The wind whipped the windows, the clouds flashed with lightning, and the sea crashed against the rocks below.
We smiled, clinked our wine glasses, and watched the storm from the comfort of our beautiful beachside vacation home.
We had escaped for a few days to the picturesque old market town of Marazion, located two miles from Penzance on the glorious south coast of Cornwall.
The town is famous as the gateway to St Michael’s Mount, the iconic tidal island, half a mile off the coast.
When the storm subsided and dawn broke, we woke up to views to die for.
Mile after mile of pristine beach and, of course, St. Michael’s Mount itself, which began life as a monastery between the 8th and early 11th centuries.
It’s one of 43 bridgeless tidal islands off Britain, so we picked up the kids and strolled along the causeway to get a closer look.
Best view in Cornwall: Captain’s House overlooking St Michael’s Mount
Ben and his family spent a few days relaxing in the picturesque old market town of Marazion.
The town is famous for being the gateway to St Michael’s Mount, the iconic tidal island.
Half a mile from the coast, St Michael’s Mount dominates the view
The little ones squealed with joy as the water lapped up the side of the road, which emerges from the ocean at low tide.
Needless to say, a freak wave managed to soak me while the others escaped, leaving the children hysterical.
After seeing the island’s beautiful gardens, we headed back to the mainland and I headed back across the causeway to spend a day relaxing on the beach.
For my three small children it was perfect.
We raised our glasses and looked out over the sea and the best view of Cornwall.
They danced in the sand, chased the waves, and collected shells for hours.
We ate Cornish pasties (when we were in Rome) and lay on the picnic blanket, forgetting about city life and getting lost in the view and the blue waters.
We had chosen Marazion as our base for four days exploring deep inside Cornwall and stayed at Captain’s House, a beautiful five-bedroom house overlooking the beach.
The property sleeps up to 10 people, is fitted with modern décor and has panoramic views taking in Mount’s Bay, Penzance, Newlyn and Mousehole.
The three bathroom detached house with private entrance is impeccably presented with a warm Scandinavian interior look.
The whole family loved it. I spent nights chasing the kids trying to stop them from jumping from couch to couch in the beautiful living room.
The property is right on the beach with easy access for guests.
There are five bedrooms, each with a warm Scandinavian look.
The master bedroom has exceptional views of the beaches and the famous island.
It’s so easy to wake up to this view every day.
Guests can enjoy lunch on the patio and enjoy the sea air.
The house is impeccably presented, as this image shows.
The home theater was a good place to relax after a long day of fun at the beach, writes Ben
In the end they collapsed on beanbags in the home theater and sprawled out in front of the 65-inch TV, allowing us a few minutes of respite from the madness.
The property is offered by Rural Retreats, who were recently ranked among the UK’s top holiday home providers by Which?.
The south coast of Cornwall is a haven for families looking for a UK holiday.
For an iconic journey, take the train from St Erth to St Ives for the most scenic train journey along the coast. For the best views, get a window seat on the right side.
If the kids are old enough, and anyone brave enough, try kitesurfing.
There are surf schools on most of the main beaches and, on calm days, stand-up paddle boarding at Mount Bay is magical.
For a cultural venue and stunning views, we took our brood to see a children’s Shakespeare play at the Minack Theatre, just four miles from Land’s End.
This incredible venue, one of the most spectacular theaters in the world, is located directly on the cliff face and has to be seen to be believed.
The open-air theater operates from Easter until the end of October; Bring blankets and towels if you are going out of season as it can get wet and windy.
In the evenings we reserve tables in local pubs and restaurants.
The kids loved The Waterside Meadery, a medieval-style candlelit restaurant, where they scoffed chicken and prawn baskets and sampled locally made Cornish Mead.
Your favorite part? You have to eat with your hands.
On our last night we sat on the patio and watched the waves crash onto the shore.
The sky was a vibrant pink, the trees rustled softly in the breeze and the causeway to St Michael’s Mount was submerged again leaving the lonely island isolated once again.
Smiling, we raised our glasses and looked out over the sea and the best view of Cornwall.