Why You’ll Love... Watergate Bay
Breathtaking beaches and fine food
Nothing beats a laid-back holiday on the Cornish coast. We stayed in a beautiful eco-cottage in Newquay’s Watergate Bay, where you could watch the sun set over the sea from the comfort of the sofa.
What to do
The best thing about a beach holiday is that it gives you licence to be as lazy as you want. I chose to relax by reading novel after novel on the balcony overlooking the beach – the perfect spot for sunbathing if the weather is favourable.
Just two minutes away, the swim Club spa at Watergate
Bay Hotel offers a range of treatments. With its own cafe and seating area boasting a stunning private view of the beach below, you can have anything from a hot rocks detox massage to a traditional manicure.
The beautiful town of Padstow is also worth a visit and is only a half-hour drive away. The Cornwall soapBox shop is a real gem, selling locally manufactured candles, soaps and beauty products.
The beautiful wild raspberry vanilla candle is certainly one to indulge in.
If the idea of a lazy beach holiday does not appeal, however, then there is also the 18-mile Camel Trail route that begins in Padstow and goes to Wenford Bridge via Bodmin, following a disused railway line. It’s ideal for cycling.
The Extreme Academy also provides surfing and watersports lessons throughout the day at Watergate Bay beach.
Where to stay
The eco-cottage we stayed in was part of The Village complex, which offers either two-bedroom or four-bedroom rental homes.
All the cottages are decorated in an individual style and have open-plan kitchen, dining and living areas. The sea views from the private balcony are nothing short of breathtaking.
What to eat
Fifteen is the real foodie destination and belongs to Jamie Oliver’s chain of charity restaurants. The taster dinner menu allows customers to try some of Cornwall’s finest local produce. Breakfast is a much more relaxed affair, where a traditional fry-up or a stack of pancakes are on offer.
Travel Details
The eco-cottages can be booked through Beach Retreats (beachretreats.co.uk) and prices start from £815 for a week. Newquay airport is a five-minute drive away, with flights to London, Glasgow, Manchester, Liverpool, and Dublin. Buses in and out of the centre of Newquay are fairly frequent but a car is the easiest mode of transport.