Perching on the cliffs of Cornwall’s Roseland Peninsula, this former boathouse dates back to the 17th century and dips its toes in the water.

The historic building is located within the small fishing village of Portloe—one of Britain’s most beautiful traditional villages—and is constructed from old stone. It was originally the accommodation for the harbour’s Chief Boatman, perching proudly above its own slipway, overlooking Veryan Bay. Smugglers were prolific in the area well into the 19th century, and the boatman and his patrolmen occupied a cache of cliff-top accommodation with access to the harbour, allowing them to quickly intercept illicit imports.

The Boathouse has been in the same family for 32 years with accommodation spread over three floors. Sandwiched in the middle is the triple-aspect living room which opens to a decked balcony overlooking the harbour and surrounding cliffs. The kitchen and dining room are also on this level, each boasting fantastic views of their own—ample inspiration for washing the dishes.

A self-contained guest suite occupies the lower floor, complete with shower room, kitchen and sitting area, and a private stone terrace with a slipway below leading down to the water.

Three bedrooms and two bathrooms (one en-suite) are on the top floor, again benefiting from terrific vistas of the water and headlands, which form part of the staggering South West Coast Path.

The 2419 sq ft Cornwall property is for sale via Jonathan Cunliffe for offers over £2m. It comes with a decently sized garage/workshop, with parking for two cars, and an array of outdoor spaces, including a quaint walled garden and terraced gardens. The Boathouse’s private slipway is directly below the house and descends directly into the harbour.

Read next: Private island near London hits the market for £25m

A storybook Suffolk cottage asks for £675k

An East London duplex with roof terrace overlooking Brick Lane