Blockhouse Cottage

Spacious, secluded and shaped around sea views, generous gathering spaces and barefoot days by the water, this is truly one of Tresco's most remarkable places to stay.

From the gardens, paths lead through marram grass and dunes to the beach below, while the house itself looks out across Old Grimsby harbour and the changing island horizon beyond. Summer mornings can begin with a swim before breakfast; winter evenings can be spent by the fire as weather rolls in across the water.

Grand yet deeply relaxed, indulgent yet rooted in its place, Blockhouse Cottage is a rare Tresco beach house: private, generous and unforgettable. It is a house for big family holidays, milestone gatherings and long, unhurried days outdoors - a place where everyone can come together, yet still find their own quiet corner of the island.

Inside, Blockhouse Cottage has a rare sense of scale. The house feels open, calm and wonderfully generous, with expansive living spaces designed for gathering, retreating and moving easily between indoors and out.

The partly reverse-level layout makes the most of the views, with the kitchen and dining space sitting beneath a vaulted ceiling at the heart of the house. 

A handcrafted kitchen, a separate pantry, and a large centrepiece dining table create a natural place to come together, whether for long breakfasts, relaxed suppers, or celebratory meals after a day on the beach.

Dual-aspect bifold doors open the dining space into the gardens, bringing in light, air and sea glimpses from both sides. On warmer days, the whole room seems to open itself to the island; on cooler evenings, it remains a generous, sociable heart to the house.

The drawing room is made for slower moments, with wide views, comfortable seating, a roaring fire and space for everyone to gather without feeling crowded. 

Downstairs, a separate snug offers another place to retreat - ideal for children, teenagers, films, games or quieter evenings away from the main living spaces.

The main house sleeps ten across five ensuite bedrooms, with a separate annexe offering further self-contained space for two.

The master bedroom is a true retreat, with a four-poster bed, dressing room and twin balconies looking out across the sea. Its ensuite bathroom is equally special, with a copper boat bath positioned to take in uninterrupted ocean views.

Downstairs, the second master bedroom opens directly onto a terrace and the garden beyond, making it a lovely room for early risers or those who like to step straight outside into the morning air. 

The remaining bedrooms are spacious, beautifully finished and flexible, offering privacy and comfort for larger families or groups of friends.

With every main-house bedroom ensuite, the cottage feels particularly well-suited to multi-generational stays, special gatherings, and groups who want to holiday together while still having space of their own.

Blockhouse Cottage has its own private KLAFS-designed spa, with a sauna and steam room that bring a rare sense of indulgence to island life. After a walk, a blustery day on the beach or a quiet hour in the garden, it offers a deeply restorative space to warm up, slow down and unwind.

Best of all, it gives island days a wonderfully elemental rhythm: a sunset sea swim from Green Porth, an outdoor shower beneath the evening sky, then straight into the sauna as the last of the light slips across the water.

In the garden, a separate yoga and Pilates studio provides another layer of calm - a peaceful, light-filled space for movement, stretching, stillness or simply a moment away from the bustle of the house.

Outside, Blockhouse Cottage truly comes into its own. Rather than a single garden or terrace, the house offers a series of outdoor spaces, each with its own character and rhythm.

There are sunny terraces for breakfast, sheltered corners wrapped in subtropical planting, generous lawns for children to play, and quiet places to sit with a book after the beach. An elevated deck offers a wonderful spot for sundowners, while the courtyard garden beside the spa creates a more private, tucked-away space for cooling off between sauna and steam.

To the rear, an outdoor kitchen with a built-in barbecue makes al fresco cooking effortless, with plenty of room for long lunches and relaxed suppers. Towards the dunes, a firepit waits for evenings after the beach - a place for blankets, stories, stars and the sound of the sea nearby.

For sandy feet and salty skin, there is an outdoor shower and heated foot baths, making the return from Green Porth feel every bit as considered as the house itself. It is this attention to detail and the sheer variety of places to gather or retreat that give Blockhouse Cottage such a strong sense of space.

Indicative floor plans are available for the main house, annexe and studio by clicking below.