Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Moonfleet v Bedruthan v Knoll House v Sands

42 replies

BearintheBigBlueHouse · 24/08/2004 15:20

OK, you?re all coming back from your hols now so someone must be able to report back to help us decide where to take the non-school-age DC next month. We?ve got a week off, but won?t be able to book anywhere until the end of the week before, so our choice will probably be limited anyway, but if we had a free choice between the above four, which should we go for? Or should we look elsewhere?

Our criteria are: I like comfort and cleanliness, the more stars the better, but would rather not have to dress up too much for dinner; DD loves the BEEEEEECH! and needs to be somewhere that will facilitate a lot of jumping over waves; DS is teething and is likely to wake DD up if they?re forced to sleep in the same room, so somewhere with two interconnecting rooms or a three (or more) room suite/villa would be ideal. Childcare for a few hours of parental R&R is essential.

The impression I have, from what I?ve heard here and elsewhere, and from the hotels? websites, is that (and please don?t shoot me if I unintentionally offend - I'm realise I'm being a bit of a cheeky monkey but your confirmations or corrections are very welcome) Moonfleet is for Bodenites, Bedruthan for Fat Faces, Knoll House for M&Sers and Sands for JJB Sportswearers. Like I say, I?m not being deliberately snobbish (FWIW I am dressed by all of the above to a greater or lesser degree) but it would be good to know what to expect....

A pound and a half of best West Country fudge for the most helpful replies.

OP posts:
iota · 24/08/2004 15:28

Can't help as haven't been to any of them - can I have the fudge if no-one else replies?

moomina · 24/08/2004 15:30

Umm, well have only got experience of Knoll House but would agree with you about the M&S element... We used to go for family holidays when my brother and I were little and it was lovely then but think it has lost a little of its gloss in 25+ years. It is rather middle-aged - Moonfleet is definitely more glamorous (well, as glamorous as family hotels can be!) It's definitely jacket and tie for dinner. But they do love kids and it is very friendly, pretty grounds, etc.

I do love Knoll House, but it's really more of a nostalgia thing. I would probably go for Moonfleet if I was choosing now. The pirate ship is fab though!

donnie · 24/08/2004 15:37

we had ten days last year at bedruthan and are going back in 3 weeks - it was fab! and I don't even know what 'fat faces' are meant to be like. You can walk down the steps to the huge beach ( don't take the buggy though) and the facilities are excellent, 3 pools, kids teas,playground, indoors play areas, kids entertainment, creche,nice food in the evening which is more smart casual than posh.Also baby listening which for us is a must.Pricey but worth it! can I have the fudge now?

donnie · 24/08/2004 15:38

ps also beauty salon if you want a facial or massage etc....

milkbar · 24/08/2004 16:34

We went to Sands in June - it was ok, you certainly don't need to dress up for dinner. DD loved it there, the room was big and clean, the childrens facilities and pirates club were great. I enjoyed a treatment at the salon... But it wasn't spectacularly special. I didn't see any shell suits though. Also, there isn't direct access to a beach, you really have to drive to the good ones but the nearby beaches are lovely. I did think Bedruthan steps looked 'nicer' but obviously more pricey.

milkbar · 24/08/2004 16:34

We went to Sands in June - it was ok, you certainly don't need to dress up for dinner. DD loved it there, the room was big and clean, the childrens facilities and pirates club were great. I enjoyed a treatment at the salon... But it wasn't spectacularly special. I didn't see any shell suits though. Also, there isn't direct access to a beach, you really have to drive to the good ones but the nearby beaches are lovely. I did think Bedruthan steps looked 'nicer' but obviously more pricey.

prettycandles · 24/08/2004 20:53

We have been to Knoll House and to Sands. Knoll House wins hands down - we're going back there for the 4th year running in a couple of weeks' time! The food is brilliant for adults and for children, the suites are perfect, the outdoor pool and the playground are excellent, the beaches around are lovely (you do have to cross a road though) as are all the places to visit. The only childcare they have is supervision in the playroom after children's lunch and excellent babylistening in the evening, but that's all we want, and they do babylistening after children's lunch if babies need to nap rather than go into the playroom. I believe you can also book babysitting privately with off-duty staff if you want to leave the hotel. In general the staff bend over backwards to oblige. You only find oldies and parents with young children there, but after dinner all those parents are down in the bar for socialising. We only go in Sept when they have their low season.

As for Sands, well it's cheaper and you get the same sort of value-for-money. The children's food is very good, but the adult food is not of quality you would expect from a decent hotel (eg eggs fried solid and swimming with grease at breakfast, tinned tuna without any dressing on a manky salad leaf as a starter at dinner). The staff are friendly but clueless. The pool suites are awful - we had to move because I couldn't sleep from claustrophobia, and I didn't know until then that I was claustrophobic! We were put into a lovely big suite in the main hotel, but the noise from the airconditioning units on hte flat roof below was dreadful - apparently a problem with all the rooms at that end of the building. They have a decent softplay room accessible to all children during termtime (it's a restricted-age clubroom druing holidays), a nice indoor pool, massages and beauty treatments etc (which KH doesn't have), also lovely beaches (a drive away) and local attractions.

prettycandles · 24/08/2004 20:57

BTW, dh has never worn jacket and tie for dinner at KH, just the smart shirt and chinos that he wears to work. Mostly the older guests go for j&t, and frocks for the ladies, but 'our' generation go smart/casual.

I think I've earned that fudge

Original poster
BearintheBigBlueHouse · 24/08/2004 22:42

Fudgetastic - thanks everyone. Looks like Sands has fallen out of the running, Knoll House is just in third with Moonfleet and Bedruthan still neck and neck at the front. Can anyone help separate them, or should we let availability and travel time (DD&DS kicked off big time in a seven and a half hour M6 epic this weekend, so the nearer the better) decide?

OP posts:
gil · 25/08/2004 14:12

Have been to both (with husband and todler and baby ) moonfleet and Bedruthan in 2002 though.
Moonfleet positives were , we had a beautiful room, huge four poster bed cotton duvets , enourmous bathroom ,babysitter arranged ( or room listening )and a beautiful spaniel called Spicer which uests could take for a walk .Negatives were that it is on thr Fleet not the sea , the fleet is a stretch of water with a big spit of shingle separating it fronm the sea so not really good if you want buckets and spades sort of thing without getting in the car .
Bedruthan positives is that the views are fantastic the beach close though down a quite steep cliff .food better than expected for that sort of place . Childrems club/ Creshe till 7-10pm whilst adults ate dinner.
Probably more negatives for Bedruthan , sheets and blankets which seem really old fashioned and may have been polycotton .Rather basic room .The whole place looks like a bit of a concrete bunker and a long way for us ( we are in London)
this is my first post !

Original poster
BearintheBigBlueHouse · 25/08/2004 14:35

Thanks Gil (am honoured to be the recipient of your first post). We've the same family profile as you IYKWIM (2 grown-ups, a toddler and a baby) - did you have more than one room at both places? How did that work out?

Is there somewhere we're missing that is on the beach but has all the best bits of the others - what about Sandbanks in Poole?
We've been to Saunton Sands but thought it was all a bit Saga. Or are we asking the impossible?

OP posts:
bettys · 25/08/2004 14:48

Our favouritest place is the Hell Bay Hotel . We get a garden suite (2 bedrooms & sitting room) & there's baby listening. It's right by a beach, informal & friendly with a small outdoor pool & play area. There's no creche though, & you may not want the west country if you already have fudge on your doorstep, so to speak. It may also be booked up for September, but it is fab.

bettys · 25/08/2004 14:48

Our favouritest place is the Hell Bay Hotel . We get a garden suite (2 bedrooms & sitting room) & there's baby listening. It's right by a beach, informal & friendly with a small outdoor pool & play area. There's no creche though, & you may not want the west country if you already have fudge on your doorstep, so to speak. It may also be booked up for September, but it is fab.

bettys · 25/08/2004 14:49

So good I'll tell you twice!

Original poster
BearintheBigBlueHouse · 25/08/2004 14:54

Nice - that's a definite for next year - thanks - not sure it would work for us next month tho'. What way do you get there and do you take baby/toddler paraphernalia with you?

OP posts:
bettys · 25/08/2004 15:04

We drive to Penzance (4.5 hours from London) and then get the helicopter (20 mins). We've been taking ds since he was 2 & used to just take a backpack to carry him in, though obviously people do take pushchairs. The hotel has beach toys & baby listeners, & they do children's teas etc. We're going next month & we can hardly wait.

Issymum · 25/08/2004 15:10

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request

gil · 25/08/2004 15:17

getting the hang of this posting now!anyway Bear i think you should check out Fowey Hall( i think it is hall or possibly house) it is on beach or near it in Cornwall and it is part of the Luxury Family Hotels group , Moonfleet is in that group too . I have not been to Fowey but have heard good reviews from friends.
With regard to bedrooms we had omly one v. large room at both places which was probably not ideal .In Bedruthan the room had one double bed , 2 singles and a cot and there was still plenty of room to walk about . I do remember they were very good at supplying baby stuff like sterilizers .Our Youngest was just 7 weeks old when we went .
At Moonfleet we had a double bed a single z bed for our toddler all in one room and the bathroom was so big that the baby cot went in there .Which infact was ok but we were only there for 3 nights and it was well ventilated so did not get all steamy!

gil · 25/08/2004 15:26

yes u are right issymum about the swimmimgpool bit at Moonfleet it was pretty yukky .In 2002 we were told it was being redone ...worth checking before booking

Grommit · 25/08/2004 16:55

I am just back from Sands Resort and was at Bedruthan last year. I found the room at Sands much bigger and better - cheerfully furnished in a nautical theme - Bedruthan room was like a cheap holiday inn. I was also surprised by the food at Sands - the adult evening meals were very goos (and I am a fussy eater) - tapas for starters different every night with a good selection of maincourses and lovely desserts. Bedruthan childrens food was much better - more variety. The indoor pool at Sands is small and not very interesting and you need to drive to the beach. I did find that at halp the price Sands is as good as if not better than Bedruthan. Best thing about both of course is the child listening facility...

marbeth · 25/08/2004 17:57

Been to Bedruthan and Sands which we enjoyed.This year just back from Langstone cliff hotel in Dawlish warren.We went with friends and we were all very plesantantly surprised how good it was as it worked out cheaper than Bedruthan.No child care however room listening and some bedrooms with two rooms.Very child friendly including chidrens disco and funshow as well as playroom.Looks over beach.Lunch much better than bedruthan ,Excellant cream teas!.Wine reasonably priced.Lovely lounges to relax in.Would not go back to bedruthan or sands now.

Original poster
BearintheBigBlueHouse · 25/08/2004 22:14

Langstone looks interesting - now its a choice between Devon and Hell. Sorry.

OP posts:
serenequeen · 26/08/2004 11:17

ooh, marbeth, we are going to langstone cliff next week - sounds lovely! bitbbh, if you can face the drive, i would do bedruthan, simply because of the location, which is fantastic. but like marbeth, i'll be able to compare the two in a couple of weeks

marbeth · 26/08/2004 11:53

Hi Serenequeen
It will be interesting to see what you think.Certainnly preschool we really enjoyed bedruthan. Now that our ds is 6 langstone cliff worked well.He went to children tea and then played while we ate dinner in the playroom.Also there was a large screen televison in the lounge and quite alot of children watched the childrens programmes.Think dinner in bedruthan is better.However food is good in langstone more tradtional.What I like is that children can come to dinner with you.Breakfasts really good we came home 10lb heavier!

marbeth · 26/08/2004 11:58

Hi serene queen

forgot to say what type of room are youstaying in.We had a family seaview.Room was very spaious with large area for playing.Our friends room was smaller but still good.

Swipe left for the next trending thread