I stayed in the UK’s most popular holiday home with its own sauna and sea views… but is

We park in a private space at the ­dedicated EV charging point just above the beach, then ­follow ­illuminated steps to a front door which opens via a ­digital keypad.

Lights come on automatically and we step on to a heated, ­polished concrete floor. The huge living space is dominated by a ­wall of glass looking across waves to the coastline disappearing to the horizon.

Welcome to Number One, in Bude, Cornwall – Britain’s (aptly named) most popular holiday home.

Once upon a time, perfect British holiday cottages had thatched roofs, flowers around front doors and pretty china in the dresser. We all wanted a cosy ­character ­property. An open fire and a pile of guidebooks were icing on the cake.

But today’s holiday home hunters seem to be looking for more bling than blossom.

We’re staying at the apartment judged the UK’s most popular ­holiday home by leading operator ­Holidaycottages.co.uk. 

After researching more than 15,000 of the properties on its books, the firm found Number One had more than triple the average online visits, plus more than double the booking rate of average properties and the highest ­percentage of five-star reviews.

Almost everyone who stays loves it. Recent reviews say, ‘­Fantastic modern property’ or ‘amazing views and luxury spec’. One guest even gushed: ‘The best apartment we’ve ever stayed in.’

No. 1, Bude, Cornwall, has been voted the UK’s most popular holiday home by leading operator Holidaycottages.co.uk

The two-floor apartment overlooks Bude’s Crooklets beach

Former guests have been left impressed by the holiday home, with one praising its ‘amazing views and luxury spec’  

For my work I’ve been to scores of holiday homes across the UK over the past 30 years. I’ve experienced the good, bad and downright ugly.

And the ­dangerous: I once stayed at a country house with bare live wires sticking out of the wall above the bed. 

Then there was the – quite ­unforgettable – coastal cottage where we were woken one ­morning by a cow barging through the back door into the kitchen.

So, even though we were heading for Britain’s number one property, you never know quite what to expect. Basic details seen before we get there, though, seem extremely promising.

It’s a luxurious modern ground-floor two-bed apartment overlooking Bude’s Crooklets beach, with reasonable winter prices from £781 for three nights.

Ahead of arriving, I’m sent an app with details such as key codes. The app also helps with the computerised lighting system, smart ­entertainment hub, and even the electric sauna pod on the patio.

The location, a few feet from the coast path with a soundtrack of crashing waves, would be popular whatever your taste in decor.

Bude became Britain’s first surfing beach after Australian surf ­pioneers were stationed here ­during the ­Second World War.

The huge living space is dominated by a wall of glass looking across waves to the coastline disappearing to the horizon

The home is ultra-modern, made up of spotlit glass ornaments, dark grey walls and light switches for antique furniture

Bude is a prime spot for beach culture; featuring rugged, rocky-framed sandy beaches with powerful surf, offering numerous surf schools, equipment rentals, and coastal saunas

Now there are surf schools, equipment hire operations, beach saunas, and breakers thundering on to two sandy beaches framed by rocks.

We might not have much use for the patio’s loungers during our out-of-season break but there are always a few intrepid ­surfers to watch from the window.

Bude makes a good all-year short break, with its bustling town centre of gift shops, cafes and bars. 

There are spectacular walks, while King Arthur’s island castle at Tintagel is 30 minutes away. 

Across the Devon border, historic picture-postcard Clovelly is close, too.

Location is vital to any ­holiday home. Style is nice, but there’s no fun staying in a ­beautiful holiday home in a ­horrible spot.

Number One’s location is ­excellent but its decor is aimed at a younger, more tech-savvy audience.

Yes, I love the view, super-king-size luxury beds and beautifully ­fitted ­bathrooms, but the design feels a tad too glossy, cold and impersonal – like a modern hotel lobby.

The apartment boasts two bedrooms, each with their own unique decor 

No. 1 features two beautifully fitted bathrooms in neutral hues 

An app helps operate the home’s computerised lighting system, smart entertainment hub, and even the electric sauna pod on the patio.

Prices are reasonable in winter; from £781 for three nights

I’d swap its spotlit glass ­ornaments, dark grey walls and over-complicated light switches for antique furniture, sumptuous ­fabrics and a wood-burner. And call me ­prehistoric but a few guidebooks wouldn’t go amiss either. 

That said … it is very nice.