Savills Truro

The charming cathedral city of Truro is one of the smallest in the UK, and is Cornwall's administrative capital. A holiday destination for many families over generations, the historic county of Cornwall has over 400 miles of coastline and it is perhaps this more than anything else that defines the property market here.

The rugged cliffs of the north and west coasts are home to some of the best surfing breaks in Europe, while the Fal, Helford, Fowey and Camel estuaries are havens for sailing and boating. The small unspoilt villages and coves of the Roseland, Lizard and Penwith peninsulars add another dimension to this diverse county, and much of the coastline is owned by the National Trust and is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Further inland, there are some wonderful country houses to be found in the pretty villages on the edge of Bodmin Moor.

A great many properties in Cornwall are bought as much-loved holiday homes, but Truro has long been the focus for those in search of a permanent family home, as it has a good selection of private and state schools, besides a good shopping centre.

People also flock to the county for the arts, and increasingly to sample culinary delights from the likes of Rick Stein and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant.

Communications to Cornwall have vastly improved over recent years with the A30 dual carriageway giving fast access to the M5 motorway at Exeter. Newquay airport provides daily flights to London and many other UK and European destinations. There are many stations on the Paddington-Penzance mainline, which does operate a sleeper service.