The Cornish coast of England provides a refreshing change even for those used to jetting off to far-flung exotic islands. When all the glamour of swanky resorts and high-maintenance holidays fail to restore your mojo, it’s the simple pleasures in life that will often do the trick. That’s why an abundance of natural beauty and heritage go a long way towards making Cornwall and its glorious coastline a wonderful place unwind and recharge.
Close to the town of St. Ives, I found a little gem of a retreat called Carbis Bay Hotel, perched above a 25-acre stretch of immaculate sandy beach. There is something quite special and charming about this place – perhaps it’s the people, the history and the character that gives this Cornish enclave its distinctive atmosphere.
Soles sinking into soft biscuit-coloured sand and immersing yourself into bracing clear water does the body a power of good. Never one to lie baking under the summer sun, I happily embraced the cool late-September breeze. At low tide a fascinating lagoon-like landscape emerges, with rock pools, twisting streams, miniature water falls spilling from the rugged rockface above, and swathes of mollusks clinging to the mossy rocks below. It’s no surprise then that Carbis Bay, which forms part of the larger St Ives Bay, is a member of the Most Beautiful Bay in the World Organisation, and its signature hotel is the only one in Britain with its own Blue Flag beach.
Sea air will always get the appetite going, and sitting out on the hotel’s terrace overlooking the bay for a late lunch, I tucked into a wonderfully satisfying Carbis Bay Burger, made from 100 percent minced beef, dry prosciutto, Cornish blue cheese and tomato salsa. In fact all of the food at the hotel’s Sands Restaurant is top-notch, very reasonably priced, and certainly gives top restaurants in London and Europe’s capitals a run for their money. The fact that the hotel was awarded an AA Rosette for Outstanding Cuisine for 13 consecutive years says it all.
A lovely meal, a lengthy stroll along the beach with its gently rolling waves and you’re nicely prepped for slumber, which brings another treat, as the hotel’s 47 bedrooms are stylish and comfortable. Some have four-poster beds and balconies or bay windows overlooking the vast Atlantic Ocean’s cobalt blue and sea green waters. Another place to lie back and have a snooze is the heated swimming pool area facing the beach
Carbis Bay Hotel was built in 1894, and has since become a popular seaside destination, following the opening of the local railway station. The four-minute journey between Carbis Bay and Porthminster in St Ives is a spectacular journey skimming the bays and cliffs. Those who prefer to walk to St Ives can follow a coastal pathway.
The hotel makes a great base from which to explore south Cornwall’s main attractions, such as the Tate St. Ives, The Minack open-air theatre in Penzance, St. Michael’s Mount and Land’s End. I for one intend to return to this pocket of Cornish paradise.
THE IMPORTANT BIT
What: Carbis Bay Hotel
Where: Carbis Bay, St. Ives, Cornwall, TR26 2NP
Tel: +44 1736 795 311
www.carbisbayhotel.co.uk
