PRESS RELEASE: 👑🌊 An Iconic Waterfront Gem Hits the Open Market – A Royal Legacy Awaits. 🏰✨
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Opportunity to Own One of Cornwall’s Most Distinguished Homes. A Prime Waterside Jewel Where Royalty Once Walked.
Set on the shores of the exclusive Cornish coastal village of St Mawes, Penolva is a rare and distinguished waterfront residence with a remarkable royal legacy. Offering panoramic world-class views, a private slipway, and direct access to the scenic coastline of the Roseland Peninsula, this spectacular home is a unique opportunity for those seeking heritage, privacy, and a premier coastal lifestyle.
A Home with Royal Provenance
Cornwall has long been a favourite escape for royals, celebrities and statesmen alike, but St Mawes holds a particularly special place in the heart of the Royal Family. Nestled in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Penolva has hosted members of the monarchy for decades.
Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, and The Queen Mother all made regular stops here during their Royal Yacht Britannia voyages, with the late Queen Mother often coming ashore via Penolva’s private slipway to enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace. Princess Diana is also said to have stayed in St Mawes, while King Charles III and Queen Camilla frequently visited as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, staying at the nearby Hotel Tresanton.
A Private Headland Retreat
Built in the early 1960s by Dick Wilkins, a close friend of the Queen Mother and prominent London businessman, this trophy home is aptly named Penolva, meaning “lookout on the headland.” Its commanding position offers unrivalled views across Summers Beach, the Percuil River, St Mawes Harbour, and as far as the Manacles on the Lizard Peninsula — a staggering 50 miles on a clear day.
With 0.34 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, tiered terraces, and mature Mediterranean-style planting, the grounds are designed for privacy, seclusion, and stunning outdoor living. Direct access to the foreshore and water via a private stone stairway completes this rare coastal haven.
Impeccable Accommodation with Timeless Character
Sympathetically modernised, Penolva retains the charm of the Arts and Crafts movement, while delivering contemporary comforts of versatile living space.
Highlights include:
- Four en-suite bedrooms, all with breathtaking sea views
- An exceptional open-plan Drawing Room, complete with wood-burning fireplace and distinct reading and music areas
- Elegant Dining Room and Kitchen/Breakfast Room with an Aga, all opening onto the sun terraces
- Detached 2-bedroom guest annexe (Little Penolva) with Juliette balcony
- Wine store, utility rooms, and outbuildings ideal for boating equipment
Planning permission (now lapsed) had been granted to further enhance the home with an upper-level extension and rooftop balcony, providing potential for future owners.
St Mawes – Cornwall’s Crown Jewel
Voted “Top Seaside Town in the UK” by Which?, St Mawes is affectionately known as “Britain’s St Tropez”. It boasts a vibrant year-round community, fine dining establishments, boutique shopping, and exceptional sailing waters. The Hotel Tresanton and Idle Rocks attract a discerning clientele, with chefs like Carla Jones, Paul Wadham, and Simon Stallard adding culinary flair to the areas allure. Ferries connect St Mawes with Falmouth, while road links to Truro, Plymouth, and Cornwall Airport Newquay ensure the area remains both secluded and accessible.
Penolva at a Glance
đź“Ť St Mawes, Roseland Peninsula, Cornwall, UK.
🏡 4 En-suite Bedrooms + 2-Bed Guest Annexe
🌊 Panoramic Views of the sea, beautiful harbour & lighthouse
🛋️ Impressive L-Shaped Drawing Room with character & charm
🚤 Private Slipway with direct foreshore access
🌿 0.34 Acres of landscaped gardens
For those seeking heritage, privacy, and waterfront prestige, Penolva is quite simply without equal.
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