The house with the best view in Cornwall: beach fun in idyllic Marazion

The wind whipped against the windows, the clouds flashed with lightning, and the sea crashed against the rocks below.

We smiled, clinked wine glasses and watched the storm from the comfort of our beautiful beach vacation home.

I had escaped for a few days to the picturesque ancient market town of Marazion, situated two miles from Penzance on Cornwall’s glorious south coast.

The town is famous for being the gateway to Mount St Michael – the iconic tidal island half a mile offshore.

As the storm subsided and morning dawned, we awoke to views to die for.

Mile upon mile of pristine beach and, of course, Mount St. Michael itself, which began life as a monastery between the 8th and early 11th centuries.

It’s one of 43 landlocked tidal islands off the UK, so I grabbed the kids and wandered across the road for a closer look.

The little ones squealed with delight as the water lapped at the edge of the path – which rises from the ocean at low tide.

Needless to say, the odd wave managed to drench me while the others escaped – leaving the children hysterical.

After seeing the beautiful gardens of the island, we headed back to the mainland and I packed back across the road for a relaxing day on the beach.

For my three young children it was perfect.

We raised our glasses and looked out to sea – and the best view in Cornwall Ben Bailey

They danced on the sand, watched the waves and collected shells for hours.

We ate Cornish cakes (when in Rome) and lay on the picnic blanket, forgetting the city life and getting lost in the view and the blue waters.

We had chosen Marazion as our base for four days exploring deepest Cornwall and stayed in the Captain’s House – a beautiful five bedroom house overlooking the beach.

The property sleeps 10, has modern decor and has panoramic views over Mount Bay, Penzance, Newlyn and Mousehole.

The detached home with three bathrooms and a gated entrance is impeccably presented with a warm Scandinavian interior.

The whole family enjoyed it. I spent my evenings watching the kids trying to keep them from jumping from couch to couch in the beautiful living room.

Click here to resize this module

Finally, they collapsed on bean bags in the home theater and stretched 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 best holiday cottage providers in the UK by Which?.

The south coast of Cornwall is a paradise for families looking for a UK holiday.

For an iconic trip, 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.

If the kids are old enough – and for anyone brave enough – try kite surfing.

Surf schools operate on most major beaches, and on calm days, paddle boarding in Mount Bay is magical.

For a spot of culture and a stunning view, we took our brood to a kid-friendly Shakespeare play at the Minack Theatre, just four miles from Land’s End.

This incredible place – one of the most spectacular theaters in the world – is cut directly into the rock and has to be seen to be believed.

The outdoor theater runs from Easter to the end of October – bring blankets and towels if you’re going out of season as it can get wet and windy.

In the evening we book meals in local pubs and restaurants.

The kids loved The Waterside Meadery – a medieval style candlelit restaurant – where they scoffed chicken and scampi baskets and sampled locally brewed Cornish Mead.

Their favorite part? You have to eat with your hands.

On our last night, we sat on the deck and watched the waves crash on the shore below.

The sky was a vibrant pink, the trees rustled gently in the breeze and the road to Mount St Michael was once again submerged, leaving the lonely island cut off again.

Smiling, we raised our glasses and looked out to sea – and the best view in Cornwall.