You’ll find The Hyde tucked among the trees of a young woodland in a Cornish valley which leads to Porthtowan’s sandy beach. It’s a secluded treetop cabin, which was handcrafted by a local surfing legend. It’s finished to a high standard, kitted out incredibly well and kept immaculately clean – all of which makes it a lovely place to stay.
This is no surfer’s shack but if it’s breaks you’ve come for, you won’t be disappointed. The Hyde was built by Johnny Manetta, just a mile up the road from the still-thriving surf shop he started in 1974 and not far from his self-built home. After 50 years crafting boards and surfing around the world, Johnny may no longer be catching waves but, via this cabin, you might say he is still making them. It seems that everyone who stays here is delighted by what they find.
You approach The Hyde along a lit pathway through trees Johnny planted himself, stepping onto its wraparound deck at ground level. It’s only as you make your way to the front that its place among the canopy is revealed. The gradient of the hill means the front of the cabin is raised so, whether you’re sitting on the warm-hued sofa in the living room or on the king-sized bed in the bijou, light-filled bedroom, you can watch birds among the trees. There’s a covered dining table on the deck, a couple of hammocks hanging below, and a lovely garden on a lower terrace; all of it just for you.
The interior is eclectic and quirky, put together by Johnny’s partner, Phillippa, who has an expert eye for design. It has all mod cons and they’re good ones: the things you’ve got (or want) at home. There’s a Nespresso for your coffee, a Nutribullet for your juice, Bose speakers for your music: the list goes on and on. You may not fancy leaving this special little spot, but that would be to miss out on what drew your hosts here in the first place: the surf of Porthtowan and its place, between St Ives and St Agnes, on the beautiful north Cornish coast.
The Hyde is special. Every inch of the treehouse, from the shell to the interiors, is masterfully crafted by hand. Hidden away in dense woodland far from the world, it is a perfect retreat for a couple or solo traveller. It isn’t just a treehouse or a cabin but an experience; an invitation to escape.
From the cosy Bohemian interiors to the luxurious appliances and linens (think Heston Blumental barbecue and Bose sound system,) there is plenty to love. Step outside after breakfast on the glass covered deck and you can spend the day swinging on the hammocks, listening to birdsong, or sunbathing on the wicker loungers in the private garden. Revel in the coastal walks across the nearby beach at Porthtowan until you reach the cliffs with St Ives in one direction and St Agnes in the other. Cycle around the villages across the UNESCO World Heritage site on which our property is located. If you’re a surfer, or would be surfer, we own the renowned Tris Surf Shop in Porthtowan and can arrange private lessons and all the kit.
