THE FACTS ABOUT POLHAWN

England

Located at the far end of a long coastal road, Polhawn must be impressive on a clear day, with reputedly spectacular views. The fact that the fort has been booked twice a week for the past three years for weddings and parties speaks for itself, its popularity mostly due to a peerless location and a quirky history. The fort was constructed in the mid-19th century to protect the naval base at Plymouth and you can still see the original musket wall brackets, cannon arches and racer rails, as well as a recently excavated cannon outside the back door. The magazine (now the boiler room) was later used as a dungeon for errant World War I soldiers, and their writings are clearly etched on the walls. Thankfully, Polhawn is no longer the cold and unforgiving place it doubtless once was - although the entrance is across a slightly sinister drawbridge at roof level, and down a granite spiral staircase. As you descend into the main 80ft vaulted living / dining room, you enter another world: large sofas, a long, 28-seat trestle table in the centre and an area that can, if required, become a dancefloor. In winter it is centrally heated and fairy-lit, with a roaring log fire. You can imagine the place in summer: festooned with flowers, meals on the front lawn (spit roasts are very popular) followed by a quick dip in the sea. The beach (effectively, if not legally, private) is accessed by a small flight of steps at the end of the garden. Polhawn is as popular for family gatherings and birthdays as it is for weddings and, assuming you're not busy plighting your troth, you can happily spend your time here horse riding, golfing at St Mellion, shark fishing at Looe, or exploring the spectacular coastline. Dinners for up to 120 people are a regular occurrence here so catering for a group of 20 weekenders is no problem, although you can self-cater if you prefer. Officially, there is accommodation for 20, but there are mattresses for another 10 or so, and nobody is keeping count. There are eight rooms (including the four-poster honeymoon suite), seven bathrooms (six en suite), all quirky shapes and sizes. Decor is simple with crisp, white bed linen, wooden furniture and white walls dotted with large modern canvases painted by Teresa Wicksteed, who owns the place with husband John. Most crucially, every room in the fort, apart from the kitchen, has views of the ocean. When the weather is fine, that is. SLEEPS 20 PRICE £2,675-£5,950 for a three-night weekend stay. Catering from £15 per head for dinner without wine CONTACT Polhawn Fort, Rame Head, Torpoint, Cornwall (01752 822864; www.polhawn-fort.co.uk)