The Old School House - Cardinham

This Visit England Industry Standard mark means that our business has followed government and industry COVID-19 guidelines, has a Risk Assessment in place and a process to maintain cleanliness and aid social distancing. Here are links to our Risk Assessment and AA Rated Trips accreditation.

This is the review from a post lock-down guest: Fantastic area to stay in Cornwall for walks and to visit local attractions. Libby was fantastic, very kind and helpful. Their house is stunning and the gardens are very beautiful and peaceful. The building is basic but perfect. Comfortable bed, shower was great, room was warm and cosy. Parking was great and not an issue and the area was peaceful and very quiet. I can’t thank the hosts enough and I hope to see them again soon.

Dear guests we are currently closed but very much looking forward to hosting you at The Old School House and sharing the delights of Cornwall. We hope to be open from May 17th, restrictions permitting, and we are currently taking bookings for a minimum of two nights from this date. Cornwall is likely to get very busy this year once restrictions are lifted so book early to make sure you get the dates you want. If we go into another lockdown we will refund your booking in full.

Do plan ahead and book meals and visits to attraction in advance as numbers are limited and you may not get the date or time you wish.
We will do all we can to make sure you have an enjoyable stay in this quiet and tranquil part of our lovely county of Cornwall.

The Old School House, established as a small B & B in 1992, is a comfortable, Victorian schoolhouse, built in 1838, set in pretty, mature gardens on the edge of the unspoiled moorland village of Cardinham. It was the village school and school house until the current school opened in 1881, since then it has undergone a number of changes until the present owners took it over in 1986.

Sympathetically modernised and updated it now offers a comfortable home and a peaceful and relaxing holiday retreat, off the beaten track, although only 1½ miles from the main A30 trunk road. If it is peace and tranquility off the beaten track you are seeking this is the place for you! We work hard to be a sustainable business, sourcing goods and services locally.

We are very aware of sustainable issues and do our best to source products and services locally. We also actively encourage wildlife into our gardens: we have two bird feeding stations and a small patch of unmown grass which we leave for wild flowers and grasses. Living as we do right on the edge of woodland there is no shortage of bird and mammal life right next door! Out latest project is beekeeping and we have two hives and a nucleus of bees will be arriving in early summer. We can't wait to learn more about these fascinating and vital creatures.

We are delighted that our garden is one of those opening under the National Gardens Scheme: https://youtu.be/eQjSD6IZ544 Have a look and be inspired!

All accommodation is on the ground floor, there are two rooms: a single with a shower and a double with a bath. The double is in the main house with lovely views across the delightful garden. This room has colour TV with Freesat, refreshment tray with complimentary Furniss biscuits, radio alarm, central heating and en-suite bathroom, having a bath with shower over. The Bothy, is a small very pretty, stone and slate building about five yards from the main house offering single occupancy with a shower en-suite; ideal accommodation for one person wanting privacy. There is no TV in this room but all guests are welcome to relax in the Orangery at the end of a busy day enjoying this lovely unspoilt heart of Cornwall. Both rooms have a refreshment tray.

A full English breakfast is served in the Orangery. Local produce is used wherever possible including bacon and sausages, free range eggs, home made bread and preserves.

There is off road parking for visitors and guests are invited to enjoy the gardens and watch the abundant bird life.

There is free wi-fi access.

Quality assurance:

The Old School House is awarded 4 stars by VisitBritain

We can assure guests of a warm welcome and comfortable stay. This is a non-smoking household and we ask guests not to smoke in the house.

Please note check in times are from 5 - 9 pm and check out at 10 am. As we are a very small establishment do let us know your arrival time as it is only one of us around to welcome you, give you keys etc.

Cardinham is an ideal base for touring, riding, cycling, walking and bird watching. Places to visit within half-an-hour by car include: The Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan, the National Trust property of Lanhydrock, Bodmin & Wenford Steam Railway, the pretty little ports of Fowey, Port Isaac and Padstow, and Wadebridge and and the north and south coasts. Cardinham Woods is ten minutes away offering lovely woodland walks, cycle trails, exciting mountain bike tracks and as well as a the excellent Woods Cafe for delicious home-made lunches and light refreshments. Bodmin Moor is about a mile away with its wonderful scenery, ancient monuments, unspoilt moorland and villages. And we are within easy reach of many of the beautiful Poldark and Rosamund Pilcher filming locations.

If sadly your visit includes Glynn Valley Crematorium we are only about 10 minutes drive away.