If you could go anywhere in Cornwall

[BrennieGirl]

DH and I are planning a five night trip to Cornwall in October. We haven’t been there for almost 20 years. The last time we stayed in a holiday cottage in St Mawes with our two small DDs and MIL.

It’ll be just the two of us this time. We’re flying into Newquay and will hire a car. We want to stay in a really nice hotel and possibly do a two stop trip.

I can’t decide where to go. We’ve stayed in St Ives, Penzance and Padstow on other trips so it might be nice to try somewhere else. I’d prefer somewhere that’s close to pubs and restaurants so ideally in a town.

can anyone suggest a nice town to stay in or even an itinerary for five nights?

And any really good hotel suggestions would be appreciated.

Falmouth is a busy bustling place to visit
.Bodmin is a nice inland town with a lot of history. Looe is beautiful with a stunning harbour and some amazing shops and brilliant restaurants

Another vote for Falmouth here. I lived there for a while. Very bustly high street with lots of bars, restaurants and cafes. Olde world pubs, beautiful beaches and a castle. The boat trip to St Mawes is worth doing.

St Michael’s Hotel in Falmouth is very nice.

Another vote for Falmouth. Plenty to do in and around the area. Loe beach at Feock is great for paddle boarding etc. Drive down to Lizard Point for beautiful walks.

Watergate Bay Hotel maybe for your 1st or last night as it’s very close to Newquay?

https://watergatebay.co.uk

Have a lovely holiday!

Thank you for all the suggestions. Looks like Falmouth might be on the itinerary!

Any suggestions for nice hotels in Falmouth?

The Scarlet Hotel is very nice (and pricey).

The Headland Hotel and stay in a cottage. Is lush to have the space of a cottage right on the sea front but with all the nice bits of a hotel like restaurants, spa and a big swimming complex thing with bubbles pools.

Scarlet hotel definitely

The Tresanton in St Mawes, I dream of one day staying there or the Rosevine at Portscatho always looks nice and is right next to Porthcurnick beach and the Hidden Hut

Definitely Hotel Tresanton. Totally beautiful. Nathan Outlaw has his Guest House in Port Isaac. Both of these are better than Falmouth (which is quite a long way from Newquay!) Nathan Outlaw and Hotel Tresanton have good restaurants. There’s also the Idle Rocks at St Mawes too. You might like The Pig at Harlyn. The Scarlett has a natural pool but the food isn’t that great. Paul Ainsworth has the Padstow Townhouse. His various restaurants are fantastic. You would not go wrong with any of these and they are the best of Cornwall in my view.

Rosevine or Headland would always be my choice

St Michaels at Falmouth
Carbis Bay Hotel
Bedruthan or Scarlet (but both out the way)
St Enodoc Rock
Headland Newquay (for Aqua club)

Oh yes - forgot St Enodoc at Rock.

Thanks guys - getting great ideas here.

I don’t actually want to stay in Newquay. We visited on one of our previous trips and I wasn’t that impressed with the town itself.

I think we’re going to spend 2/3 nights in St Ives (even though we’ve been several times before). The Carbis Bay Hotel looks fabulous but it’s just a bit too far from St Ives itself. The Harbour Hotel looks to be the next best option.

So that leaves 2/3 days somewhere else. The hotels in St Mawes look fab but we stayed in St Mawes for a week on our last trip and as much as we liked it, it’s quite small and I feel like we saw everything.

I’m kind of torn between staying in Falmouth or going somewhere smaller like Fowey.

The St Enodoc looks beautiful.

Carbis Bay hotel is only ten minutes walk to St Ives and a lovely walk. It knocks the socks off Harbour Hotel.

None in Fowey are remarkable. Fowey Hall etc is ok. Fowey itself is lovely but not an atmosphere like Falmouth

Porthleven quiet great food.

You can walk from hotel to st Ives ...or get the train...the station super close to the hotel ..takes about 15 mins and is a pretty journey ..ps it's also cheap

Fowey is great, lots of restaurants and some super independent shops, nice walks. Fowey Hall is lovely and right in the town. https://luxuryfamilyhotels.co.uk/locations/fowey-hall/

Bodmin is horrible. Absolutely don't stay there. It's not a holiday destination

St Michael's hotel in Falmouth is gorgeous and the town is lovely

I've stayed at Fowey Hall Hotel and can really recommend it. Fabulous views, amazing food, very comfortable rooms. I felt like I was staying in an Agatha Christie book.

You may be able to tell from username that I love a trip to Cornwall!

Before I launch in: don’t stay in Rock! There’s nothing there apart from People From London.

2/3 nights in St Ives is a great idea. Is Pedn Olva any good as a hotel?

☑️Spend a day exploring, drinking, eating. Soooo much to see and do.
☑️take an open top bus anywhere.
☑️head to the south coast and visit St Michael’s mount and Penzance which is gentrifying fast - some incredible seafood restaurants to be found, lots of independent makers based in town etc
☑️like being active? Gwithian Academy of Surfing is a friendly place doing wetsuit and bodyboard hire, or take a lesson
☑️if you’re happy to drive and haven’t seen Minack Theatre yet, it’s something that you really must. All the work of one woman. Rowena Cade I think.

Head to Falmouth and repeat your St Ives day. Eat, drink, wander, shop. Look for the pub that’s also a bookshop.
☑️Drive your car round the headland and pull over above the dry dock. Eat an ice cream leaning on the fence and seeing what you can spot in the dock. It’s like looking down on a miniature set.
☑️Google a guided kayak trip up one of the creeks. They’re all gorgeous, doesn’t matter whether you’re on the Helford or the Fal. The Fal sometimes has amazing big ships moored up there. Paddling past the King Harry Ferry is always amusing.
☑️*Gyllynvase beach is locally known as Gylly beach and is a nice place to spend the day if you’re beach people. If it’s busy, drive further to Swanpool or Maenporth (my actual favourite place) You can also walk the coastal path to Maenporth where you’ll find a simple but friendly beach cafe

Depending on what time your flight back is, I would spend your last day at the Lost Gardens of Helligan. Get there at opening and make sure to join the free talks. It was “lost” because the gardeners went to war and didn’t return 💔
And/or visit Mevagissey. Take the cheap harbour boat tour - we’ve seen dolphins on this tour.