Bosinver Farm Cottages review

There's a lot to consider when you're heading off on a UK family break - the location, the amenities, how baby or toddler friendly it is... Thankfully Bosinver Farm Cottages ticks all the right boxes, offering 20 luxury holiday cottages on a 30-acre farm in Cornwall, plus plenty for children and parents to enjoy.

From cottages that sleep, 4, 5 or 6 people, the family-run cottages come decked out with everything you need for your stay, from plates, take away coffee cups for walks around the farm, to cots and high chairs available to borrow on request. Plus, if you have any furry additions to your family, Bosinver is a dog-friendly site, even offering a dog kennel if you choose to have a bimble away from the cottages.

Bosinver Farm Cottages: The charm

From the moment you drive into this quaint magical hideaway, nestled in the beautiful Cornish, you feel a sense of excitement. Easy to navigate around the site, we found our cottage easily and settled at Valley View. With a games room tucked away in the complex to one side of our cottage, the other overlooks an open field leading down to a lake, and bendy slide and zip wire for the kiddos.

By this lake there is also huge tyre swing, and venture further down there is also a Gruffalo trail! It's clear from our first couple of hours at Bosinver that we're going to have lot of fun and our excitement quickly grows.

It's clear to see as soon as you enter the cottage that it has this luxury feel, yet homely feel. Each cottage uniquely decorated, ours had pops of bright colours throughout.

The family that run and have owned the cottages for two decades are also famous to everyone who stays here. From Farmer Dave to Nanny Pat, the adults and kids are excited to meet all the team that make this spot so special. This excitement builds as we spot Pat’s Nanny Pat’s Adventures in Cornwall book on the coffee table (based on her blog on the Bosinver website), which was packed with ideas of where to visit and lots of extra, child-friendly information, including the distance from Bosinver, how to get there and lots of tips and ideas for day-tripping with children.

Bosinver's accommodation: Getting cosy

Our cottage was just perfect for our family of four, and our pooch, Bruce. The living space comprised of the dining room, kitchen and living room, and the open plan setting made it feel open and bright during the day. At night, you could cosy up in front of the TV, without feeling the kitchen was imposing. The open plan space also meant our 4 year old and 2 year old could happily sit at the table and mould Play D'oH, while us adults cooked or made a cuppa.

I loved the bright colour scheme – from the art on the walls to the throws on the beds, everything was thoughtfully picked out, visually appealing and of high quality. The bed in the master bedroom had to be what seemed like a small double to fit in cosy room, however there was an ensuite and clever storage cupboard that didn't overpower the space.

The second of two bedrooms in Valley View had a single bed, we also popped the cot in there, and also included an ensuite. This ensuite had a bathtub, as opposed to the shower in the master ensuite, which was perfect for the bath time with our little ones.

Valley View sleeps four people, and upon arrival the cot was already set up. We had a long journey ahead on our 5-hour trip to Cornwall, so having a cottage all set up, the family even popped on the heating for us, our arrival was seamless, and blooming comfy!

The rooms came with good blackout blinds making bed time lush for the adults too, which I imagine would make a huge difference in the summer months.

The kitchen was stocked with everything we could possibly need, including an array of plastic bowls, plates, beakers and cutlery for our kids. The fridge and freezer were convenient and there was plenty of cupboard space for the bags and bags of food we had brought with us. Valley View also has a dishwasher, and there was a laundry room near reception, which had free washing machines to use.

We also requested a highchair, which was waiting for us when we arrived. Even more excitingly, there was a selection of tea and coffee, and a Cornish Food box festive hamper upon arrival. The team also have waste, recycling and food composting available to site.

What is there to do at Bosinver Farm Cottages?

Our cottage was right next to the games room, which included board games, a ping table and pool table. Within a few minutes we could walk to the indoor, heated pool facility, and an additional minute later we were at Bosinver's play barn.

You quickly feel like you're staying, and feel welcomed, into someone else's home. The play barn was a completely separate sectioned off building, which had a full on soft play, ride-on toys, a playhouse, books, games galore, a sound system and a sofa (a nice addition for the adults).

Our children didn't want to leave, and it added to the routine of our stay. There was also a toilet here, so you didn't need to leave when nature calls.

At 9.30am every morning, 10.30am on Christmas Day, there was the opportunity to meet famous Farmer Dave and help feed the animals and gather eggs. My 2 year old decided to take a couple of eggs, and luckily none broke.

Farmer Dave, and his grandchildren, are on hand with animal feed to pour into everyone’s hands while the chickens, ducks and cheeky goats gather around for breakfast. We also got close up with the sheep and even got to experience a pony ride. While my 2 year old wasn't sure about the pony ride, my 4 year old was totally game, and owner Paul ensured everyone was safe and enjoyed the experience.

There is also a big playground on site with tractor climbing frames, slides, a sandpit, swings, a large playhouse and big outdoor trampoline.

As we mentioned there's a heated indoor swimming pool, which we loved. It had spotless changing rooms and it was such a treat to be able to book a private slot via the app and have the whole pool to ourselves. The pool is all one depth, which is perfect for an adult to stand up in. Our toddlers used floats and our aid to support them in the pool, and while they couldn't step around and splash themselves, it was honestly still a relaxing experience.

Due to the weather and also deciding to spend family time together, we didn't get to use the onsite gym or outdoor tennis courts, however they are accessible to everyone who stays and is included in the price of the stay.

Forest school session at Bosinver!

Another activity we recommend is booking the kids in to attend Bosinver's Wild Kids session. To the right of the indoor play barn, and up the hill, is a wooden, thatched outdoor space, where the family have built a kid's messy play, forest school dream.

Held usually once a week, Forest School Leader, Tatum took our kids on an adventure, exploring and making some fun ornaments.

Both my little ones were in their element, getting help hammering wood, playing in the mud kitchen, making wood statues, and toasting marshmallows by the fire. Tatum makes the experience fun, friendly for all ages, and above all a safe space. This really is good, old fashioned outdoor fun at its finest.

Surrounding areas to visit: Cornwall adventures

Bosinver is a five minute drive from St Austell and is actually close to a lot of Cornwall's treasures. You're able to spend time at the Lost Gardens of Heligan – a beautiful National Trust run property and gardens. Other places to pin and visit are:

The highlight of our week was visiting the Minack Theatre and then Tehidy Woods, we we enjoyed an immersive outdoor theatre experience by Rogue Otherworld. This added to the whole experience, and made us feel truly one with nature helping us escape from our daily routines.

What is there to eat?

Bosinver is self-catering, so we made sure we brought a food shop with us for the week. Our Cornish Hamper, supplied by Bosinver added to our food journey. You can also use Bosinver's grocery ordering service to help. If you should need anything during the week, there are a couple of famous supermarkets 10 minute drive away.

How much does it cost to visit?

For a 5-night stay, for 4 people, staying at Valley View cottage, the price is around £700 (this is based on March 2024 prices). Although the site is self-catering, the onsite activities make the cost worthwhile, feeling like you're getting a lot of bang for your buck. In addition, the family feel and welcome nature of the team, make this trip worth while. Factor in some petrol money if you're travelling from afar, and get we recommend trying out Bosinver, especially for those travelling with under 10 year olds.

Get 10% off holidays in May & June

To save on your Bosinver stay, use the discount code MB10 for 10% off holidays in May and June, exclusively for Mother and Baby readers. It can not be used in conjunction with any other code or offer.

Maria Martin is Digital Group Editor for Yours.co.uk and Motherandbaby.com. She is a mum-of-two with a passion for helping women from all walks of life – from supporting breastfeeding mothers with expert advice to encouraging conversations about mental health. In her professional role, she has over 10 years' experience in the digital world, including editing articles, focussing on SEO, social media engagement, picture researching and video editing.