Coastal havens

Six wonderful places to stay beside the seaside

The Nare, Cornwall

The Nare is a traditional country house hotel by the sea on Cornwall’s stunning Roseland Peninsula. Its rooms are elegantly appointed, with printed wallpapers, Persian rugs and luxurious textiles. Days are pleasantly spent on the beach or in the glorious gardens, and there are plenty of spaces to relax in the hotel too: sink into a comfy armchair in the lounge to read the papers or indulge in afternoon tea. In the restaurant, smartly attired waiters serve up the likes of Portloe lobster, and crêpes Suzette are flambéed at your table.

www.narehotel.co.uk

Lympstone Manor, Devon

This imposing Georgian country house sits on a sloping lawn overlooking the mouth of the Exe estuary, where the sunsets are legendary. The interiors have been decorated with contemporary verve, with statement chandeliers and works by local artists enlivening the light-filled rooms, while cosy shepherd’s huts overlook the hotel’s vineyard. It’s just a stone’s throw to the estuary, source of the mussels and scallops served up in the Michelin-starred restaurant, helmed by Michael Caines, one of Britain’s most celebrated chefs.

lympstonemanor.co.uk

The Rose, Kent

This formerly down-at-heel pub in Deal has been immaculately renovated, and is now a jewel of a B&B with eight bedrooms. Each room is different, but all are equally show-stopping, with dense, cocooning colours on the walls, vintage furniture and rich velvets. Dotted with houseplants, books and magazines, the rooms are a home away from home. Downstairs is the cosy restaurant, which majors in British cuisine with a twist – slow-roasted pork belly with Bramley apple, perhaps, followed by marmalade on toast ice cream.

www.therosedeal.com

Alexandra Hotel, Dorset

Sitting atop the cliffs of Lyme Regis, the Alexandra enjoys unparalleled views across this fabled stretch of coast, which was immortalised in Jane Austen’s last great novel, Persuasion (filming has recently taken place in the town for the new big-screen adaptation). This is every inch the genteel English seaside hotel, with its neat-lawned garden dotted with deckchairs, elegant interiors and an orangery restaurant with lovely views of the sea. The hotel has direct access to the beach and will pack a lunch for you to take exploring.

www.hotelalexandra.co.uk

The Victoria, Norfolk

The Holkham Estate borders one of the country’s loveliest stretches of coast and is home to one of its finest stately homes, Holkham Hall. The 19th-century Victoria inn on the estate has luxurious rooms decorated in country-house style. In the excellent restaurant, reminders of the country pursuits of hunting, shooting and fishing are everywhere, from the antlers on the wall and the tweed-attired waiters to the menu, where beef and game from the estate and fish and samphire from the coast are much in evidence.

www.holkham.co.uk

Seaham Hall, County Durham

One of the North East’s finest spa hotels, this handsome Georgian mansion has a historic pedigree: Lord Byron was married to Annabella Milbanke here in 1815. The airy rooms are decorated with splashy colours and vibrant textiles, and there are two restaurants. The new Bungalow Suites come complete with hot tub and firepit; floor-to-ceiling windows allow you to soak up the coastal views. The main event is a visit to the luxurious spa, which has 17 treatment rooms, reached by an atmospheric, dimly-lit walkway over running water.

www.seaham-hall.co.uk