Win a Three-Night Escape in Porthcothan Bay, Cornwall

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED.

Winter blues? We prefer ours in the sapphire shades of Cornwall's Atlantic coast. That's why we're offering you the chance to win a three-night, self-catered getaway for you and up to five friends in Porthcothan Bay.

Cradled by grassy dunes, this rocky cove between Newquay and Padstow is the kind of place where days spent surfing and chugging lungfuls of sea air on cliff-top walks are best followed by evenings swapping stories around a roaring fire.

No hearth is more welcoming than that of Porthcothan Mill Cottage. Dating back to 1597 - when Queen Elizabeth I was still on the throne - this former mill is the oldest building in the village. It shows in the honeyed beams, quirky alcoves and pitch-roof bedrooms, but more so in the way that the cottage immerses you in the wilderness. Social distancing can be tricky in the city. It comes naturally here.

The garden is the stuff of which novels are written. Cocooned by the valley and ivy-shrouded trees, its rutted lawn is crisscrossed by what was once the mill's leat - as well as local wildlife, if you approach quietly.

On a crisp morning, wander over to the end of the garden where a packhorse bridge connects with a footpath that winds to the bucolic valley, stroll through the fields to the beach, or, perhaps, jump in the car - Padstow and Watergate Bay are within a short drive.

Back at Porthcothan Mill Cottage, bundle into the utility room, where a dedicated shower takes care of any sandy wetsuits, surfboards and pets. Evenings here are characterised by home-cooked meals around the sky-lit dining table; board games with your playlist streaming through the Bang & Olufsen speakers; dozing off on the couch with the warmth of the log fire on your cheek. If you do make it to bed: snag bedroom two for the best valley views.

Full terms and conditions can be found here.