With its breathtaking scenery, slower pace of life and relaxed atmosphere that feels a world away from the everyday, Cornwall is the perfect setting for a getaway, if only for a dreamy long weekend. Lostwithiel has a rich heritage and lies wrapped in the hills beside the river Fowey and 800 years ago was the capital of Cornwall. There are delightful walks and, deep in the woods, stands Restormel C
astle from the 13th century. The castle was built for Edmund, Earl of Cornwall, who also built the bridge, the church tower and the Shire Hall. Edmund was very proud of his beautiful thriving little town and called it his 'Lily of the Valley' and 'Fairest of Small Cities'. Quaint and unspoilt it is the ideal place for the holidaymaker and is situated amidst some of Cornwall's finest scenery and yet within easy distance of the coast and many places of interest. What people say? . . . We had an amazing stay at the unique and homely Shire House for a friend's wedding nearby. The property was warm and the most welcoming experience we have ever had at any Air BnB before! Christopher was so helpful in communication and was ready to answer all of our questions and make sure we had the most comfortable stay. The finishing touches at the property are what made this place even more special - everything had been thought of, and the welcome tray of scones, jams, soap and other treats thoroughly warmed our hearts! Excellent location in the heart of Lostwithiel. We would love to stay again one day! Serena, 6th August 2021.
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I can’t recommend the Shire House enough as a fantastic base for a family holiday. Christopher is a brilliant host and there are some lovely personal touches like the welcome scones, jam and cream. The house is beautifully decorated and everything is just quality - fluffy towels, comfy beds and there is plenty of spare linen. The location was perfect for us, in the middle of Lostwithiel and near to the river, Fowey just a short drive away, lots of local walks and beaches very close. We loved our visit and can’t recommend it highly enough. Julie, 31st July 2021.
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This is such a wonderful house - and Christopher is the best Airbnb host I have ever encountered! He hosts very generously - oodles of toilet rolls, tea bags etc, plus left homemade scones, jams, clotted cream, Cornish butter...in fact, everything Cornish. And he does not insist on any house rules. The house is very spacious; four huge bedrooms, lovely linens, everything so clean. Upon opening the garden gate you encounter a tropical paradise, so pretty, so secret, cool and tranquil. Christopher adores dogs so the house is dog friendly - with treats for the dogs, too! Lostwithiel was a haven of peace, the prettiest place. We were very grateful for the shallow river and 'beach', next to the old bridge, two minutes from the house.....great swimming area for dogs and hoomans alike, perfect to cool off in the heatwave we were lucky enough to have. Charming Fowey is 20 minutes away, lovely boat trips (for dogs, too!), and good restaurants. Try Appleton's, a Scandi look restaurant in the middle, modern Italian food and plenty of veggie options. Just perfect. We have already booked the house for next year... Just go!! Wendy, 24th July 2021.
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Behind the tall wooden gate a wondrous riot of exotic nature. A froth of green, with coloured accents, from which rise architectural spires, tall spikes and Elephant ears claiming for my eyes attention. A haven, a carefully laid trap for the sun, for the city-worn self. And beyond, two welcoming doors usher me through into the kitchen and beyond. A calming, gentle house. A family house, for us now, for this week, this wonderful week. The stresses melt away, lungs fill with air, sweet scented, and birds always there, like the river, gently burbling and chirping. An audible meditation, a sensory massage. A soul repair shop. The Shire House. Helen, 24th June 2021.
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Perfection ..... Christopher is an outstanding host. We had a fabulous time at your place and thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of our stay. The property was just wonderful and perfect for us. Location for a short break was perfect. I would not hesitate to thoroughly recommend it to all my friends. David, 9th August 2020.
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If you read the listing for The Shire House and think for a second, 'it can't be that great', think again! It is even better than the pictures and description. Christopher is a wonderful host, who with loads of thoughtful touches makes a stay at the shire house even more special. Lostwithiel is a lovely little town with everything you need as a base to explore this part of gorgeous Cornwall. Our only regret is not having booked for longer, and I almost don't want to write such a glowing review, as I'm afraid it will be all booked up for when we want to go next - cos we definitely will be back! Thanks again for everything! This is a gorgeous property and thanks for sharing it with us. We have had some amazing memories and fun times here. Carly, Sam & Rini, 27th September 2020.
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We had a wonderful week’s holiday in The Shire House. The house is stylish and thoughtfully put together with everything you could possibly want and need for a really comfortable and luxurious stay away from home. The little personal touches really added to our stay, with fresh flowers in every room, complimentary tea and coffee, fresh locally grown produce and delicious fresh scones from the local bakery. The location is perfect, right in the heart of the town but wonderfully peaceful and private. It’s also in striking distance of some of the best beaches and hikes on the south coast. We couldn’t recommend The Shire House more and hope to return again one day. Maddy, 22nd August 2020.
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Well what an absolutely stunningly beautiful house, unfortunately we didn’t get chance to make use of the garden as the weather was particularly bad but you could see it would be perfect for sitting out on a sunny day, the house itself is beautiful and is decorated very colourful and made you feel happy, loads of amazing little touches, from local soaps/Jams/marmalade’s to scones/bread/milk and butter being there when we arrived. It has everything you could possibly need (best fridge/freezer ever) dishwasher, washing machine, dryer. The downstairs bathroom has a lovely shower that has body sprays as well and the upstairs bathroom has a a lovely deep bath! Chris kept in constant contact and was amazing, we loved it here and would highly recommend to anyone xx. Emma, 5th October 2020.
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Incredible place, fabulous host and some incredibly thoughtful touches. Wonderful location, so charming. The place is full of character but with such great mod cons - the fab bathrooms, fluffy towels and quality bedding. Christopher was the perfect host, so helpful Will definitely go back. Had a wonderful time, loved all the extra touches - the groceries, discount voucher, toiletries etc. Couldn't recommend more highly. Arlene, 17th July 2020.
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The Shire House is perfect in every way. You will not want for anything, but if you do, ask Christopher, he couldn't be more helpful. A very comfortable and elegant Regency house. Stylishly decorated and furnished. Stunning mature front garden with hammock and dining table/benches. Large well equipped kitchen/dinner. Generous bedrooms with comfy beds and lots of pillows. USB wall sockets. Top Bluetooth enabled speakers in kitchen/ sitting room. Two good sized modern bathrooms. 2 min walk to butcher, Coop, deli, etc. Street parking (free). Richard, 1st August 2020.
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This house felt like home from the moment we walked in. It has all the charm and character of an old house with the convenience of modern amenities. The accommodation is great, very spacious and two lovely bathrooms. The kitchen is large and well equipped, with doors going into the garden. It’s in a great location, right opposite the river Fowey. Peaceful, but within minutes of the town centre, pubs and restaurants. It’s also a great location for going to other places, such as Fowey and the Eden Project. Christopher is a great host. When we got there, we had fresh scones from the local bakery, Cornish clotted cream, jam and strawberries, fresh bread and butter. We highly recommend this place and will definitely return. Claire and Angus Wilkinson, plus children and grandchildren.
13th July 2020.
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