feel at home and provide lots of little touches to help you settle in as soon as you arrive. We were greeted by a chilled bottle of Prosecco and delicious scones, clotted cream and jam, as well as helpful sundries such as tea and coffee. The team at Aspects Holidays – who organised our visit – also provided us with a lovely hamper of treats, including local cheeses, chutneys, beers and nibbles. Even Storm was well-catered for, with a bed, towel and water bowl provided, as well as some tasty treats!
To do
Guests at Wisdom Lodge can visit the farm’s resident animals: goats Ronnie and Reggie, and pigs Kev and Batpig. The sweet, snuffly four-legged friends live on site and provide excellent entertainment for younger guests who can go and see them munching on their hay or give them a stroke (watch those fingers!) through the fence. There’s also a gym on site that guests of both Wisdom lodge and Snug Barn can use, should they wish.
Further afield, there’s lots to do in the area. Wisdom Lodge is brilliantly located right in the middle of Cornwall, meaning the popular north Cornwall beaches and bustling town of Newquay as well as the stunning south coastline and its picturesque villages and harbour towns are both just 20 minutes by car. And just 10 minutes from home is the charming market town of St Austell; home to a bustling high street of shops, cafes, and pubs. You could visit St Austell Brewery or head to the Eden Project nearby.
We decided to venture north to the beautiful Watergate Bay for a windy but refreshing walk along the vast sandy beach. We clambered over the rocks and went rock-pooling, before enjoying a warming coffee and sweet brownie. It’s a wonderful golden stretch of sand which is popular with surfers, swimmers and dog walkers all-year round. With the sun shining on our second day we decided to pop just down the road to the picture-perfect fishing port of Mevagissey; home to colourful boats, independent boutiques and galleries, and delicious-smelling pasty shops and ice cream parlours, before visiting the Verdent Brewing’s Taproom at Penryn for a cheeky tipple.
In a nutshell
Wisdom Lodge provides a perfect home-away-from-home no matter the season. You can sink into the hot tub’s bubbles and enjoy an autumnal evening stargazing or wrap up in blankets in front of a crackling fire in the depths of winter. If you’re looking ahead to next year, then the doors slide open to provide wonderful inside-outside living for a sunny spring getaway or, in the warmth of summer, you can enjoy games on the lawn and dining outside listening to the birds sing.
Factbox
Whatever your idea of the perfect staycation is, Wisdom Lodge could be the ideal setting; and Aspects Holidays will ensure it’s easy to plan and book your stay.
- Wisdom Lodge costs from £897 a week for exclusive use.
- Aspects Holidays is a Cornish holiday letting agency offering a fully managed letting service. They have a wide range of properties across the county, including sea-facing apartments, cosy romantic retreats, dog-friendly cottages and large family-friendly houses; there’s something for everyone. With offices in Hayle, St Ives, Penzance, Mullion, Falmouth, Mevagissey, Perranporth, Newquay, Wadebridge and Bude, they’re never far away if you need them.
Address: Wisdom Lodge, St Stephen-in-Brannel, Cornwall
Phone: 01736 754242
Website: aspects-holidays.co.uk/cottages
