Bishops Rock was built by the current vendors' grandparents in 1937. It stands on the clifftop as a perfect, nostalgic reminder of an era that few can remember but many would like to imagine as idyllically sunny, with cocktails on the terrace, jazz on the gramophone and wooden surfboards in the waves before breakfast: the era of poet laureate Sir John Betjeman's poem Greenaway

Tide after tide by night and day
The breakers battle with the land
And rounded smooth along the bay
The faithful rocks protecting stand.

In the decades since this was written Greenaway has hardly changed.

The familiar style of white rendered, stone and slate construction has served well. Entering the house, the relaxed atmosphere of past holidays is palpable. Authentic period features remain, such as the original doors, oak floors, small-paned windows with slate sills and butler's bell system in the kitchen. An entrance corridor has a shower room, convenient for rinsing off straight from the beach, and then opens to the kitchen, open plan and triple aspect with beamed ceiling, a large granite island with inbuilt oven and hob, a wide alcove which originally housed the range, the pantry and replacement double glazed doors to a southeast facing patio. Demanding attention away from all these features, however, is the magnificent ocean view beyond the wide expanse of windows.

Another hall leads from the kitchen to the front door beside which is the cloakroom with wc, and to double doors into the drawing room where the slate fireplace is a feature. With windows on three sides this room is filled with natural light. It opens onto the sunlounge, which in turn opens through double patio doors to the terrace which faces west, perfect for the afternoon and evening sun.

From the hall a turning staircase rises to the landing that runs the length of the house with four dormer bedrooms leading from it, three doubles and one single. All have magnificent sea views: the double aspect principal bedroom also overlooks the estuary and the cliff towards Daymer Bay. A charming feature from the past are the handbasins in each room and a fireplace in one. There is no shortage of built-in storage as all under eaves space is used. A family bathroom with separate wc and basin completes the first floor.

The whole bay is spread before Bishops Rock. All the drama of changing weather and sea conditions play out with Stepper Point standing sentinel at the far side of the estuary and Pentire Head to the north of the bay. The house sits within a generous, lawned plot, with low stone hedges marking boundaries between properties, but it is also open onto the cliff and ownership extends to the mean high-water mark on the shore, including the path that cuts down to the beach.

Adjoining the rear patio is a walled outdoor store for the oil tank and boiler. There is also space for several cars to park.

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