Looking for an unforgettable staycation overlooking one of Cornwall’s most beautiful beaches? My review of Four Winds in Praa Sands will have you dreaming of coastal living.
From its open-plan kitchen and lounge, to luxurious hot tub and games room, Four Winds (available via Aspects Holidays) is somewhere I’d class as a ‘dream home’. When we booked our stay, I kept thinking it looked like one of those Omaze houses you buy a raffle ticket to be in with a chance of winning. The reality somehow exceeded the photos! The moment we unlocked the door, we were greeted by a stunning 50ft living space with uninterrupted sea views.
Four Winds is the ultimate beach house for a special getaway. It’s got four double bedrooms (all en-suite), a games room with a pool table, an outdoor hot tub and endless spaces to relax. No matter where you are in the house, your eyes will be drawn to the view. Wherever you are, you’ll be gazing through floor-to-ceiling glass at the sandy beach of Praa Sands and the spectacular southern Cornish coast.
We visited as a couple with our two little children (a toddler and a baby). It was such a special trip. Our toddler was so excited to see the view every day. Plus, it was where he had his first scone with jam and cream. What a core memory we’ve unlocked!
It also happened to be my husband’s 40th birthday. I knew this would be an incredible place to celebrate a milestone year. We popped some bubbles, enjoyed lots of treats, and were spoiled with daily sunsets, and even a rainbow.
In this review, I’ll share what it’s really like to stay at Four Winds, who it’s suited to, and some tips for the area. If you’re considering booking, this guide should really help.
Review: Four Winds, Cornwall
Where is Four Winds in Cornwall?
This holiday home overlooks the beach in Praa Sands, which is a short drive from Penzance. It’s in an enviable position, with no properties in front of it, meaning you can gaze at the beach and ocean all day long. To reach the house, you drive towards Praa Sands beach, then turn left along Sea Meads, where you’ll see other luxurious holiday homes. Four Winds has parking for three or four cars, making it easy for a large group visit.
You can reach the beach by walking a few minutes along the road, then taking one of the beach paths down to the sand. It took us around eight minutes, and that was with a toddler and a baby in tow!
Who is Four Winds suited to?
This home oozes luxury, which makes it ideal for a special family getaway or a group celebration, such as a milestone birthday or anniversary. We were visiting as a family of four, and we loved having the space to spread out and enjoy the surroundings. It felt like more of an adult house, but we still very much enjoyed it as a family.
Kitchen at Four Winds
The house has an upside-down layout, with the kitchen and communal living space upstairs, and the bedrooms downstairs. The kitchen is huge, with an induction hob, double oven, toaster, dishwasher, microwave, coffee machine and a high bar area. I loved that I could cook or wash up, while gazing at the perfect beach views.
As we were visiting with little ones, we used the kitchen a lot. It was really well kitted out with crockery, cutlery and enough glasses for a drinks party! Some holiday homes scrimp on utensils and crockery, but here we had everything we needed and more. A high chair was also provided by Aspects Holidays for our baby.
Living room at Four Winds
There are two glass doors dividing the space from the kitchen to the dining area and living room. The upstairs of this house is so spacious, you could have a huge group here and it would never feel claustrophobic. There’s a dining table and a huge blue leather corner sofa, both seating eight people comfortably. It really is huge, in fact the kitchen and living space combined stretches for more than 50ft in length.
We loved our evening meals at the dining table after the kids were in bed, chatting away over a glass of red wine, while gazing at golden sunsets.
The sofa area is vast and very comfortable. We liked that the TV had all of the smart tech we’re used to these days. There’s also a stylish log burner in the corner, which we didn’t use as it was pretty toasty during our stay, but I imagine that would make the large space feel cosy in cooler months. As the upstairs area features floor-to-ceiling glass, it gets really warm when the sun is shining all day. We found ourselves opening the doors to the balcony to allow in a breeze.
One of the coolest features of this house? There are speakers built into the ceilings! We could cast music from Spotify and play it throughout the kitchen, lounge, games room, or even outside. See what I mean about this feeling like a house for a party or special occasion?
Bedrooms and Bathrooms at Four Winds
Four Winds officially sleeps eight people. All of the spacious bedrooms have zip-and-link style beds, meaning they can be made as doubles or twins. We loved that each has its own private en-suite bathroom, something that’s rare in holiday homes. Three had large freestanding baths too – what a treat!
The master bedroom is the only bedroom that’s located upstairs, at the end of the corridor. WOW – what a moment when we walked in there and saw the view. While all rooms have gorgeous ocean views, this room is elevated so boasts the most sensational views over the coast as you wake up.
Other areas at Four Winds
You’d think my review would almost be complete now, but no! There are several other spaces to talk about at Four Winds.
Downstairs between two of the bedrooms is a games room. This feels like the perfect party space, with a drinks fridge, glassware, bar stools and a pool table. It looks out towards the hot tub, too. I can envisage summer evenings spent on the terrace, with a group playing pool while others laze in the hot tub.
While not something you worry about much on holiday, it was nice to have access to a proper laundry room on this trip. This is located downstairs, and has a washing machine, tumble dryer, and an extra fridge/freezer.
Outside areas at Four Winds
Want to relax outside? You really are spoilt for choice! You could grab a seat on the balcony, downstairs on one of the sun loungers, or even head to the eye-catching glass table at the far end of the garden. We chose this spot for our Cornish cream tea. Enjoying scones with clotted cream and jam, while taking in sea views in one direction and our dream home in the other… well, what’s not to love?!
The gardens are tastefully landscaped, with lots of pretty flowers, manicured trees and a perfect lawn. We liked that there were lots of other places to sit dotted around the grounds. You could just disappear off on your own and have a quiet few minutes staring at the view, away from the main areas.
This is a dog-friendly property too, so I imagine these outdoor areas would be ideal if you’re bringing your pet.
All the downstairs bedrooms have sliding doors to the outside patio. It really feels like this house offers that inside/outside style of living, where you can flow freely from one to the other.
We loved our stay at Four Winds. It offered the perfect mix of coastal living, luxury and was in a brilliant location for family activities. Plus, waking up here made Macca’s 40th birthday even more memorable!
Keen to book? You can check prices and availability at Four Winds here. Or if you’re looking for other properties in Cornwall, check out what’s on offer by Aspects Holidays.
Things to do in southern Cornwall
Theres plenty to do in this part of southern Cornwall. If you’re staying at Four Winds or close by, here are a few of my top recommendations.
Porthleven
This compact town is a short drive away and has a pretty harbour, streets filled with gift shops and galleries and some great food spots including Kota Kai and The Mussel Shoal. We also did a 2.5 hour walk from Porthleven to Penrose Hill and back along the coast. The views were spectacular, and helped us work up an appetite for lunch.
St Ives
This town’s artistic reputation precedes it! It’s home to the Tate St Ives, countless small galleries and one of the best shopping streets in Cornwall. If you get the perfect weather, it the white sand and turquoise sea might fool you into thinking you’re abroad. If you’re looking for tips for visiting, check out my guide to St Ives.
Tremenheere Sculpture Garden
I never expected to visit Cornwall and feel like we we’d been transported to a tropical paradise, but it turns out Tremenheere Sculpture Garden is a very special spot! There are amazing sculptures by internationally renowned artists dotted throughout the landscapes, which include woodlands, streams and hills. We loved the way these gardens sprawl, and that there was always something special to look at. Plus, you’ll get to see some amazing views of St Michael’s Mount from the higher sections.
St Michael’s Mount
This historic castle and island is one of the postcard views of Cornwall. It’s a tidal island, so visit at low tide and you can walk across the cobbled path. As the tide rolls in, boats can make the trip across the water.
Cornish Seal Sanctuary
Head to Gweek and you’ll be able to get up close to majestic seals and puffins at the SEA LIFE TRUST Cornish Seal Sanctuary. This charity rescues and rehabilitates grey seal pups from around the Cornish coastline. The work they do is amazing, and it was very special to see these incredible creatures up close. It’s a brilliant place for kids too. Our son loved seeing seals for the first time, and we feel these experiences really help foster a love of wildlife.
Visit Falmouth
If you’re craving a bit more buzz, Falmouth makes an enjoyable day trip. This large town has a bustling centre filled with independent shops and restaurants. Plus, there’s the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, which is packed full of interesting exhibits and artefacts. We grabbed delicious toasties at Leroys, perused the shops on the high street and watched the boats coming and going in the harbour. It was lovely!
Polgoon Vinyeard
While Cornwall isn’t the premier region for UK wine production, we discovered this vineyard just outside of Penzance. There are options of tours or tastings, or you can buy a bottle in the shop. We just stopped by and ordered a couple of wine flights. The rose bubbly was our favourite!
We loved our stay in this area of Cornwall. If you’re keen to visit, I hope this guide helps you plan your trip. For more tips, check out my other Cornwall travel guides.
