Discover Frenchman’s Creek
Every few months, we introduce a new novel on our two-night Reading Room Retreat, showcasing a different tale of Cornwall. From April 2026, we are pleased to share a story set close to home, one that is loved by so many, told by an author beloved across the county, the UK, and beyond.
It is, of course, Frenchman’s Creek by the one and only Daphne du Maurier.
As part of our two-night Reading Room Retreat, you will receive your very own copy with which to curl up and while away the hours.
Written in 1941, Frenchman’s Creek is set during the reign of King Charles II, and tells the story of Dona St Column, who flees with her children to her husband’s Cornish estate just above the creek, in hopes of escaping her shallow London life.
But anchored in the creek is Jean-Benoit Aubéry, a pirate making his fortune stealing the cargoes of English merchant ships. When Dona is captured and taken aboard, so begins a secret liaison between rebel kindred spirits who consider themselves two of a kind.
Found only moments up the river from Budock Vean, the real Frenchman’s Creek is a spot on the southern side of the Helford River. From our private foreshore it’s easy to imagine days gone by when these waterways played a significant part in maritime history, and how Daphne du Maurier was so easily inspired by this beautiful part of Cornwall.
At Budock Vean, there are places aplenty for reading your book. Wander down to the sunroom on the foreshore, curl up in the lounge, borrow a picnic blanket and find a secluded spot in the subtropical garden, or simply enjoy quiet moments reading in your cosy room.
Books change seasonally, with more titles available later in 2026 and early 2027.
See Frenchman’s Creek for yourself
From April to October, Helford River Cruises operate from the private foreshore at Budock Vean Hotel, offering a 90-minute boat trip along the Helford River into magical creeks including Frenchman’s Creek. As the water laps along the shore, picture the days of pirate’s, love and adventure, and explore the place behind the novel.
Discover Daphne du Maurier around Cornwall
Daphne du Maurier grew up in London and holidayed frequently in Cornwall throughout her early life, inspiring her first novel The Loving Spirit. After marrying in 1932, Daphne and her husband honeymooned aboard a motor cruiser, sailing down Frenchman’s Creek.
After initially moving with her children to Fowey, Daphne du Maurier lived at various spots around Cornwall, including Menabilly house, which served as the inspiration for Manderley house in Rebecca. On your way into the county, stop at the real Jamaica Inn on Bodmin Moor, the setting for her saga of wreckers, smuggling and misty moors.
Daphne du Maurier remained in Cornwall for the rest of her years, leaving behind a remarkable literary legacy.
Stay on a Reading Room Retreat between April and October for the chance to follow in the author’s footsteps and get lost in tales of the landscape.