fusion

We're going on a holiday in Cornwall starting in a couple of weeks, mainly gardens, NT properties and the like. Currently planning two nights each in Penzance, Falmouth and Fowey. We'd like to do two days on the north coast and are looking for a hotel. Price is not a major concern, within reason.

What we'd like is spectacular views, nice size rooms, not too hard to get to (want to avoid long drives on narrow roads).

Goals are walks or drives along the coast, not hanging out on a beach.

A number of people have advised against New Quay, as too noisy and brash. We've been thinking of Padstow or Mowgan Porth.

What would you recommend?

annhig

Hi Fusion,

one of the nicest hotels on the North Coast [bang on Mawgan Porth too] is the Scarlett, though there is strong competition from the Headland in Newquay, and the Watergate Bay which has some "midweek specials" on at the moment if you could stay 3 nights:

https://www.watergatebay.co.uk/stay/book-online/

http://www.scarlethotel.co.uk/?gclid...FWjlwgodsZAArw

http://www.headlandhotel.co.uk

The Headland is nicely out of the way from the "hustle and bustle" of Newquay, and most probably the main season for the party goers will not have started at the time you are there.

I've never stayed at any of these as living in Cornwall there isn't really a need but I've eaten at all of them and you won't go far wrong. I know that you aren't too fussed about cost, but you might be able to pick up some last minute deals or get a better deal on booking.com etc

As for hanging about on beaches, don't knock it - any little bit of sunshine and we're all out there walking our children and running after our dogs but there are plenty of footpaths for everyone.

Please come back if you'd like some more ideas!

fusion

Those three look very attractive. The Watergate doesn't have any availability for the days we're thinking of.

Any suggestions for how to decide between the Headlands and the Scarlet?

BTW, any thoughts on our other Cornwall hotel choices:
Penzance - Penzance Hotel
Falmouth - Greenbank Hotel
Fowey - Fowey Hall Hotel

annhig

Headlands v Scarlett?

++ different. The Scarlett is very chic "Boutique" type hotel, the Headlands very traditional [Roald Dahl's the Witches was filmed there!] not sure which I'd choose, if I had the choice!

The Greenbank is one of the very few hotels in Cornwall that I have stayed in - we had our 30th wedding anniversary dinner there and they gave us a free room afterwards - and i love it. Make sure that you have a room with a view - well worth it.

I had lunch in Fowey Hall a few years ago - another boutique-type place - portions were a bit small for the price, if I'm honest, but it was during the Fowey festival so that might have explained it. The Fowey Hotel is also nice - we ate there and liked it a lot.

Similarly I've never stayed at the Penzance Hotel but we ate in their Bay restaurant at Christmas and loved it.

hope that helps you to decide!

fusion

Between the Scarlett and the Headlands, which is easier to get to or is more convenient to explore the coast? Longer drives on narrow or difficult roads are something we'd rather avoid.

We reserved a room with a view for the Greenbank.

I'll take a look at Fowey Hall compared to Fowey Hotel.

Thanks!

annhig

Not a lot in it, though the Scarlett is already on the coast road out in the country, whereas the Headlands is overlooking the beach on the edge of Newquay. All of the roads in this area are a bit windy but nothing outstanding, IMO. [though I'm used to them!]

One note of caution - I always get lost finding the entrance to the Headlands - but then i don't use GPS locally so you should be fine.

Where will you be coming from?

annhig

PS -you might find that the Scarlett is in a slightly better place for touring the north Cornwall coast - no need to drive out of Newquay in the morning to drive up to Padstow etc., assuming that's where you want to go. OTOH, that time of year, driving out of Newquay probably isn't going to be a big problem.

fusion

Coming from Falmouth. Next area would be Fowey.

We've driven on a few too many UK roads that seem about 1.5 cars wide, hence the concern.

We'll definitely be using GPS. Anything better than Google maps navigation?

annhig

When are you going to Penzance?

there is a very nice drive from PZ along the south coast [almost] to Land's end [don't miss the Minack Theatre at Porthcurno] then up the North coast from Sennen to Padstow. The Gurnard's head pub north of Geevor [stop off to see the way a working mine operated] is excellent.

All roads around here apart from the most modern have places that are a bit narrow - it comes with the territory.

Any GPS should be ok - the roads don't alter that much.

sofarsogood

<<We'll definitely be using GPS. Anything better than Google maps navigation?>>

Yes get yourself a paper ( I know its so 20th century) road atlas such as

http://shop.theaa.com/store/uk-1/big...las-britain-pb

Less than a fiver from supermarkets or petrol stations.

annhig

fusion - i hope that Trewithen is on your "to see" list:

http://www.trewithengardens.co.uk/tr...il-highlights/

Also Caerhays: http://www.caerhays.co.uk

and the Lost Gardens of Heligan: http://heligan.com

as for the NT properties in Cornwall, both Llanhydrock and Trelissick are well worth visiting this time of year. You can do a boat trip to Trelissick from Falmouth which should be lovely in good weather. An alternative and very nice trip is to get the boat over to St Mawes and to walk down to the St Mawes Castle. There is also a nice garden in St Mawes called "Lamorran" which opens Weds and Fri from April to September.

if you feel more energetic, hop onto the little boat to Piece and walk round to St Anthony's Head but take water and food as there's nothing over there at all besides a church and the lighthouse. Also make sure that you don't miss the last boat back from Piece as it's a long walk back.

I asked where you would be coming from to get to the North Coast as I'm struggling to understand your route - logically you would go from Fowey to Falmouth to Penzance to Newquay/Mawgan Porth, but there are of course other ways of doing it, depending on where you are coming from and going to.

fusion

Trewithen, Heligan, Trebah and Caerhays are at the top of our list. We're fans of the Good Gardens Guide (if you're not familiar, it rates of UK gardens and we've found it very reliable) and those are all top rated. We're essentially members of the NT.

I thought Trelissick was a 20 minute drive from Falmouth rather than a boat trip. Driving would seem more convenient. Am I confused?

The planned route is
land LHR, visit The Vyne (it's close and don't want to drive much after flying), overnight.
Penzance, two nights
Falmouth, two nights
North coast, two nights
Fowey, two nights
Windsor overnight
LHR

We'd rather do a long drive in the beginning and meander our way back towards LHR.

BTW, we had been leaning towards the Scarlet, but saw that it has open bathrooms, which do not sound appealing, so are corresponding with the Headland to find the right room and view. Large room facing east towards the Atlantic is sounding appealing.

annhig

I thought Trelissick was a 20 minute drive from Falmouth rather than a boat trip. Driving would seem more convenient. Am I confused?>>

not at all - they are both good ways of getting there. the boat probably has more wow factor but i suspect takes quite a lot longer and of course there's not much else to do there afterwards except get the boat back. i agree that by road it's about 20 mins from Falmouth, and hopefully there won't be as many people there are there were today! [it hadn't occurred to us that it would be crowded on Easter saturday - silly us]. As well as the beautiful gardens, the house is open again - although it's not done up in the same way as most NT houses, as they have only just taken it over, it's well worth spending 30 mins or so going round it if only for the excellent views down the Carrick Roads.

Though I don't know where the Vine is, assuming it's near LHR, it's a long drive to PZ, though definitely doable in a day. If you are scheduling a stop somewhere, I'd suggest NOT Exeter - it's an awful place to get in and out of. We like to stop off in a little place called Langport in Somerset it's nothing special but the road there makes a nice change from rest of the route on motorway and dual carriageway. There is a pub or if you prefer an excellent bakery. There are also some nice pubs just off the A303 - the Podymore Inn is our new favourite having taken over from the Sparkford Inn [google is showing it as permanently closed but it was open with new owners when we went through there a month or so ago]

anyway, here's the Podymore Inn: http://www.thepodymoreinn.co.uk

other options near the A303 are Montacute, which with your NT passes you could get into free - excellent food as I recall from a visit 2 or so years ago and Stourhead which has an excellent pub near the entrance.

I'm with you on the open bathrooms - yuk. I'm sure you will like the Headland, especially that view!

fusion

Would you have restaurant recommendations near our hotels? Preferably within a short and easy drive?

Two nights at each of:
Penzance - Penzance Hotel
Falmouth - Greenbank Hotel
New Quay - Headland
Fowey - Fowey Hall Hotel

We chose http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/vyne/ because it's a short drive from Heathow. Overnight in Basingstoke.

We plan to visit Stourhead on our way back. You and I seem to have very similar taste in gardens, etc.

annhig

hi fusion,

i agree that our tastes are not dissimilar, if this thread is anything to go by.

Generally I would suggest eating at least once in your chosen hotels.

after that, I would suggest as follows:

PZ - the cafe in the Pendeen gallery and museum, [the Gallery is a must if you like Newlyn school art and the cafe is excellent - as well as being set in a very nice garden]
The cafe at Trengwainton [NT gardens] is also very good. [i forgot to mention it before]

Harris's - longstanding with an excellent reputation
The Old Coastguard in Mousehole
2, Fore Street in Mousehole
Ben's cornish kitchen in Marazion. [overlooking St Michael's Mount]

Falmouth - you can easily walk into town from the Greenbank. in order that you will get to them:
Olivers
Thai orchid
Da Vinci
Samphire
for fish and chips, the Harbour Lights - and you can take them into the nearby bar, the Front and eat them there, rather than risking the seagulls taking them!

A bit further round:
Gilly beach cafe
Hooked [a fish restaurant overlooking Swan Pool]
The Cove [overlooking Maenporth beach]

Newquay [one word] - I can't help with Newquay itself apart from recommending the Headland, but you can eat at Watergate Bay, Scarlett's or Fifteen - Jamie Oliver's place. [Food is quite good but drinks ++ expensive]

Fowey - as well as the hotel, Sam's down in town is very good [and you can't book]. Food for Thought on the front is supposed to be good but it's always been full when we've tried to eat there. I've had lunch in the Ship in and it was fine.

hope that helps. Shame you've only got two nights in each place!

CDNTraveler

Hi Annhig, your information is so helpful. We are still working on our trip to Cornwall this October and our friends chose the Camelot Castle Hotel in Tintagel for two nights. Any suggestions for that area - it looks remote to me?
We plan on visiting Port Isaac from there, the Tintagel castle. Any other suggestions for dining, snacking, pubs, sightseeing, etc?
Fusion - hope you are okay with my posting in - I jumped in as Tintagel is on the north coast of Cornwall.

fusion

Annhig, thank you for your incredibly helpful advice. It is really appreciated.

I think that's it for me for now.

annhig

no problem, fusion - it's been a pleasure to help and I hope that you have a terrific trip and a lovely stay in Cornwall.

CDN - There are of course a lot of nice places that you can get to from Tintagel [pronounced TinTAGel with a soft G, BTW ] - as well as the ruins at Tintagel itself, there are Padstow, Port Isaac, Morwenstow, Bude, even Hartland Point within reasonable distance, but whether it's the best place for you to stay rather depends on where else you are going to be staying - where you are coming from and going to.

As for places to eat, Padstow is chock full of them, and there are probably some good places in Port Isaac too, but it's not an area that we go to very often. [in fact I don't think i've been to Tintagel for 15 years ! and probably not Port Isaac for 5. Mainly the attractions in that area are walking along the coast and exploring the little villages. Our favourite is Morwenstow where the Rev Hawker was vicar over 100 years ago; he composed Trelawney [the cornish anthem] held services for animals, and tried to dissuade his parishioners from wrecking. The number of sailors' graves in the graveyard are a testament to how successful he was.

There certainly used to be a good pub there [actually in the tiny hamlet of Bush] and a tea shop near the church which google tells me is still there.

http://www.rectory-tearooms.co.uk

menachem

The Old School House in Port Isaac is nice and Port Isaac itself is very beautiful

CDNTraveler

Thank you annhig, I've been researching your suggestions and I am excited to go to the Rectory Tearoom!