Yes there is still room at the inn in Cornwall
Cornwall remains in the spotlight as summer staycation demand continues to soar. But is there room at the inn? Space may be severely limited, but we have scoured the county and found a clutch of top hotels that still have availability in July and August. Here are five to book now to secure that South West escape.
After all, with world-class beaches, arty coastal towns and unbeatable seafood spots, you wouldn’t want to miss out...
CHAPEL HOUSE Penzance
There are plenty of reasons to take a trip to end-of-the-line Penzance this summer. For starters, you can arrive in style via the spruced-up sleeper train before waking up with a dip in the brilliantly restored Jubilee Pool. Under-the-radar Chapel House is the most stylish stay in town and manages to blend clean-lines design with a welcoming feel. There’s not a bad room in the house – one might have a glass-ceilinged bathroom, another a Georgian-arched window, all eight look out to sea. Breakfast is impressive for a small operation and includes homemade smoothies, plus inventive cooked options such as sizzled cod roe served with smoked bacon, samphire and a poached egg. Doubles from £160; chapelhousepz.co.uk
THE GURNARD’S HEAD Zennor
This striking mustard-yellow inn is a beacon for those walking along the South West Coast Path from St Ives, who stop by for well-deserved lunches of local mussels or crab-topped sourdough with aioli. It’s even better to come for dinner and stay in one of the cosy cottage-style rooms, which are stocked with fresh flowers and Roberts radios. New for this summer is Room 8, set to be the best with its French windows that lead on to a private patio and smart Moroccan tadelakt bathroom. It’s still available on the first two weekends of August, plus a few single nights. Note that the Gurnard’s sister hotel, the equally foodie-focused Old Coastguard
in Mousehole, also has space remaining over scattered dates.
Doubles from £140; gurnardshead.co.uk
BEDRUTHAN Magwan Porth
Get in quick as there are still a few rooms available at the much-loved
Bedruthan during the summer. A fiveminute drive from Newquay airport (which has announced new services over the summer amid the staycation boom), it makes for a more accessible Cornish break. Crucially, it’s also right on the beach. Expect plenty of colour (from bright-striped parasols to psychedelic cushions) but for somebility thing quieter, head to the adults-only Herring restaurant for sharing plates of pickled mackerel and baba ganoush. Meanwhile, the impressive spa features a eucalyptus steam room and cedar sauna with sea views, plus guests have the run of an indoor and three outdoor pools.
Doubles from £156; bedruthan.com
ST MICHAELS RESORT Falmouth
Down in Falmouth, St Michaels is a bells-and-whistles resort opposite the Blue Flag Gyllyngvase Beach. Revamped by owners Nigel and Julie Carpenter, it now has 84 bedrooms, four tennis courts, a bumper-size spa and a 56ft swimming pool. In case you forget where you are, a breezy, seaside style and blue Farrow & Ball hues are found throughout. Try the Garden kitchen for Italian dishes with a Cornish twist – think pizzas topped with local blue cheese – or the Brasserie on the Bay for classic fish and chips. While July stays are scarce, there is decent availabut from mid-August onwards, including five-night stretches. Doubles from £210; stmichaelsresort.com
CARBIS BAY HOTEL AND ESTATE
All eyes are on seaside resort Carbis Bay after it was announced as the unlikely host of the G7 conference this June. No doubt the dignitaries will enjoy the sweeping golden sands and perhaps President Joe Biden might bed down in a plush Beach Lodge at the Carbis Bay Hotel and Estate, the summit’s main site. After the excitement has died down, the 125-acre property still has some space across July and August, including on bank holiday weekend. If those self-contained lodges, which offer direct beach access, private hot tubs and panoramic views of the bay, have too high a price point, opt for a room in the main house.
Doubles from £290; carbisbayhotel.co.uk