We hope you will love this place because of the peace, closeness to beaches, destinations like the Eden Project and Heligan Gardens, plenty of opportunities to walk, explore and find your spirit of adventure!. Use the Toad as your base to explore Cornwall. Perfect for couples or to use in conjunction with our larger carriage, The Siphon, which sleeps up to six, making a total of eight. The Toad Brake Van is over 60 years old. It was originally used on the Great Western Railway at the rear of long goods trains to act as an additional brake. This braking facility was required by law for safety reasons. There are four sand boxes on board - two at the front and two at the rear - which allowed the guard to drop sand onto the rails to stop the wheels slipping. Our Brake Van has been used on Thomas the Tank special trains, on railways in Wales and the West Country and has finally come to rest at Ruddle Wharf overlooking the Vinnick River or Dowr an Wynyk in Cornish meaning Little White River. The Toad offers basic accommodation - there is a comfortable double bed, seating and a table and chairs for eating in the kitchen space. Cooking is on a gas hob (no oven) and washing/washing up in a sink with cold water only. Heating is provided by a gas fire in the kitchen area only. There is NO mains electricity - solar power provides lighting in the Toad and for a charging socket for mobile phones but nothing else. This is a holiday with a difference - forget the phone, forget emails, forget wifi and just relax! But don't forget that sometimes the nights can be chilly so bring plenty of warm and wet weather clothing - just in case. Outside is a firepit, parking for a car/bikes and plenty of space for walking/bird watching/enjoying the countryside/relaxation. A perfect place for dogs as The Toad enjoys access onto miles of surrounding trails - leading to The Eden Project, St. Austell town, the South Coast at Pentewan and Mevagissey, Wheal Martyn China Clay Museum, Heligan Gardens and further afield. The Toad can be hired in conjunction with the nearby Siphon or on its own - but at present dates for the Toad as a stand alone unit, are very limited. Please ask about availability BEFORE requesting a reservation.