Porth Holidays
  • Welcome
  • Things To do
    • St Ives
    • Penzance
    • Newlyn
    • Mousehole
    • Marazion
    • Praa Sands
    • Hayle
    • Sennen
    • St Just
    • Lands End
    • Porthcurno
    • Perranporth
    • Porthleven
    • Falmouth
    • Newquay
    • The Lizard
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Porth Holidays Blog

6 Unexpected benefits of cold water and wild swimming

10/27/2024

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Immersing oneself in the icy embrace of cold water can be like drawing a powerful bowstring back, preparing for the release. Just as the founder and CEO who participated in this piece illuminate, the latent power of cold water holds formidable surprises. While one expert initiates the discussion by seeing it as a tool to build mental resilience, another wraps it up by celebrating its ability to boost creativity. Altogether, this article features six intriguing insights from experts who share their experiences.
  • Build Mental Resilience
  • Increase Resilience to Stress
  • Improve Skin Health and Vitality
  • Strengthen the Immune System
  • Gain Mind-Body Control
  • Boost Creativity
man going into ocean

Build mental resilience

One lesser-known benefit of cold-water or wild swimming is how it builds mental resilience. Regularly plunging into cold water trains you to embrace discomfort and face challenges head-on. Over time, this habit of doing hard things translates into other areas of life—whether it's tackling tough projects at work or pushing through personal obstacles, you're better equipped to handle it. Cold-water swimming isn't just about physical endurance; it's about strengthening your mindset, proving to yourself that you can conquer the uncomfortable—in all areas of your life.

Laurel Robbins, Founder, Monkeys and Mountains Hiking & Adventure Travel
woman wearing swimming hat and goggles

Increase resilience to stress

One lesser-known benefit of cold-water or wild swimming is its positive effect on increasing resilience to stress. The act of immersing oneself in cold water triggers the body's stress response, releasing adrenaline and increasing heart rate. However, over time, regularly practicing cold-water swimming can help the body adapt to these stressors, effectively training the nervous system to become more resilient to everyday stresses. 

This process, often referred to as "hormesis," leads to improved emotional regulation and a greater sense of calm when facing other stressful situations. The controlled exposure to cold water conditions the body and mind to handle stress more effectively, resulting in reduced anxiety and an enhanced ability to cope with life's challenges. The mental boost and sense of accomplishment that come from facing and adapting to the cold can significantly contribute to overall emotional well-being.

Aviad Faruz, CEO, MANOR
Person swimming into ocean waves

Improve skin health and vitality

As a dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon, I have seen the benefits of cold-water exposure for skin health and vitality. Brief cold-water immersion causes vasoconstriction, reducing inflammation in the skin, then vasodilation as the body reheats itself, increasing blood flow. This repeated process over time strengthens capillaries and collagen production, leading to firmer, clearer skin. Patients of mine who practice cold-water therapy tend to heal faster from procedures and maintain healthier skin overall.

On a personal note, I find that a quick ocean swim in the mornings helps alleviate joint pain from years of surfing and snowboarding. The anti-inflammatory effects and hydrostatic pressure relieve pressure points and ease stiffness. Mentally, the shock of cold water plunges you into a meditative state, reducing excessive worry and quieting the mind. I credit cold-water swims for helping me start each day focused and present.

For those seeking natural solutions for skin health or mental well-being, cold-water immersion provides benefits beyond bracing yourself against the chill. While discomforting at first, the rewards of improved sleep, reduced stress, anti-aging effects, and pain relief make cold-water swimming worth incorporating into your self-care routine. The skin is our largest organ, and cold exposure is a simple way to nourish it from the outside in.

Dr Saami, Chief Executive Officer, SOM Aesthetics
man with tattoos sat by ocean

Strengthen the immune system

Cold water or wild swimming can offer some physical as well as mental benefits that a lot of people do not realize. One benefit that most people don’t realize is that it can help strengthen the immune system because cold water exposure stimulates the production of white blood cells.

While cold-water exposure swimming can be beneficial, it’s very important to approach it with caution, especially if you have any underlying health conditions, as it can have some negative side effects. I always recommend consulting with a healthcare professional first before attempting any kind of ice bath, cold-water plunge, or swim.

Sulo King, Integrative Health & Wellness Coach, Pacific Pearl La Jolla
boy swimming in ocean

Gain mind-body control

One lesser-known impact of daily ice bathing, when practiced in complete stillness over several years, is the profound change in your perception and control over your body's automatic responses. When you stop fighting the cold and instead surrender to it, focusing on slow, meditative breathing, you merge acute environmental stress with extreme mental focus. This consistent practice allows you to observe your involuntary reactions to the cold—such as shivering or rapid breathing—more clearly and consciously.

With repeated exposure, you begin to understand these physical reactions not just as reflexive but as processes that can be influenced. By becoming aware of these responses, you gain the ability to control them to some degree. For instance, some practitioners can minimize or even halt shivering in extremely cold conditions, demonstrating a newfound mastery over what is typically an automatic response. This is not achieved through sheer willpower alone, but rather through a gradual process of neuroplasticity, where the brain adapts and learns to manage stress more effectively.

This form of mind-body control parallels the kind of training performed by Shaolin monks, who undergo rigorous meditation and physical exercises to endure pain and extreme stress. Their ability to perform extraordinary feats, like standing on one leg for hours or breaking objects with their bare hands, comes from their ability to remain calm, focused, and aware despite physical discomfort. Similarly, in ice bathing, long-term ice bathers can achieve a heightened state of mental clarity and bodily control by consistently combining focused breathing and a relaxed mind with the environmental stress of cold exposure.

Dan Ioffe, Founder, Submerge
Person wild swimming

Boost creativity

Cold-water swimming, or any cold-water exposure, can boost creativity through several mechanisms. The shock of cold water triggers a surge of norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter associated with alertness and cognitive function. This heightened state of arousal, combined with the novel sensory experience, may spark new neural connections and unconventional thinking patterns. 

Additionally, the meditative aspect of swimming and the forced focus on the present moment can help clear mental clutter, allowing for fresh perspectives to emerge. Some cold-water swimmers report experiencing a sense of euphoria or "runner's high" after their swim, which may contribute to a more open and creative mindset.

Ryan Brown, Founder, Plunge Junkies
man wild swimming
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How to advertise your holiday home

10/23/2022

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​Here are 10 tips for how and where to advertise your holiday accommodation, these tips will be helpful for any holiday let owners running their own self-catered accommodation. In today’s competitive holiday letting market its vital to use all the tools that are available to boost bookings.

Social media

The use of social media in today’s world is essential in connecting with guests of all ages from all around the world. The most used social media platforms that suit the holiday letting industry are Facebook and Instagram. It’s best not to use to many platforms and if you don’t have much spare time, just pick one and put all your time into doing it well. Your posts should include pictures and information on your property’s features, what the local area is like, things to do and restaurants that are nearby.
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Modern website

Having a modern website with a booking platform integrated is the only way to get direct bookings without paying third party companies any commission for getting you bookings. There are some free booking platforms you can use such as Freetobook and if you need more professional features paid versions are available too. It is also very important your website is mobile friendly in fact 71% of the visitors to Porth Holidays website over the last 6 months have been from users on mobiles, make sure all photos and information is clearly set out and it is super easy to book your accommodation through a mobile. You can build a modern template website quickly and at low cost by using website builders like Wix or go bespoke and have a tailored website made by a professional exactly how you want it, we recommend Pure Cornish Design they made our Porth Holidays website you are currently visiting, it is also important to have a strong SEO stragety (search engine optimisation) this means using the correct keywords on your website to show in Google search results, we have temaed up with Smart Seo Cornwall for some help and advice with SEO.
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Thoughtful content

​Think about who your target audience is and write for them for example if your holiday home is a 4-bedroom house close to a beach your main target audience is families looking for beach holidays, explain in detail how close the beach is and what amenities are they, also what other attractions are close by that would be great for kids? If you accept dogs where are the closest dog friendly beaches and is there a dog ban at any point in the year? If your writing skills aren’t the best or you just don’t have the time don’t worry, you can easily hire a content writer from the digital services website fiverr. Its low cost and the websites freelance creators can offer many other digital services like website building, photo editing, voice overs.
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Paid advertising

There are a few options when using paid advertising, you can boost posts on Facebook and Instagram. You can also add your property to listing sites which promote direct bookings, these usually cost around £250 per year for just a property profile. Porth Holidays not only offer comprehensive holiday let management, but also offer the exciting opportunity for holiday let owners to simply advertise with us for less than £2 a week! This service is specifically designed to help property owners that are happy running their own self-catering accommodation in Cornwall get more direct bookings. Find out more on our Advertise with us page.
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Pricing your holiday let

Setting the correct pricing for your holiday home is important but you should always remain flexible as the market can change throughout the year, and it usually does! For example if 5 new properties come on the market in your local area that are very similar to yours and all of them have lower pricing you may find a drop in bookings if you don’t adjust to the new local competition – However if you feel you have more features and are confident your pricing is correct and gives good value, it’s worth seeing how the next couple of months go and monitor the bookings, are their calendars filling up with more bookings than yours? You should also think about discounts for long stays, as they are becoming more popular amongst holidaymakers. Read our blog on 10 features to guarantee more bookings
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Great photos & videos 

​Having great photos & videos showing off your holiday accommodation is essential in today’s increasingly competitive holiday letting market, help potential guests visualise the spaces and exactly what it would be like to stay in your property, achieve this with high quality photos & videos - We have a blog sharing the photography tips and tricks we use when photographing new properties getting added to our portfolio of self-catered accommodation in Cornwall. Read our holiday letting photography guide.
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Awards boost bookings

If you holiday accommodation is high quality, follows all the current regulations and is a unique place to be, you should think about entering it for a tourism award or certificate, for example a Visit England award for excellence or enter the Cornwall Tourism awards.
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Reviews & feedback for your holiday home

​The best marketing for your property is having multiple glowing guests reviews, it is the biggest deciding factor on if a potential guest will book your property or not! Remember constructive criticism should not be taken to heart and be looked at positively, if there are small ways to improve your accommodation that you haven't thought of guests will let you know in the reviews or private feedback, take note and make the improvements, even if its small things like, more cutlery, a stiff door handle or scuffs on the paintwork. Respond to all good and bad reviews and if you think it’s unfair explain why, anyone reading the reviews can usually tell if the previous guests where being unreasonable and it won’t put them off. Tip: If you do get an extremely harsh review wait 24hours before composing your reply, often replies in angry will not come across very well and make the situation look worse.
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List with other holiday booking platforms

To gain maximum exposure get your property listed on a few of the biggest third-party booking platforms such as, Airbnb, Booking.com or VRBO. Using these services can come at a cost, up to 20% plus VAT of your booking value, many will find this acceptable due to the number of extra bookings and exposure being on these booking platforms brings. These big companies have huge marketing budgets which gives you a high chance of getting extra bookings, which is why they can charge a lot of commission. Big name brand invest huge amounts of money in search engine optimisation which is why having your property listed with them means you'll have the best chance of being seen, for help and advice with SEO just to to our friends at Smart SEO Cornwall to get a boost in rankings!
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Join a holiday letting agency 

This option suits owners who don’t live in the area their holiday let is located or don’t have the time or knowledge to put into promoting and maintaining there holiday accommodation and all its visitors, join a holiday letting agency who can take care of everything in the above list for you. Here at Porth Holidays we offer low commission comprehensive management for holiday lets in West Cornwall, find out more on our Join us page.
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Holiday letting photography guide

10/5/2022

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Getting started with property photography

Having great photos showing off your holiday accommodation is essential in todays increasingly competitive holiday letting market, help potential guests visualise exactly what it would be like to stay in your property with high quality photos - In this blog we are sharing the photography tips and tricks we use when photographing new properties getting added to our portfolio of self catered accommodation in Cornwall. Here are 5 things you must do before you start snapping away!

✓Clean - This should go without saying but the property needs to be spotless, grubby paintwork, mould spots, stains on carpets, smudges on mirrors all need to be taken care of before anything else
✓ De-clutter - Remove any personal items or clutter that may distract potential guests looking at your holiday home
✓ Straighten everything - Picture frames, furniture, blinds and curtains all need to look perfectly straight and symmetrical
✓ Turn on the lights - This creates a feeling of warmth and avoids dark spots in any of the rooms
✓ Checklist - Its good practice to plan ahead so you know what photos you need to get, for example 2 main shots of the room, one of the view from the window (must be a great view) one close up per room - for example, artwork, ornaments ,house plants. one shot of the main feature in the room - for example exposed granite wall, log burner, free standing bath, etc ...

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Photography guide for the kitchen 

When preparing for holiday home photography we usually start in the hub of the house, the kitchen!

✓ Staging with props such as food can help guests imagine what it would be like to sit down for a family meal at your property 
✓ Put away all cleaning products and hide the rubber gloves 
✓ If you leave a hamper set one out and show it off
✓ less is more, de clutter the worktops and only keep the essentials
✓ Have useful appliances that guests would like to use on show such as coffee machines, wine fridges, blenders etc
✓ Move around the kitchen shooting from all corners and don't be afraid to get close ups
✓ Put away tea towels or oven gloves, these can obscure the clean lines of kitchen units
✓ Watch out for reflections in shiny surfaces like work tops or fridge doors
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​Photography guide for the dining room 

✓ Straighten out the table and chairs perfectly
✓ Set the table, it doesn't necessarily have to be with food but cutlery or a vase of flowers will help set the scene
✓ Make sure you have a table big enough to sit your maximum occupancy or show all of the seating arrangements for the guests
✓  If there is patio doors leading outside, show them open and if there is a really nice view from them show that in the next shot
✓ Make sure any artwork on the walls has been straightened, if its from a well known or local artist get a close up shot
✓ If the next room is visible from the dining room, show the connecting spaces so guests feel like they understand the layout of the property 
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​Photography guide for the lounge 

✓  Plump cushions and set out sofa throws in a causal yet inviting way
✓ If you have a log burner? light a fire! show off your features as much as you can
✓ If you have a smart TV with streaming services such as Netflix pause the screen and show it or leave the screen on an attractive background.
✓ Set the coffee table with book or magazine and a cup of coffee....or tea!
✓ Make sure the floors are clear, rugs are flat and running perfectly straight with the furniture
✓ Don't be afraid to move furniture around if things aren't looking quite right
✓ Take photos from inside the doorway to get a wider picture of the room
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​Photography guide for the bathroom 

✓ Leave the toilet seat down! Nobody wants to see the insides of a toilet
✓ Put any cleaning products away to declutter the floors or worktops
✓ Make sure it is sparkling clean
✓If you leave toiletries for your guests leave some on show, keeping in mind you may change your mind about leaving toiletries in the future.
✓ If you have a feature bath, make sure its filled up with bubbles and looks inviting
✓ Any towels left for your guests make sure they are folded straight
✓ Don't take to many pictures unless the bathroom is a big feature of the house
✓ Clean any water spots on taps or shower screens, it must be spotless. Same goes for the mirrors!
✓ ​Small decorations look great for example, house plants, candles, tasteful ornaments
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​Photography guide for the bedroom 

✓ Plump up any pillows and make it look comfortable
✓ Make the beds neatly (iron the sheets if necessary) and try dressing them with cushions or throws 
✓ Lay towels on the bed exactly how they will be one the day the guests arrive 
✓ Small props for staging could include, coffee, tea or a book on the bedside drawers
✓ Turn on any lamps to for a warm feel
✓ Make sure any mirrors are smudge free and spotless
✓ Don't forget about close ups of features or design elements of the room
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​Photography guide for the outside areas 

✓  The best time to shoot the exterior is 1 hour after sunrise or 1 hour before sunset also known as the 'golden hour'
✓ The best time of year to photograph the garden is spring or summer time when there are splashes of colour from new flowers
✓ If your property has a large driveway or a tight parking space, guests will want to be able to see the parking arrangements (Include exact measurements in your listing if the spaces are small)
✓ ​Cut the grass and trim the hedges, sweep up any leaves
✓ Arrange any garden furniture available for the guests to use including BBQ's, parasol's etc
✓ Show any toys or play areas for kids or pets 
✓ Watch out for glare from the sun
✓ Get close ups of any flowers that are in your garden 
✓ If you are luck enough to have a hot tub, turn it on with any jets or lights it has
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Photography guide for the features

Get close ups of all the property features even if they are small touches, it will give guests a the feel of your property, for example:
✓ Log burners
✓ Aerial photo of great location
✓ Amazing views
✓ Large parking areas
✓ Hot tubs
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Final checks and editing

✓ Check through your photos making sure non are blurry 
✓ Did you get all the photos you needed from your checklist?
✓Delete any photos that don't give a true representation of the size, design or feel of your property. Giving the wrong impression can lead to unhappy guests and bad reviews.

5 quick tips for using editing software:

✓ Adjust white balance from lights creating orange yellow glow
✓ Bring up the shadows and lower the highlights
✓ Straighten the frame, doors or windows need to look vertical and level
✓ Add some saturation and vibrance but you must keep it natural!
✓ Use preset filters with caution , to much editing can actually put guests off, keep it 'light and bright'
We use Adobe Lightroom for all our photo editing

Holiday letting with Porth Holidays 

The thing to remember with holiday home photography is to capture as best you can the feel of the property and what it would be like to stay there - These photos need to grab your guests attention quickly so arranging them in a thought out way can help a lot when potential guests are scrolling through multiple property listings searching for there perfect Cornish getaway!
We help owners that join us set up their properties ready for holiday letting with free photography, guest folder, and no on-boarding or membership fees... actually no fees at all until we get you a booking! We can also provide a comprehensive management service with a tailored housekeeping package, including full changeover and cleaning, hampers for guests and pups, holiday essentials pack, luxury linen and towels, arranging waste removal, fire alarm safety checks and more. ​We can also help with photography for property owner's looking to advertise their holiday accommodation with us, just get in touch!


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Best places to eat in Cornwall...

4/17/2022

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Cornwall is a foodie hot spot with so many great places to get your hands on the best local treats! Here are just a few places you should really try and get to when you are visiting or even if you are lucky enough to live here – Lets kick things of with breakfast!

Breakfast 

Duke street café is in the heart of the historic town of Newlyn, they serve fresh coffee and a nice range of options including traditional, veggie and vegan breakfasts as well as bagels, sandwiches and other options. (oh, and a very nice homemade cake selection)
https://www.dukestreetcafe.co.uk/
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Reasons to visit Cornwall...

3/17/2022

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Visit the beaches

​One of the most popular reasons to visit Cornwall is for its world-famous award-winning beaches. There is plenty of options with over 300 beaches dotted around the Cornish coast, from golden sand that stretches for miles to small, sheltered coves, Cornwall has them all, the small fishing town of St Ives has 5 all to itself!
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6 Reasons To Visit St Ives

3/6/2022

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There is 5 beachs!

Porthminster – With the perfect location right next to the train station, Porthminster is a long sandy beach and its nicely sheltered so usually stays quite calm. The beach is lucky enough to have an amazing restaurant right on the sand, Porthminster beach café is known for serving fine food right on the beachfront.

Harbour beach – Situated within the thick granite harbour walls this is actually still a working harbour. This is the most central beach right in the heart of St Ives surrounded by cafes, shops, and restaurants. Including St Ives oldest pub ‘The Sloop’. The harbour walls keep the beach sheltered and the waters calm enough to swim but watch out for boats!

Porthmeor – Just Infront of the world-famous Tate gallery lies the golden sand of Porthmeor beach, there is a surf school on the beach and Porthmeor café enjoys amazing views of the Atlantic ocean.

Porthgwidden – A sandy cove on the opposite side of the headland to Porthmeor, not quite as crowded and a bit more spacious than the harbour beach makes it the perfect sunbathing spot. Some great facilities include Porthgwidden café, snack shop and there’s even beach huts for hire!

Bamaluz – Around the corner from Porthgwidden is the almost secret beach which is only accessible at low tide via steep steps. A small quiet beach which is ideal for those early morning swims.

5 beaches to choose from in one location!? We could finish the blog here, but we have 4 other equally great reasons to come and visit so please keep reading...
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The best of Cornwall on Instagram

2/20/2022

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Award winning beaches, world famous festivals, historic locations, a place where many create life long memories.... We must be talking about Cornwall 😍  To help you all get your Cornwall fix we have listed 6 amazing Instagram pages to follow that cover all things Cornish! Click on any of the page titles to be taken to that Instagram page.
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@eatdrinkcornwall

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Feeling hungry? ... well you will be after just a few scrolls of this delicious instagram feed! The best food guide to Cornwall, featuring all the amazing cuisines we have here plus all traditional Cornish foods - It keeps you updated on where to get the best fish & chips, ice cream, pasties, and of course cream teas!



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How we advertise and market properties...

1/8/2022

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Paid advertising 
We use our growing marketing budget to get the most exposure for your properties starting with engaging ads through Facebook, Instagram and Google to drum up interest in our new properties or to promote Porth Holidays and show potential guests who we are.  
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A picture is worth a thousand words

12/28/2021

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During 2021 we visited many amazing locations around all around Cornwall, places that are rich in Cornish history. Whilst exploring we have captured some images that have a story to tell...
Old quay 
Built in 1435 the old quay in Newlyn is a medieval quay and was the final port of the famous mayflower on its voyage to America, stopping of to pick up fresh water. Built to protect the harbour from wild sees and even wilder pirates, over the centuries Newlyn and neighbouring Penzance were victims of countless pirate raids, continuing until the late 1800’s. The old quay is no longer in use for commercial fishing as Newlyn has expanded its harbour and become one of the largest working harbours in the UK. 

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18 Reasons to join Porth Holidays

12/27/2021

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We can give you 18 reasons to join us here at Porth Holidays! Our fully managed package is a comprehensive service that allows owners to have stress-free, enjoyable and profitable holiday letting experience. Each reason we have listed will leave you feeling confident your property is being looked after to the highest standards, keeping guests coming back each year. Leaving you with absolutely nothing to worry about, let us take care of everything. 
1. No fees until we get your property booked! 
Here at Porth Holidays we are exceptionally proud of the management service we offer to our property owners. You pay nothing until we get your first booking and our commission is super low at just 9%! Keep reading to find out what else is included ... 
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    Here at the Porth Blog we'll share with you news, info and useful guides and tips!

    Blogs

    18 Reasons to join Porth Holidays

    Dog friendly beaches

    Legal requirements for holiday letting

    10 features to Guarantee more bookings

    Cornwalls Historic fishing harbours

    Top spots for art lovers

    ​Kids Activities

    Rainy day activities

    Restaurants with a view

    Cornish bucket list

    How we advertise our properties

    The Great Cornish Gardens

    Pet proofing tips!

    A picture is worth a thousand words

    Best Instagrams accounts in Cornwall 

    6 Reasons to visit St Ives

    Reasons to visit Cornwall


    Best places to eat in Cornwall


    Holiday letting photography guide

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Holiday Accommodation in Cornwall

  • Welcome
  • Things To do
    • St Ives
    • Penzance
    • Newlyn
    • Mousehole
    • Marazion
    • Praa Sands
    • Hayle
    • Sennen
    • St Just
    • Lands End
    • Porthcurno
    • Perranporth
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    • Falmouth
    • Newquay
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