Stones Throw
Charlestown, Cornwall

Sleeps: 2
First letting through The Travel Chapter: 2016

Lauren’s and her husband Lee, who have both worked in the public sector for the last 15 years, met through their mutual passion for judo. With the arrival of their now nine-month-old son, their already busy lives have become even more hectic. Overseas trips have been replaced, for now, with holidays closer to home.

The main trigger for their decision to explore the holiday letting business was a change in financial circumstances. Adverse adjustments to their work pension schemes left a looming financial gap, especially as the part-time working accompanying parenthood would mean a drop in wages. Lee explains, “We hoped that a holiday property would help to make up some of the shortfall.”

The couple live in Charlestown, a beautiful village on the south coast of Cornwall that also happens to be a World Heritage Site. So it was natural for them to look for a property there; as it turned out, they found Stones Throw just 100 metres down the road.

“Being so close to our own home made it super convenient to manage and allowed us to be on hand for our guests when needed.”

The property, an apartment in a refurbished industrial building, met their financial requirements as well, says Lauren. “Being one bedroom was also an attraction. It didn’t feel like we were over-stretching ourselves or taking on too much risk.” On a more personal note, when Lee was a child, his father had worked in the building.

Things moved quickly after the couple started to let the property through The Travel Chapter in December 2016, with the first booking as early as the Christmas week.

The area is a magnet for visitors. Charlestown’s historic port, with tall ships and a maritime museum, often features in TV programmes and films, most recently the Poldark series. There are also several good restaurants and pubs and interesting boutique style shops within a short walk of Stones Throw.

Extensive coastal paths stretch for miles in both directions from Charlestown, drawing walkers to the area. With Fowey to the east and Mevagissey to the west, there are plenty of traditional fishing villages and sheltered coves to explore. It’s also just a five mile drive to the world-famous Eden Project and only a little further to the Lost Gardens of Heligan and the National Trust’s imposing Lanhydrock house. 

“We have taken great care to make it feel like a home, not ‘just’ a holiday let.”

As for the property itself, perhaps the most striking feature is the blend of old and new.

The beautiful original beams are what first draw the attention, but then it becomes clear that in Stones Throw the couple have created a truly modern property. As an example, Lauren says, “We invested in a lovely kitchen with extras such as a wine fridge, which we think adds that touch of luxury.” She also points out that the cottage has gated parking, which she describes as “a must in somewhere like Charlestown.”

One of the couple’s main tips for boosting year-round occupancy is to be canine friendly. Lee notes that while good quality properties in the right locations should always attract summer bookings, “maintaining that through the winter is a different challenge.” She estimates that around 90% of their out-of-season guests bring their dogs, giving them a competitive advantage. 

“Allowing dogs in our property has attracted guests to us rather than other nearby properties.”

Given the obvious efforts that the couple have made with Stones Throw, it’s no surprise that they take great pleasure from receiving positive reviews from guests. Lauren says, “When people tell you that they have enjoyed their stay and explain why, it can fill you with a bit of pride.” Of course, those efforts are also rewarded in financial terms when visitors choose to return. Lee gives a particularly striking example; “One guest booked a second stay during her first…that feels great!”

Success doesn’t come without effort of course, and Lee says new owners should, “Be prepared for some big outlays and hard work.” She urges a realistic approach to the cost of fitting a property out, pointing out that owners are furnishing a house in a short time period, whereas they might it do over the course of years in their main home. As she says, “It is worth putting that money aside in advance so that it doesn’t surprise you later on.”

Another great tip is to prioritise the areas where buying quality items makes the biggest difference. Lauren reveals that their biggest outlay was for a wooden king-size bed and quality mattress, as they believed a good night's sleep to be one of the most important things for guests. She confirms that, “The investment in quality was a must. It paid off and we have had several great reviews about how comfortable the bed is.”

Lauren is very happy that they decided to work with The Travel Chapter and feels that the company’s advice was particularly valuable when they were preparing the property for rental. “It was a great experience”, she comments. “The new business manager visited us several times as our property was being built and gave us advice on things guests like and expect. This helped us get things right or close to right the first time."

They have also appreciated their property manager’s end-of-year visits since then. As well as reviewing the year’s booking rates, the manager goes through feedback, both good and bad, and advises on possible improvements.

“We have had great continuing support from our own personal property manager, who’s only a phone call or email away.”

The couple’s main concern before taking the plunge - investing a large amount of money and then having no visitors – has proved unfounded. With that in mind, they say simply, “The property was a long term investment, so we will certainly be keeping it.”