The addictive lure of property TV programmes such as Grand Designs isn't in the radical concepts, cutting-edge finish or contemporary interiors. You can forget too the homes' jawdropping views or must-have locations. It's only when things go spectacularly wrong and budgets spill over by hundreds of thousands of pounds that presenter Kevin McCloud's face lights up with the kind of excitable glee usually reserved for youngsters on Christmas morning. For Julie Horsfall, however, it's the kind of viewing that's a little too familiar for comfort. As owner of The Valley, one of Cornwall's newest holiday destinations, Julie had to suffer builder bankruptcies, spiralling budgets and designers' tantrums in her two-year mission to transform an old-fashioned caravan park into a 5-star, award-winning destination. But she believes the end result was well worth the struggle. "Our architects' brief was to come up with chic, not charming," she tells me. "The aim was for each of the cottages to have an individual design feature such as exposed beams in the double-height bedrooms. "We wanted people to be stunned when they first arrived and saw the level of quality." A hamlet of 46 smart and incredibly cosy holiday homes tucked away between Truro and Falmouth, The Valley has easily achieved its brief in offering an alternative to traditional 'country cottage' destinations. Nestled in 13 acres of conservation award-winning countryside, each cottage is kitted out to a boutique hotel standard with beautiful white china, cool cutlery, glasses and sanitaryware - even self-closing toilet lids! Widescreen TVs and CD players are all standard. So too are the extra large Villeroy & Bosch dinner plates which make a real statement. Solid oak lounge and dining furniture is complemented by mirrors made by a Cornish designer and original canvases painted by local artist Sophie Tarbuck who spent a whole year painting all 276 pieces for the site. Bedrooms are light and airy and planned around giant pocket-sprung beds, hand-made exclusively for The Valley and well worth the investment. Outside the finish is just as impressive with beautiful cedar wood cladding and Cornish slate roofs. Our visit to The Valley coincided with an unseasonally wet week in May so the comfortable interiors provided a welcome haven to read a book or watch a DVD. The Valley also has its own indoor and outdoor pools, sports facilities including squash court, billiards and pool tables and tennis courts and children's play areas. And its best feature has to be the charming Café Azur restaurant, run by head chef Paul Dale. The smart restaurant serves fantastic tapas dishes throughout the day - including Parma ham crisps, crayfish tails and baby octopus. Daily specials include Wednesday night's 'Posh Fish'n'Chips' night which offers the chance to enjoy locally-caught fish and hand-cut chips, while illusionist Ed Clarke performs his magic at diners' tables. Sounds incredibly cheesy, I know, but it really was a magical night all round. On the subject of food at The Valley I'd suggest the addition of a few simple pizza or sandwich options to the menu as a week of high-end dining could soon break a family's budget - although each lodge does have its own well kitted-out kitchen so canny holidaymakers can easily save some cash by taking their own supplies too. One of the beauties of The Valley is its central location just outside of Truro which means it's perfectly placed for exploring Cornwall. And you don't have to be behind the wheel for too long before you discover a traditional pub serving homemade food or a secluded beach for a relaxing afternoon. * Winter prices for self-catering cottages (sleeping between four and six) start from £405 for a week or £255 for a weekend (Friday-Monday). Peak season prices range between £695-£1085 for a week or £470-£570 for a weekend break. The Valley, Bissoe Road, Carnon Downs, Truro, Cornwall TR3 6LQ 01872 862 194 www.the-valley.co.uk | 
