Five perfect places to stay on the coast of Cornwall
From palm trees waving in stone-walled gardens to waters in deep coves that look (but perhaps don’t feel!) tropical, Cornwall is a place where sun, sand and surf are the backdrop to great travel memories. We’ve picked some of our favourite places, all personally inspected by our team, along that fabled coastline. Each is guaranteed to send you sailing home from holiday on the crest of a wave.
The Boathouse, Manaccan
As their family grew, Suzy and her two sons have constantly expanded and updated The Boathouse, so that it’s now a palatial space for a big group to relax on the Cornish coast. Views take in the river and the sea, as will most of the things you get up to while you’re here. Bring your own kayaks or boards and launch straight from the private slipway, or walk over to the village of St Anthony and hire craft for the day. There are fishing nets and crab lines for some classic rockpooling, miles of coastal hiking to beaches and coves, plus a big drying room for wetsuits and swimming stuff at the end of the day. When it comes to evenings, there’s a pot big enough to cook lobsters in the huge kitchen, a games room and even superfast wifi if everyone fancies a quiet movie night. All this with the ever-present sounds and sights of the sea.
The Old Quay House Hotel, Fowey
After winding your way through Fowey’s maze of lanes, you arrive at the Old Quay, where the views of the harbour suddenly open up from the terrace. Upstairs are bright and airy bedrooms with views of the water, while downstairs is the restaurant whose menu focuses on the wealth of meat, cheese and, of course, seafood that the area produces. Fowey is a fun town to explore and miles of the coast path wait to tempt you off on scenic hikes, but there are more local expeditions to make as well. Take the ferry across from Fowey to Bodinnick, where Daphne du Maurier lived, then stock up with some local specialties of your own and walk over to Lantic Bay for a picnic lunch on the beach.
Buddha Beach House, Torpoint
If someone invited you to stay in their fish cellar, you’d probably decline, but when you see what an incredible feat of renovation Buddha Beach House is, you’ll reconsider. There’s a contemporary, artistic feel to the space overlooking Whitsand Bay, with a semicircular slate work top, underfloor heating, an oak dining table with wicker chairs, a floating stove, interesting sculpture scattered around and, best of all, floor-to-ceiling, triple-glazed windows through which to watch the sky and the sea. Down the spiral staircase, children can sprawl out in the games room, when they aren’t taking up all the space in the hot tub sunk into the deck, of course.
Marners Rock No 3, Fowey
Once a boutique hotel and now a spacious apartment on the coast near Fowey, Marners is exquisitely styled and wonderfully placed for a full appreciation of all that Cornwall has to offer. From the “sun room” you can sit and watch the boats go by all day and the sun sink low on the water. The coast path leads off around the cliffs and there are beaches and bays all around you, but it’s only a five-minute, flat walk into Fowey itself. There you’ll find an excellent range of restaurants and pubs offering an eclectic mix of food and feel, from fine dining in restaurants draped with awards to simple pub classics, street food and experimental bistros. Then it’s back home for a nightcap out on the terrace or in front of the wood burner, with the sounds of the water floating up to you.
Boatman’s Steps, Polruan
From the deck of this charming old cottage, you can watch the Troy sailing boats and gig rowers moving lazily back and forth across the bay or strike out for all kinds of adventures. The Eden Project and Lanhydrock House and Gardens are less than an hour away, but owner Oliver recommends something much simpler. Pick up a pasty from nearby Kittty’s, who he claims are the best in the business, then hike over to Lantic Bay and spend the day on the sand. When you get home, it’s only a couple of minutes walk to The Lugger, for a pint and a warm welcome, or to pick up fish and chips and ferry them back to Boatman’s Steps for dinner in front of the wood burner.
