DRIVING past the entrance to Cosawes Park, you’d be forgiven for thinking it was just a small campsite, a field to pitch a tent or pull up a caravan, perhaps. In fact, so tucked away is this residential estate that even some of the locals don’t know it’s there!.

Drive up into the park, though, and it’s a different matter – you are immediately struck by the beautiful landscaping and homely atmosphere. The wooded hills that rise up around the park form a spectacular backdrop and help give the park its secluded, serene feel. The woods are owned by Cosawes, providing a perfect setting for quiet walks and plentiful wildlife.

The 115 acre site was originally a farm, owned by the parents of Ross Fraser, the park’s current owner. It was in the early 60s that the farm started to accommodate tents and caravans and it has grown steadily over the years to what it is today – a residential park with 115 homes and 175 residents.

Award winners

Very much a family business, the Frasers look after their residents well — so much so that a few years ago they won the coveted title of ‘Park Owners of the Year’. Residents on the park says that the friendly welcome they received from the park owners was one of the key factors in the decision to make Cosawes Park their home.

The Frasers clearly care a great deal about the park and this is reflected in the stunning landscaping and first class customer service.

Walking around, it feels more like a cosy village than a residential park. Homes are thoughtfully laid out to give a rambling, scenic feel. There are no uniform rows anywhere, and each home appears to be unique in size and shape.

The gardens are very generous and beautifully kept, featuring a stunning range of mature plants and shrubs. A stream runs down through the valley and many residents incorporate it into their gardens.

Full lives

The park is set in a valley, and many of the properties sit up on the hills around its edges, commanding amazing views out over the park, the woods and the surrounding area. Each home has an adjacent parking space, with the extra option of a covered space or individual garage.

Additional on-site facilities are limited, but through choice. A recent survey of residents found no real need for extra community buildings or forced socialising. As one resident told me,
“Our lives are already so full, we just don’t need it.”

The sense of community spirit is strong though, and annual activities such as a summer tea party and an autumn bonfire offer the chance for residents to meet en masse.

It goes without saying that Cosawes is situated in a fantastic part of the country. Cornwall is a well-loved holiday and retirement destination and Cosawes is able to benefit from local beaches, countryside and places of interest, without feeling isolated. It is easily accessible from other parts of the country and very close to both Falmouth and Truro.

Secure

Being so tucked away and well looked after makes the park feel very safe and secure, and there is the added benefit of knowing that all the roads in the park are lit at night and there is a warden living on site to deal with any day-to-day problems.

All in all, Cosawes is a fabulous park with fantastic owners, in one of the UK’s most sought after locations – a winner in every way.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, MRS RAYNER?

Mrs Rayner moved to Cosawes three years ago on a recommendation from a friend. “I’d driven past the park hundreds of times without even realising it was there,” she explains. “I did look at a few other parks, but this was by far and away, on every level so much nicer.”

She was impressed from day one with the support from site staff and by the thought and care that goes into the surroundings. “It’s stunning, an absolute delight. The park owners  couldn’t have been more helpful when I arrived. I couldn’t believe my good fortune when I first came here. It’s so calm and restful, healing in many ways.”

Mrs Rayner travels regularly and enjoys the security a park home gives her. “I go away from time to time and can feel fully confident that my home is safe. Not only are there staff on site, but my neighbours, too, are always there to keep an eye on things.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK, MR AND MRS MURPHY?

Mr and Mrs Murphy bought their home new more than seven years ago and were one of the first on the site’s newest development – 12 new homes that were sited between 2000 and 2006. Their living room has three large windows on two sides, commanding stunning views across the park.

“We pulled up at the gate and it was just beautiful. The owners were fantastic and we were able to plan the plot just as we wanted it.” This flexibility even went as far as turning the house back to front.

“We actually have the front door at the back – we’ve turned the whole house around to make the most of the views.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK, MR AND MRS ARCHER?

The Archers first visited the park in 2004, when their plot was just a muddy hole in the ground. They moved in during 2006 and boast the longest home on the site, thanks to a 10 foot extension to their living room and bedroom.

“We had lots of input into the plot and the house, even down to positioning the plug sockets. The Fraser family [who own the park] are so involved in it; they really are genuine, considerate people.”

The flexible, welcoming attitude of the park owners was one of the deciding factors for the Archers and they have been delighted with how accommodating the owners have been in designing their plot. “We really wanted to have a summer house,” they explain, “but in its initial position we were worried about it obstructing the view from the bedroom. The owners were fantastic, though, getting round the problem simply by digging out more of the bank around the house!”

FOR SALE

At the time of writing properties available include a 1986 Tingdene Villa Twin 2 bed 36x20, £120,000; a 1989 Stately Albion Jubilee 2 bed 42x20, £150,000; a fully refurbished Omar Colorado 2 bed, £165,000; and a 1989 Stately Albion 2 bed 40x12, £80,000.

LOCAL INFO

• Local amenities: If you don’t want to make the short trip into Falmouth or Truro, you will find a small post office and general store in the nearby village of Perranarworthal. A mobile library also pays a visit to the park every two weeks.
• Health: The local doctor’s surgery is three miles away at Carnon Downs and the nearest hospital, with 24 hour A&E, is the Royal Cornwall Hospital, just down the road in Truro.
• Transport: Buses run regularly from the main road near the park to Truro and Falmouth and there is also a twice weekly minibus service directly to and from the park. There are railway stations in both Falmouth and Truro and less than 30 miles away, in Newquay, you’ll even find an airport, though this is mainly for flights within the UK.
• Eating and drinking: The nearby Norway Inn, about a mile from the park, offers a good range of food and real ales and is open for food all day, every day of the year. Take the car or bus into either of the nearby towns for a variety of cafes, pubs and restaurants.
• Entertainment: Cosawes is surrounded by beautiful coastline and countryside, and there are plenty of places locally to hire boats, as well as opportunities for sailing and windsurfing at the Windsport Watersport Action Centre in Falmouth. Nearby Truro and Falmouth both have cinemas as well as theatre and live music venues.

WHAT CAN I DO AROUND HERE?

Cathedral – Visit Truro to see the magnificent cathedral – relatively modern by cathedral standards, started in 1880, and an intriguing mix of more modern building techniques with the Victorian’s desire to recreate the medieval, gothic style.

Historic building – One of the joys of Cornwall is the wealth of National Trust properties and gardens – 21 in all, several very close to Cosawes. Go west to visit the Cornish mines and engines near Redruth, north takes you to Trerice (above), a fabulous Elizabethan manor house.

Coastline – Just a short distance south of Cosawes is St Anthony Head, which overlooks the breathtaking Fal estuary. Acquired by the National Trust in the late 50s, it offers opportunities for coastal walks and is home to the newly revealed remains of defensive fortifications.

Maritime history – If you’re a boat person, you’ll love the National Maritime Museum Cornwall in Falmouth, home to a wide range of boats, books, art and other boating memorabilia The museum’s Waterside Café has views over Falmouth’s magnificent harbour.

CONTACT

Cosawes Park, Perranarworthal, Truro, Cornwall, TR3 7QS. Tel: 01872 863724. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.cosawes.com

• Homes from £80,000
• Ground rent: £1,990pa
• Electricity billed by the park, currently 9p per unit
• Bottled gas
• Council tax Band A – approx £915pa
• No strict minimum age, but residents are expected to be middle-aged/retired with no children
• Resident children are not allowed but visiting family welcome.
• Cats are permitted, but strictly no dogs.
• Broadband is available.


This review was published in the July 2010 issue of Park & Holiday Homes. To order your copy please click here