Cornwall beach hotels | salty air and long beach walks

Steps from the beach and a stone’s throw from the UK’s surfing capital of Newquay, Bedruthan is a brightly-coloured bohemian bolthole by the sea. Discover its wonderfully eclectic entertainment programme that includes pottery workshops, silver jewellery making and screen printing. After creating your masterpiece, take a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool, stretch out on a hot pink lounger and sample a cocktail from the open-air bar.

For an unforgettable summer experience, time your visit to coincide with the hotel’s next Fire and Feast night. Find a seat at a wooden trestle table and tuck into hearty platters of local food, including freshly caught mussels and Cornish lamb curry, followed by hot chocolate. Afterwards, huddle around the gently glowing embers and toast marshmallows as you listen to the Atlantic waves below. When the day draws to a close, drift into a blissful slumber in a Sea View Double room, complete with calming accent colours and quirky wall decals. You’ll wake up to panoramic views of the Atlantic.

Tucked away in an unassuming spot and sheltered from the sea breeze, the spa garden is designed to reinvigorate your senses, with hot and cold thermal experiences. The sensory journey begins with oatmeal and Himalayan salt scrub in an old stone hut, followed by a steamy open-air shower. Warm-up in a pine-scented sauna and if you’re feeling brave, stand under the cold bucket shower, before submerging yourself in a cedar wood hot tub overlooking Mawgan Porth Beach.

For those in need of a retreat, the first stop at the Headland Hotel has to be its subterranean spa with hydro pool, sunken hot tub and Cornish salt steam room. For a soul-soothing experience, book a poultice massage then sink into a daybed amid the complimentary herbal teas, fruit-infused waters and wholesome nibbles. For mums and mums-to-be, there is a soothing pre- or post-natal massage that uses aromatherapy oils to soothe the skin and restore optimum wellness.

Close to the beach, yet far from the crowds, the Headland Hotel sits atop a cliff overlooking Newquay’s Fistral Beach, with its frothy surf and long sandy shoreline. Visit in August and you’ll see Europe’s largest annual skate and surf festival unfolding on the sand below. It’s no less exciting in winter – the floor to ceiling windows of the Terrace restaurant provide an excellent spot for storm watching. Grab an armchair by the log fire, settle in for the afternoon and watch the powerful Atlantic waves crashing below.

For a charmingly old-fashioned seaside escape, stay in one of the Headland Hotel’s 95-individually designed rooms within the main building. They’ve been welcoming visitors since 1900 and were the setting for the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel The Witches. Rather than planning dastardly plots, take in the sweeping sea and coastal views from the sanctuary of your grand four-poster bed, or step out on to your private balcony for a closer look. No great escape to the seaside is complete without a few essentials, so don’t forget to make use of the hotel’s buckets, spades and body boards, available to borrow throughout the year. You’ll also find DVDs and games on offer, for entertaining family evenings.

There’s no need to leave your four-legged friend at home when you stay at Polurrian Bay – the hotel supplies feeding bowls, doggy blankets and sumptuous treats for pets who like the seaside as much as you. Bringing the family? Should you want to explore without little ones in tow, this coastal hideaway has its own Ofsted-registered crèche and offers two hours of complimentary childcare per day. Baby-friendly bedrooms come complete with Bumbos, nappy bins and swimming nappies, plus cots and baby baths.

Perched on a rugged outcrop, the Polurrian Bay sits on Cornwall’s southerly Lizard Peninsula. The grand Edwardian facade houses an award-winning restaurant, family cinema and welcoming spa, along with luxury rooms, decorated in colourful contemporary style. Soft blankets are draped over the end of each bed – ideal for curling up in after a day of fun – while modern furniture feels chic and understated.

Make the most of the healthy sea air and run free amid 12-acres of gardens, peppered with palm trees, nigella and wild poppies. Spend your days seal-spotting from a kayak, burning off energy at the indoor pool or simply relaxing in the fragrant herb garden with a cool drink. Follow the winding path through the gardens and down to Polurrian Cove to build sandcastles, paddle in the sea or explore the rock pools. After working up an appetite, tuck into lobster thermidor in the Vista Wing, replete with brightly coloured bean bags, giant sofas and wood-burning stove. Grab a seat by the floor-to-ceiling windows for views across the water to Land’s End.

The St Ives Harbour Hotel and Spa offers elegant, boutique-style bedrooms in rugged West Cornwall for a refined retreat. Built on a hillside, this luxurious hotel overlooks the grand Victorian villas and white sands of Porthminster Beach. Take a walk across the vast expanse of sand, before seeking sanctuary in the hotel’s waterfront spa, with its gently bubbling hot tub and views across the ocean to Godrevy lighthouse in the distance. A hydrotherapy pool, indoor pool, sauna and steam room await.

Stroll down the hill to Tate St Ives and uncover work by well-known 20th-century artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Henri Matisse. Afterwards, wander along the harbour front next to the wooden fishing-boats, slate-roofed cottages and turquoise waters. On your walk back, explore the cobbled streets and alleys, which are tightly packed with postage stamp sized shops and art galleries. If you’ve worked up an appetite, reward yourself with freshly-caught Newlyn crab back at the hotel’s HarBAR Kitchen – floor-to-ceiling windows offer great views of the horseshoe-shaped bay below.

Fall asleep to the sound of lapping waves, while wrapped up in a luxurious duvet on crisp cotton sheets and plump Oxford pillows. Throw open the doors of your balcony, breathe in the fresh sea air and sip on a glass of St Ives Gin as you look out across the Atlantic Ocean. The small but special details are well-taken care of here and rooms come with White Company toiletries, plus complimentary gin and sherry.

With a heated outdoor swimming pool, championship golf course and two well-maintained tennis courts, alongside an impressive school holiday entertainment programme, there’s plenty to do at the Carlyon Bay Hotel and Spa. Get the family together and take a golf buggy across the hilly golf course to the hotel’s private beach, Carlyon Cove to explore the rock pools or take a refreshing dip in the English sea.

Behind this hotel’s ivy-clad exterior lies a fine-dining establishment, an old-fashioned brasserie and a light-filled spa, each offering views across the carefully manicured lawns to the distant ocean. If the waves are calling, take the coast path across the rocky headland to Grade II listed Charlestown Harbour, which recently shot to fame in the TV series, Poldark. Grab a traditional Cornish cream tea or healthy turmeric latte from one of the cafés that line the old granite-walled harbour (which was also the setting for Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland and Dr Who). On your return to the hotel, unwind on a heated stone lounger at the spa, or try the sauna, steam room or bubbling spa bath.

Want to take the evening up a notch? Head to your Superior Sea Facing Room, decorated in light, beachy hues, and savour complimentary canapés before dinner. Freshen up with Gilchrist and Soames toiletries in the elegant, pale-hued bathroom, before taking a seat in the AA-rosette awarded restaurant. Try to grab a coveted window spot for spectacular sea views, then settle in to order fish caught fresh that day and award-winning Cornish cheeses for afters.

Sitting at the water’s edge, the serene Lugger Hotel is a former smugglers’ inn on Cornwall’s verdant Roseland Peninsula. The whitewashed 17th-century building is now home to a traditional Cornish restaurant, peaceful spa and 22 rooms, plus two character-filled holiday cottages. Soak up the atmosphere from a fireside alcove or admire the building from the terrace, with a jam and cream-topped scone, of course.

Order the expertly made seven-course tasting menu with local delicacies, including game, shellfish, lobster and crab, before retreating up the quaint, narrow stairs to bed. Bedrooms here have a New England vibe, with overstuffed cream sofas, chic white furniture and views across the sea. For a truly romantic experience, stay at the Hideaway, which is positioned just across the slipway and offers views across the sheltered waters of Portloe Harbour.

Take a bracing early-morning swim from the old stone jetty, before wrapping up in a towel, shaking the sand from your shoes and tucking into a hearty buffet breakfast. Afterwards, amble up the hill towards the coast path, where you’ll have far-reaching views across the water to Caerhays. Sandwiched between two cliffs and piled high with lobster pots, Portloe Harbour and its surrounds provide a charming, yet unspoilt Cornish retreat.

The St Enodoc Hotel offers quietly elegant rooms in the Cornish countryside. With an outdoor swimming pool hidden within a gently sloping garden, it’s an idyllic setting for a seaside break. Once ensconced in your room, spread out on a four-poster bed and gaze through the window to the calm waters below. Inspired by the coast, the décor here brings together whitewashed walls, nautically-themed oil paintings and traditional oak floorboards.

For a chic day out, catch the ferry across the turquoise water to the former fishing village of Padstow. This upmarket spot has waterfront art galleries, upscale boutiques and a vibrant local dining scene –Rick Stein, Paul Ainsworth and Nathan Outlaw all run restaurants here. Upon your return, stretch out in front of the wood-burning stove and admire the well-tended gardens, perhaps with a hot chocolate.

For an exemplary fine dining experience, stroll along the slate-floored corridor to the light and airy restaurant. Run by a Masterchef winner, it serves local delicacies, including Padstow lobster and Porthilly mussels in summer, alongside locally-reared venison and game in winter. If you’re in need of a sustainable, yet luxurious treat, book an Eco Chic Manicure at the spa, safe in the knowledge that only organic, sustainably sourced products will be used on your hands and arms.