BETWEEN Fowey and St Austell on the spectacular south Cornish coast lies the little port of Par. Despite a sheltered sandy beach bordered by dunes, the proximity of the Eden Project and a station on both London to Penzance line and the Atlantic Coast Line to Newquay, the town is quieter than many of the other coastal hotspots.

It’s a pretty good location for retirement, in other words, especially if you can find a spot like Mountlea Country Park, surrounded by beautiful countryside, with breathtaking views.

Mountlea is a recent, beautifully landscaped development of 72 homes, spread over 10 acres above Carlyon Bay, and many of the generously-sized plots have sea views. Homes have fenced gardens, too, and many have garages.

The park is handy for the town’s amenities. A bus for St Austell, four miles away, stops outside the gate. The Eden Project can be reached by bus from St Austell, or just a three mile walk up the lovely Luxulyan valley from Par (and an annual pass can cost the same as a £15 day ticket).

There’s a Championship golf course at the nearby Carlyon Bay Hotel, and a 9-hole Par 3 course a little further on.


FOR SALE

At the time of writing, homes available include a 2003 Omar Heritage 45x20 2 bed, £177,000; 1999 Tingdene Dolben Lodge 42x209 2 bed, £169,000; a 1999 Homeseeker Grampian 40x20 2 bed, £156,000; and a 1988 Omar Princess 20x20, £89,950.


LOCAL INFO

• Local amenities: Shops within half a mile; two super-markets just over half a mile; two banks and two post offices within 1 mile.
• Health: Two GP’s surgeries, a dentist and two pharmacies within 1 mile; two opticians in St Aust-ell (3 miles). Nearest hospital with A&E at Treliske near Truro (17.5 miles).
• Transport: Par’s station about a mile, with connections to Plymouth, London, Truro, Penzance and Newquay. Buses pass the park for St Austell, Mevagissey or Fowey.
• Eating & drinking: There are four pubs within a mile, a couple of takeaways in Par and plenty of restaurants for all tastes in St Austell.
• Entertainment: White River cinema in St Austell shows the latest releases; nearest theatres are in Newquay (16 miles) and Truro (17); there are leisure centres in St Austell and Fowey.


WHAT CAN I DO AROUND HERE?

Model train heaven - If you’re a fan, the World of Model Railways at Mevagissey is home to one of the best model shops in the UK, along with its 00 guage layout with more than 30 trains running.Going slow

The Tortoise Garden - St Austell, is a sanctuary for the rescue, care and conservation of all breeds of tortoises. Thieves have recently stolen a number of rare animals, so the project needs support.


CONTACT

Mountlea Country Park, The Mount, Par, Cornwall PL24 2JW Tel: 01934 808073 Email: [email protected] Website: www.vowlesparks.co.uk

Price
Homes from £89,950

• Ground rent from £93.57 per month
• 50-plus, retired or semi-retired
• Pets by arrangement
• Underground bulk tank gas to all homes
• Telephone lines supplied by BT
• Electricity supplied directly from a contractor of your choice
• Council Tax paid to Council (Bands vary)


This review was published in the October 2009 issue of Park & Holiday Homes magazine. To order our latest issue please click here.


Park & Holiday Homes magazine offers reprints of all homes and parks we've reviewed in our magazine. To view our latest index of reviews see our current issue click here.