Find your happy place

Whether sleeping under canvas or indulging in a luxury lodge retreat, there are plenty of ways to get closer to nature on your next trip to Cornwall.

With the days drawing out and the sun beginning to shine through our windows earlier each morning, it seems that spring is almost upon us. It’s a season of promise, awakening and new life, enlivening us and rekindling our adventurous spirit. It’s a time for getting outdoors once again, and for those seeking to escape the dreary humdrum of their daily lives away from the Duchy, to break the ice of hibernation and crash into coastal Cornwall for a long-awaited holiday. Beautiful at all times of the year, Cornwall is especially stunning as nature dips her brush into the paint pot and begins layering her canvas with the colourful palette of spring, which makes it a popular time for those who relish time
spent outdoors.

With this in mind, we thought we’d explore some of the many options out there for holiday makers hoping to make the most of Cornwall in the season of new life, from luxury, surrounded-by-nature lodges and options for those hoping to invest in their future family holidays, to camping and glamping escapes that place but a layer of canvas between you and the enigmatic beauty of Cornwall.

We’ll begin with the latter, and where better to start than the Yurt Village at The Park, Cornwall (theparkcornwall.com)? In actual fact, accommodation at The Park ranges widely, from luxury lodges and cottages, to park cabins. But it’s really the resort’s Yurt Village that has stolen our attention this month. For more than 2,000 years, Mongolian shepherds have made yurts their homes. Traditionally made from a round wooden frame with stretched-canvas rooves, each yurt at The Park comes with a touch more luxury than the traditional shelters that inspired them, with underfloor heating, double-glazed windows and woodburners making them cosy all year round, even on those chillier spring evenings. Within easy reach of Mawgan Porth beach – and of course, benefitting from all the facilities The Park Cornwall has to offer – if it’s a glamping retreat you’re looking for, you’re unlikely to be disappointed. Read more about The Park Cornwall on page 63.

Another favourite of ours that offers an array of accommodation is Pentewan Sands (pentewan.co.uk). Nestling on a half-mile stretch of privately owned beach in the sheltered waters of Mevagissey Bay, it’s the ideal location for families embarking on the traditional Cornish bucket-and-spade escape. It also welcomes guests wishing to stay in all kinds of ways, be it in their own motor home, caravan or tent, or in one of the resort’s on-site holiday homes. Bedecked with everything you need for the perfect holiday, from fully equipped kitchens, to bedrooms with all of the bed linen supplied, these lodges provide the ultimate comfort for a break on the fringes of the coast, with many offering views over the Atlantic breakers. With the on-site Seahorse Restaurant offering in-house dining and takeaway meals, as well as tennis courts, indoor swimming pools, bicycle hire and even an amusement arcade, there’s lots to keep families busy at Pentewan.

Facilities also abound at Wooda, a five-star holiday park near Bude. Placing families in prime position to make the most of woodland walks, nature trails and cycle paths, as well as tractor rides and the chance to meet the farm’s animals, Wooda continues to be made home from home by families who have been visiting for generations. The site also boasts a tennis court, a fitness suite, indoor archery, a pitch and putt, badminton, a fishing pond, pottery workshops and much more, but what really sets it apart is the attention to comfort and luxury that defines its accommodation. Wooda, like Pentewan, offers both touring and camping pitches for those bringing their own shelters with them, however it also has a variety of luxury holiday homes sleeping up to six, all with sea views, as well as three self-catering holiday cottages (two on site, with one in the heart of Bude). On top of this is the newest addition – a nine-strong collection of self-catering lodges named Gwelva Hills. Tucked into the hillside with sweeping coastal views across Bude on Cornwall’s north coast, Gwelva Hills offers the perfect destination for a romantic break for two, as much as it does for family holidays and get-togethers with friends. Stylishly designed with soft hues, the interiors of these spacious lodges feature open-plan living spaces, log burners and sink-into sofas to make time spent together as relaxing as possible. Barbeques and bottles of bubbles are all but obligatory thanks to the outside decking areas, while the bedrooms provide sumptuous sanctuaries in which to rest up before the next day’s adventure.

For those in search of something a little more secluded, or for a real point of difference compared to the wider market of available stays, Unique hideaways, for want of a better phrase, offers exactly what it says on the tin. Mistery 2 is a fine example, a houseboat hidden along the banks of the river Kennall, just over four miles from Falmouth. Sleeping four, this beautiful barge is permanently docked at her own quay, which itself is on the water’s edge of a two-acre holiday sanctuary. You’ll find tucked-away spots in which to read a book, easy access to the river for paddleboarding, and a firepit around which to gather and enjoy a hot chocolateas you gaze up and pick out the stars of the night sky. Inside, the interiors are as luxurious as they are nautical, with port windows allowing the sunshine to stream in, a well-equipped kitchen with surfaces carefully crafted from recycled Falmouth dock pilings, and the outside teak decking having been transferred from
older ships.

Another of Unique hideaways’ show-stoppers is The Bird Box, described on the website as a ‘cabin in Cornwall with an outdoor bath’. Inviting you to reawaken your connection with nature, this Scandi-chic, rustic cabin in a secluded pocket of countryside near Liskeard is a true example of glamping. It allows day-dreamers to do just that, with a sumptuous freestanding tub inviting al fresco, bubble-heavy soaks, and a hammock suspended idly in a small spinney of trees. Add to this a back-to-basics, warmed-by-wood-fire interior that has everything you need to relax, and all that’s left to do is enjoy the company of just the two of you.

Perhaps what epitomises the modern ‘glamping’ retreat the most, however, is the humble shepherd’s hut. Anybody who has stayed in one of these will know how amazing it is what creative minds can do with such a small space, and Unique hideaways’ retreat, Shepherd’s Rest, is no exception. Located less than four miles north of Fowey, this romantic, beautifully crafted hideaway lies in the heart of the countryside, with a lakeside barbeque hut for intimate sunset feasts. Craftsmanship and attention to detail are evident in every wooden joint, from the reclaimed floorboards, to the handmade cabinetry and bed frame, to the window frames that provide calming views out over the decking, the lakes, and the Cornish countryside beyond. At Shepherd’s Rest, it’s easy to unplug and switch off from the bustle of modern life. And whilst, from the outside, it feels very much like a ‘back to basics’ retreat, the simple façade belies a luxurious interior, including a lavish shower room, sumptuous king-sized bed and a welcoming woodburner. Oh, and there’s a matching shepherd’s hut for your dog just next door!

What all of the aforementioned stays have in common is closeness to nature, and in fact they are but a small sample of the camping, glamping and luxury lodge retreats that Cornwall has to offer. Particularly in recent years, more and more holidaymakers in the UK have been looking to Cornish soil when it comes to booking their breaks, and for many, this has left a lasting longing to return time and time again. This, in turn, has sparked an upward trend of visitors deciding to invest in their own little slice of Cornish paradise, from cottage boltholes by the sea, to luxurious lodges on resorts with all of the amenities required for the ultimate holiday. And why wouldn’t they? Not only does it allow you to enjoy your own holiday home, designed inside just the way you want it and at any time of year, there is also the benefit of additional income and a means of recouping your investment by letting your holiday home to guests during times that you’re not using it.

One such resort is Retallack Resort & Spa. Located in the countryside and open all year round, Retallack offers visitors seasonal watersports, a spa and health club, an indoor swimming pool, a stunning location and more, including an on-site bar and eatery. It also offers up a healthy dose of luxury in the accommodation available, including two, three and four-bedroom barns, available for purchase for those hoping to invest in their own future holidays. Architecturally designed and with designer interiors, these modular build holiday homes can be bought to start, or add to, a property portfolio, with buying options to suit different investors.

Another is Ocean Cove, where holiday home ownership is about so much more than simply owning a second home. Rather, it is about a way of life that you’ll enjoy each and every time you come to stay. With facilities including an indoor pool, steam room, sauna and gym open to owners seven days a week, from 9.30am to 5pm, this particular resort also offers a spectacular location on the north coast between Boscastle and Tintagel – an area steeped in myth and legend, most notably that of King Arthur. This places you, as an owner, in prime position to enjoy the abundant walks, nature trails and cycle tracks that characterise the area. Nearby there are calm, clear waters for swimming, and with Bodmin Moor on the doorstep, there are endless days of adventure to be enjoyed. And this is what makes owning your own holiday home here so attractive; the area is so rich in sights of beauty, trails and places to explore, that you could never enjoy it all in one visit. But as an owner, you needn’t choose between them, as whatever you’re unable to see this time, you can add to the itinerary for your next visit.

As you probably know, all of the mentioned stays and resorts are but a flavour of what Cornwall has to offer. In truth, there are countless options out there for those in search of a means of escaping to Cornwall and reconnecting with nature. Which is good, because as destinations go for those who love the outdoors, we think you’ll agree: Cornwall is tough to beat!