Cadgwith, Cornwall, England

In the Fall of 1995, we rented a National Trust cottage in Cornwall, overlooking the small and incredibly picturesque fishing village of Cadgwith. The cottage, a converted barn, was named Serpentine after the building material, local stone found all over the Cornwall coastline. Serpentine stone ranges in color from light pink, grey, and green, to dark maroon and forest green, and polishes to a lovely sheen suitable for decorative objects. It's also used to form many of the steps leading down steep cliffs to spectacular beaches and rocky coastline areas. Frankly, it makes a better ashtray than a stairway. The coves were breathtaking -- in both scenery and approach.

The National Trust is a volunteer organization attempting to preserve the natural beauty of Great Britain and make it available to the public. They rent cottages throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, and also raise money by selling goods, maintaining gardens and estates, and running restaurants and tea houses. Their cottages are reasonably priced and very comfortable.