Senior Editorial Assistant Melissa takes us on a wind-swept tour of our newest Cornwall hotspots – just don’t expect any balmy beach shots!
Before you ask: no, our springtime jaunt was not blessed with glorious sunshine. Nor were we lucky enough to escape the worst of a Friday evening on the M5 (or ‘weekender traffic hell’ as it might be better known). Instead, we were met with the full force of Cornwall’s stormy seas and many a delay.
But did it ruin our long weekend away? Not a jot! It’s testament to the glorious hideaways in which we found ourselves that neither the weather nor the traffic could dampen our spirits, and each warm welcome ensured that our stresses fell away within moments of downing our suitcases.
That, I’ve now discovered, is the magic of Cornwall.
And thus it was that late one blustery Friday night we arrived at i-escape’s most recent Cornish discovery: the newly opened, utterly enchanting Trewornan Manor (near the foodie mecca of Padstow).
The guest lounge’s roaring fire and ample honesty bar soon had us feeling warm and cosy. And by morning we felt utterly at home amongst the ancient house’s wonky doorways and towering sash windows – no doubt helped along by the excellent home-cooked breakfast.
Being so new, this romantic adults-only boutique B&B is still fairly under the radar, so come now before its 4 bespoke bedrooms each have their own waiting list!
Much restored by our first night on Cornish soil, we hopped back in the car to complete the second leg of our journey: a 1-hour drive to Penzance, at the very tip of the county.
This time we were destined to discover the funkier side of the south west at much-loved Artist Residence Cornwall. When we heard that this vibrant guesthouse was launching its first eatery, we immediately nabbed an opening-weekend stay and prepared to indulge.
And we weren’t disappointed; a smorgasbord of Deep South-inspired dishes, all created using the finest Cornish produce, filled the table of our comfy booth. Tender buttermilk chicken, sweet pulled pork and a perfect mac ‘n’ cheese were all washed down with tasty bottled beer (and a shared ice-cream sundae).
Thank heavens we were able to sleep off the decadence in our artist-designed loft room!
But, I hear you cry, the weather! What did you do during the day if it was RAINING?! Granted, it was a shame that we couldn’t trot over to St Michael’s Mount (too windy) or blissfully stroll the local beaches (far too wet), but when the heavens opened we decided to eschew the great outdoors in favour of the much cosier indoors!
More specifically, indoors in St Ives. Boozy lunches are one of the many brilliant bonuses of being on holiday and super-chilled Porthmeor Beach Café, with it stunning beachfront setting, is now a firm favourite. We stretched an excellent lunch of tapas and bellinis out over 3 courses and nearly 3 hours – brilliant fun! Oh, and the café is right next to the Tate St Ives, so we popped in there, too.
Fancy heading off on your own Cornish getaway? Take a look at our full collection.