About Us
The Nancarrow family
Peter and Judith, both Cornish born and bred, came to Poltarrow in September 1982 with their young family. Judith began welcoming guests to the farmhouse for bed and breakfast, while Peter continued working as a builder and carpenter.
Then came the Great Storm of 1987, which caused considerable damage to the old farm buildings. Rather than see them demolished, Peter and Judith decided to give them a new lease of life.
Over the following years, Peter gradually transformed the buildings into the six holiday cottages you see today, with an indoor swimming pool, sports hall and play facilities for guests to enjoy.
The next generation
Today, Poltarrow is still very much a family affair, with the next generation of Nancarrows helping to run the farm and holiday cottages.
Libby, a trained chef who previously worked at The Ritz in London, looks after much of the day-to-day running of the cottages. Her eye for detail and love of interiors help make each cottage feel welcoming and comfortable.
Kate looks after the admin and marketing, as well as running our much-loved animal feeding mornings. Having previously worked as a County Organiser with the YFC, she’s happiest when she can escape the office and introduce our younger guests to the farm animals!
And then there’s Tom, who lives nearby with his family and lends a hand with maintenance and the many practical jobs that come with running a farm.
Alongside Peter and Judith, we’re proud to keep Poltarrow a small, family-run business where guests receive a genuinely personal welcome. Â
The farm
Poltarrow Farm is set in open countryside in the parish of St Mewan. Run on a traditional Cornish system providing lush pastures of grasses and herbs to feed the Red Ruby cows and their calves.   Although not registered organic, the farm is run on the same principles of looking after the land and the environment.Â
Over 700 trees of various species have been planted, creating corridors for birds and wildlife. A lake was created from waste land to provide the perfect habitat for wild duck, moorhens, frogs and newts. The original carp, rud and perch have flourished in the perfect conditions. The second lake is home to ornamental ducks and has been fenced to keep out predators.
The fields are small and boundaries are made from 400-year-old Cornish hedges, a unique feature of the local landscape. The woods at Poltarrow is an area where the changing colours of the seasons can be appreciated, with the profusion of lichen paying testament to the clean Cornish air.
In 2026, we were delighted to purchase some adjoining farmland, almost doubling the size of Poltarrow. It gives us even more opportunity to care for the countryside around us and, in time, extend our farm walks for guests to enjoy.
What our guests say
