OUR STORY ->
More than a holiday cottage
Plenteth is a holiday cottage, but its story began long before we welcomed our first guests. For more than 30 years, our family has been caring for this little corner of Cornwall — restoring an old farmhouse, raising a family, growing food, experimenting, learning and gradually finding ways to work more closely with the land around us.
Plenteth is still evolving. And that's part of what makes it special to us.
30 Years
Over 30 years at Plenteth
Our family's connection with Plenteth stretches back more than three decades.
Over those years, the land and buildings have changed, and so have we. What began as a family home has gradually grown into a much bigger exploration of how we live, grow, learn and use the resources around us.
Some changes have been practical. Others have come through years of observing the land, trying things, making mistakes and learning what works.
There isn't a finished version of Plenteth. It's a place that continues to grow with us.
The Farmhouse
An old farmhouse with a new chapter
At the heart of Plenteth is our Grade II listed thatched Cornish cob farmhouse, with a history stretching back centuries.
Restoring and caring for a building like this means respecting what has come before while finding ways for it to work for family life today.
Original character and traditional materials sit alongside modern comforts and technology — something that reflects the wider story of Plenteth itself.
We love the idea that an old building doesn't have to stand still. It can continue to adapt, while keeping the character and history that make it special.
Working with the land
Over the years, we've become increasingly interested in ways of working with nature rather than against it.
Permaculture ideas have influenced how we think about the land — observing how water moves, building healthy soil, growing food, planting for the future and finding ways for different parts of the system to support each other.
Around Plenteth you'll find woodland and growing areas, ponds and swales, vegetables and perennial plants, as well as chickens and ducks who have their own part to play.
Some things work beautifully. Some become experiments. And some send us back to the drawing board.
That's part of the learning too.
Old meets new
One of the things that fascinates us about Plenteth is the relationship between old ideas and new technology.
Alongside our centuries-old farmhouse you'll find modern renewable-energy technology, including our wind turbine, solar generation and energy storage.
We're interested not only in generating energy, but in understanding where it comes from, how we capture it, how we store it and how we use it wisely.
That curiosity has now become part of the experience we're beginning to share with families staying at Plenteth through our Catch It, Store It, Use It! energy workshop.
Family & Learning
Learning differently
Education and learning have always been important to our family, and home education has encouraged us to think differently about where and how learning happens.
We believe children — and adults — learn enormously through real experiences: asking questions, making things, growing things, exploring outdoors, meeting people and following interests wherever they lead.
That's one of the reasons Plenteth feels particularly suited to home-educating families.
You don't have to home educate to share that philosophy. You just need to be curious.
Still Evolving
Plenteth is still evolving
We have plenty of ideas for what Plenteth might become.
We're continuing to develop the land, growing spaces and renewable-energy systems, and we're beginning to explore ways of sharing more of what happens here with our guests.
Over time, we'd love Plenteth to become a place for occasional workshops, family learning experiences, wellbeing and retreats — alongside remaining what it is first and foremost: a wonderful place for families to come to Cornwall and spend time together.
Your Plenteth Story
Come and make your own Plenteth story
Every family experiences Plenteth differently.
For some it's a base for big Cornwall adventures. For others it's grandparents and grandchildren finally having time together. It might be a week of beaches and rock pools, conversations about wind turbines and growing food, or simply slowing down for a while.
However you spend your time here, we hope Plenteth gives you the space to explore, learn and reconnect.
We'd love to welcome you.
