Sennen House

We'd happily return to Sennen House if we were lucky enough to come back. We stayed in the James Cook Suite, with lovely furnishings, a huge balcony, two full bathrooms, a kitchenette with a microwave, toaster and fridge, and a comfortable sitting area. Fresh baked treats, plenty of breakfast food, teas, coffees, milk and juice were provided, along with fresh garden flowers, ample towels and two bathrobes. Michelle, Stefan and their lovely little dog Harvey gave us a warm welcome. Picton and the surrounding area are worth at least two nights, even if you're stopping for the ferry. We filled our time with a full day tour with Marlborough Wine Tours, a 4.5 hour boat trip with Beachcomber Cruises to see the sound and visit Motuara Island, an easy walk up nearby Snout Track, and a live Super Rugby game at the Thirsty Pig.

Stefan and Michelle welcomed us when we arrived and let us check in extra early. The B&B was clean, beautiful and inviting, with thoughtful details and a great breakfast. It was an easy walk to the Crow Tavern, where we had a huge, home-style dinner. A1.

We woke to birdsong in this truly idyllic place, with generous, friendly hosts. Sennen House is historic and conveniently located, and Picton made a great stop between the Fairy and Coastal train ride, all three strongly recommended. We stayed in Queen Charlotte's Room, which had everything we needed, from a fridge to heaters and a fan. The city centre was within walking distance, and the view from our window, shown in my photo, was remarkable. There's even a lovely kitchen tucked into a closet.

We stayed one night in the large James Cook suite before an early departure. The grounds and rooms are beautiful, and the B&B is two minutes from the ferry terminal check-in. They left breakfast ingredients for us, including eggs, bread, yoghurt and juice, which we really appreciated. I felt a bit bad leaving eggy plates behind, but did what tidying I could without a sink. All in all, a great stay.