The accommodation comprises a ground-floor sitting room to the front with a beamed ceiling and sea glimpse, modern open plan kitchen/dining room to the rear with vaulted ceiling, three first-floor bedrooms – two with access to a decked balcony with sea views and one with views over the back garden and the owners' peaceful meadow – and two bathrooms, one on the first floor. There is also an optional ensuite fourth bedroom on the ground floor.

St Cats is entered via a stable door from the gated side garden, into a small entrance hall with storage for hats, coats and shoes.

To the first floor, the well-proportioned, double-aspect Master Bedroom has a king-sized bed (150x200cm) and room for a baby travel cot (provided), with sea glimpse, vaulted beamed ceiling and glazed door to the balcony. There is also a large open wardrobe as well as a small desk and chair with TV/computer monitor for remote work (but hopefully not too much!).

Bedroom Two, with double doors to the balcony, sea views, and a small open wardrobe, has two single 80x200cm beds which can be configured as one king-sized bed (160x200cm) on request. Bedroom Three has two 90x190cm single beds, a small built-in wardrobe, and double-aspect windows, one with views over the owners’ meadow. The first-floor family bathroom is generously proportioned with a tiled floor and a shower/bath.

Bedroom Four, which is on the ground floor and is accessed directly from the Kitchen/Utility area via four steps, can be added to your booking for a surcharge if required. It will be locked if not needed, and will never be rented out on its own. This room offers one king-sized bed (150x200cm), views over the rear garden and an ensuite shower room with tiled floor.

All bedroom windows and glazed doors have blackout roller blinds or curtains, and all bedroom windows have voile curtains for privacy. Please note that the blackout blinds do not block out all light due to small gaps on their top mountings.

On the ground floor is the modern Kitchen/Diner, a light-filled room with vaulted ceiling, triple-aspect windows, two comfortable armchairs, and a dining table seating six to eight. There are also two bookcases with reading material for all ages, and a bluetooth stereo. Appliances include a built-in fridge/freezer, dishwasher, electric oven and induction hob, in addition to a four-slice toaster, coffee maker and kettle. In the Utility area off the kitchen are a washing machine, dryer, microwave, and iron/ironing board, as well as cupboards for food storage.

The Living Room, a cosy space with white-beamed ceiling and sea glimpse, has two comfortable three-seat fabric sofas and a wall-mounted smart TV.

The ground-floor bathroom is tiled and has a generously proportioned shower – convenient when you return from the beach.

To the rear of the cottage is a small paved courtyard with table and chairs accessed via a patio door off the Kitchen/Diner, as well as gardens to the side and rear, all enclosed by a secure fence with gate. The rear garden houses a green guest shed with small charcoal barbeque, beach chairs and children's beach/outdoor toys. Backing the garden is the owners’ private meadow.

This quiet corner of the Island is steeped in literary and artistic history, with Virginia Woolf and the Thackeray family having spent holidays next door, as well as Victorian celebrities such as Alfred Lord Tennyson, Charles Darwin, Jenny Lind, Frederic Watts and the Reverend Dodgson (Lewis Carroll) spending time in the neighbouring houses.

Dimbola Lodge 1871, the setting for Virginia Wolf's play "Freshwater"

Some prominent Victorians also stayed at the Cottage, once part of the Tennyson estate, which was run as a lodging house as well as being home to the local horse and carriage proprietor.

In walking distance is a charming corner store called the Orchard Brothers, operating since the Victorian times, as well as a lively popular cafe called the Piano, and the characterful thatched church of St Agnes. Picturesque Freshwater Bay is only a few minutes’ walk (mostly flint and chalk pebbles with a small sandy area), fabulous for rock pooling, as well as the scenic Tennyson Down, with some of the best 360 degree views on the Island.

Nearby Freshwater town has numerous facilities including a large Tesco Superstore, a leisure centre with indoor pool, library, playgrounds, small shops and restaurants. Colwell Bay and Totland Bay are a short drive away, as is the long sandy stretch of Compton Bay (National Trust), which many consider to be the best beach on the Island (just keep an eye on the tides, and don’t forget to look for dinosaur fossils).