Bosinver Farm Cottages review: a nature-focused staycation ideal for young children

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Who is Bosinver for? 

Bosinver is designed with families of young kids in mind. It's particularly fun for children aged two to nine, but you could just as easily bring your baby there as you could your tween. It's easy to see why families return again and again each year. 

The grounds are both peaceful and idyllic, with a farm at one end and woodland at the other. It’s large enough to provide some variation, but small enough to feel homely. 

My toddler loved watching the horses and ponies grazing in the fields while my husband and I soaked in the fresh air and relished in all the greenery around us, which made our weekend-long family holiday feel exceptionally relaxing. 

In addition to the farm animals, the grounds are teeming with wildlife. We enjoyed spotting rabbits in the fields and dragonflies hovering over the lake, although sadly we didn’t see the otters that are also rumoured to live there.

What are the cottages like?

Each of the 20 self-catered, detached cottages is unique, which allows you to experience something different each time you visit. We stayed in the five-person Pentree cottage, located a stone’s throw away from the 24-hour soft play barn as well as one of the two outdoor playgrounds. The other cottages range in size, and sleep between four and 12 guests depending on your needs. 

The two-bedroom Pentree cottage was the ideal choice for our stay. Refurbished in 2023, the open-plan living room and kitchen were spacious and light, so my daughter was able to run around freely and play, and the thoughtful addition of a toy box kept her busy while we cooked. 

The Bosinver team clearly has an eye for interior design as the cottage décor was colourful yet current, but still included details you’d find in a traditional farm cottage, such as a high-beamed ceiling, antique-looking door latches and a granite fireplace with a gas wood burner. It’s the kind of accommodation that sparks joy as soon as you enter. 

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What equipment is included in your cottage? 

Our cottage had a large inventory with everything we needed to enjoy a relaxing, family-filled weekend, including a cot, which easily fit into the large master bedroom with more than enough room for us to move around. 

All kitchen equipment, including pots, pans, cutlery and utensils, as well as plastic children’s plates, bowls, cups and spoons, was provided. The kitchen had an electric cooker with a ceramic hob, as well as a retro fridge freezer and Smeg dishwasher. A washing machine was tucked away in one of the hallway cupboards in addition to a vacuum cleaner and clothes rack for drying wet clothes. You can use the communal tumble dryer on site for a small fee if needed. 

Bosinver uses the Touch Stay app to give you information on your stay, which includes a cottage-specific inventory so you know what you need to bring. Cot bedding and pool towels, for example, aren’t provided. 

As parents of an active toddler, quality sleep is vital. We slept extremely well in the king-size double bed, with blackout blinds that ensured we weren’t woken up when the sun rose. The whole site was quiet and relaxed, and the cottages are spread out enough for guests not to have to worry about any potential noise from neighbours.  

I liked all the thoughtful extras which meant that we didn’t need to buy anything for our short getaway other than food. The cottage came with a whole host of supplies, including towels, toilet roll, soap, washing-up liquid, dishwasher tablets, a toddler booster seat for the mealtimes, and a selection of Cornish teas and hot chocolate. We could have borrowed other baby essentials like a baby monitor or highchair if we wanted to as well as outdoor equipment, including beach gear, wellies and a BBQ.

Is any food or drink included?

No, Bosinver is self-catering only, however the team provides recommendations via the Touch Stay app on local businesses to support. We were treated to a breakfast hamper from the Cornish Food Box Company full of local Cornish produce, which included everything from milk and sourdough bread to hog pudding and delicious preserves. All were exceptional and the company offers a £5 discount on orders over £50 with an exclusive Bosinver code. 

You can pre-order groceries from the local village shop, Polgooth Village Stores, as well as arrange a supermarket delivery from a nearby supermarket. We stocked up on supplies from ASDA which is a seven-minute drive away, but there’s also a Tesco Superstore, ALDI and a Co-op within easy distance by car. 

If you don’t fancy cooking, you can pre-order frozen meals from Cornwall Private Chef’s SOS! range, which are locally produced and cater to all diets and allergies. These meals are also available to buy at Bosinver’s reception. Although we didn’t try this, the company also offers a Private Chef service in the comfort of your cottage. 

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What amenities are available for kids?

Bosinver is truly a child’s paradise. We enjoyed the soft play barn with an abundance of climbing equipment, a slide and toys, as well as the outdoor playground which featured swings, slides, a trampoline, Wendy house and sand pit. 

For older kids, you’ll find a games room, which houses a pool table, table tennis and table football, as well as a retro games machine and the tabletop game Pucket. At the other end of the site, you’ll find a tennis court, with racquets and balls available for you to borrow at any time from the reception. 

For rainy days, Bosinver provides each cottage with a children’s baking box containing all the equipment you need to (minus the ingredients) to bake up a storm when the weather is dreary. 

One of the big highlights of our stay though was the indoor pool, which is heated to 31 degrees - ideal for babies and toddlers and reassuring for parents. During the pandemic, pool use was on an exclusive basis only, but families liked this so much that the Bosinver team decided to carry it on. 

We loved having the pool and changing rooms to ourselves, all of which were clean and well kept, and we made use of the provided pool toys including pool noodles and floats. We were able to book exclusive one-hour swim sessions easily via Bosinver’s online calendar which you can find through the Touch Stay app, but there are also communal daily swim sessions throughout the week (9-10am and 4-5pm) if you prefer to just turn up and have a splash about. 

What facilities are available for adults? 

While Bosinver has been designed with children at the forefront, thankfully adults haven’t been forgotten. You’ll find a sauna inside the pool house, as well as a gym next door which is open from 9am till 8pm. 

I was lucky enough to enjoy an hour-long full-body massage (usually a paid-for extra) with local masseuse Sharon Sweet of The Secret Spa Cornwall in the custom-built therapy room inside the gym, which provided me with a much-needed moment of downtime. 

Sharon, who has worked at Bosinver for seven years, was professional and friendly, and I left feeling rejuvenated and relaxed. There are a range of treatments to enjoy including a facial, manicure, pedicure and waxing. 

For a child-free night out, Bosinver also has a babysitting service that you can use. Reservations are simple - you just need to book with one of the three suggested babysitters directly. 

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What activities are on offer at Bosinver?

Almost all of the activities at Bosinver are child-focused, which makes it one of the most family-friendly farm cottage sites in Cornwall. While there are certain things you need to pay for separately like private swimming lessons, almost all of the activities are free, which Bosinver estimates would cost £475 in total compared to similar holiday parks. They also run specific events, including fêtes, at key times of the year such as half term and Halloween.

My two-year-old had the time of her life playing, exploring and connecting with nature. We fed the animals with Farmer Dave at 9:30 everyday, where my daughter was able to meet the ducks, goats, sheep and chickens, and choose her own egg from the coop to take back to our cottage. Children and parents were also encouraged to do a loud ‘cock-a-doodle-doo’ in response to the cockerel’s call as it flew to the barn hatch to wish us all a good morning.  

We had the chance to try a private 45-minute swim lesson with swim instructor Dawn on Sunday morning. She created a bespoke lesson plan for us, and offered practical tips and exercises to help my toddler progress in the water when back at home. We loved her friendly approach and her willingness to adjust the lesson plan to suit my daughter, who was initially reluctant to try certain activities.

Pony rides are usually on a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday morning, but Paul was kind enough to offer my toddler a short ride with beautiful pony, Crystal. As we visited at the weekend, we weren’t able to try the Wild Kids forest school, which is pre-bookable and runs on a Monday afternoon with qualified forest school teacher Tatum, but we still felt the inclusion of an immersive outdoor session for children of different ages to be a huge bonus.  

Families can take walks in the beautiful woodland, with a small lake that you can fish in. We also found a rope swing, a large slide for older children, and a fun but short Gruffalo trail to enjoy. 

How eco-conscious and sustainable is Bosinver?

Bosinver is very eco-conscious, having been awarded an Excellent Green Tourism rating from the Green Tourism Business Scheme as well as a Gold award for Sustainable Tourism at the Cornwall Tourism Awards and a win in the Connecting with Nature category at the Cornwall Sustainability Awards. 

30% of the energy on site is generated from renewable sources, including solar and solar thermal panels. There are also clear composting and recycling points for guests to use. Their zero carbon eco-cottage, the Lowen, is made from reclaimed timber and lime rendered straw bales, and is powered completely by renewable energy sources. It generates enough electricity to power itself plus two other cottages on site too. 

The indoor pool is heated by solar energy and renewable technologies, and, amazingly, the changing room cubicles are made from recycled plastic detergent and fabric conditioner bottles. 

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How accessible is Bosinver?

Generally, Bosinver is very accessible for families, with wheelchair-accessible areas for disabled guests including the reception, laundry room, play barn, indoor pool and games room. 

Only three of the 20 cottages are fully wheelchair-accessible. But guests with limited mobility will still be able to use the single-storey cottages with level access and parking right outside the front door, which includes the Pentree cottage I stayed in with my family. 

Bosinver is able to provide mobility equipment, including a shower wheelchair and shower stools, should you need them. 

What’s the location like?

One of the huge perks of Bosinver is its location. Just 10 minutes from the family-friendly Pentewan beach and just 20 minutes from the more secluded Porthluney Cove, it's the ideal place to explore other parts of Cornwall by car. We had the opportunity to visit both of those beaches during our stay. The Eden Project and The Lost Gardens of Heligan are also popular with Bosinver guests.

The Bosinver team uses the Touch Stay app as a guidebook for your stay. I found this to be incredibly helpful. Not only did it give me information on how to check in and check out, but it was customised to provide information specific to the cottage we were staying in (you'll see a checklist of things included with your accommodation) as well as recommendations on everything from local beaches, walks and days out to pubs, cafés and restaurants. 

I liked that I was able to add the app to my smartphone's home screen so I could access these recommendations even when offline.  

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How to book 

You can book your stay easily on the Bosinver website by selecting your preferred days. As you get closer to your arrival date, the Bosinver team then sends across handy pre-arrival and check-in information to your chosen email address. 

Unsurprisingly, Bosinver Farm Cottages is most busy during the summer holidays, May half term and October half term, so you can expect dates to be booked up far in advance.  

Is Bosinver good value for money? 

Prices vary from £750 to £5,150 depending on the length and time of year you visit, and there’s a three-night minimum booking you need to adhere to. 

While it does seem pricey initially, I think Bosinver offers great value for money overall, especially considering the £475 worth of free activities to enjoy*. However, I would recommend joining up with another family (or two) to split the cost of a cottage if you can.

*Bosinver’s estimate

About the author

Laura Westerman is an editor, writer and Deputy Head of Editorial Content at Mumsnet. She has travelled extensively around the UK, Europe and beyond, recently venturing to Mexico with her husband and two-year-old daughter. 

She is fully invested in discovering the best and most affordable family holidays both in the UK and abroad, and is passionate about sharing her knowledge and findings with other parents.

With over eight years' experience as a full-time editor, six of which have been spent writing, commissioning and editing reviews and round-ups, Laura has a keen eye for what families love and likes nothing more than putting together honest reviews to make parents' lives that little bit easier.