48 HOURS IN CORNWALL.
48 HOURS IN CORNWALL.
Was nowhere near long enough. I haven't been to Cornwall for years and with a memory like a sieve I'd quickly forgotten how incredible it is.We'd booked our trip last year, deciding a staycation with the dogs would be a lovely way to celebrate my birthday. I shotgunned Cornwall because I knew we'd be spoilt for beautiful seaside walks and stunning views.And it probably goes without saying, what with COVID-19 not going anywhere fast, we weren't sure whether we'd be able to make it.Luckily restrictions lifted just in time, and although we had to cut the trip short by one day, it was the most magical weekend.
Disclaimer - *press stay
I want to preface this review with a quick, but important disclaimer. We were incredibly careful on our trip. We did a food shop before we set off, the boot full to the brim with cool bags full of food so that we wouldn't have to eat out whilst we were there. We so desperately wanted a break away, but were painfully conscious of being safe. We cooked all of our meals at our beautiful home for the weekend. And visited some gorgeous beaches and discovered hidden gems. We made sure we set off early each morning to avoid crowds and most of the time we had each place to ourselves. It was a truly restorative break and we both felt so thankful to be able to go. With that being said, I hope you'll enjoy coming on our journey with us..
WHERE WE STAYED.
Part of the Boutique Retreats family, Smugglers is tucked away in the rural north Cornish countryside of Bodmin Moor and it is utter magic. I think the photos will speak for themselves, but some of our favourite bits of Smugglers were the efforts of the owners. Eco conscious is their motto. With their own borehole every last drop of water is created by rainfall and evaporation on natural matter, safely filtrated before it reaches the tap. Their eco-fuelled hot tub is run by a wood-fire burner and the views? It's all priceless and absolutely perfect.
Smuggler's
The interior is open plan but cosy and the wood-burner churned out some serious heat. The wrap around decking is accessible from every point of the house. Whether you're stepping out for a morning brew from the bedroom or taking breakfast outside from the kitchen. You're surrounded by farmland, the beautiful moors and a large family of sheep. The garden is full of herbs, beautiful flowers and a wildflower meadow. And something that's very important to me...the bed. It was without doubt the comfiest thing I've ever rested my body on and Jamie agreed. It really was a dream place to stay.It was so lovely preparing meals in the kitchen too and letting the girls run around the garden and paddock whilst we had a dip in the hot tub. Sue and Steve the owners were on hand to help us with anything we needed and had kindly left us some essentials - bread, butter, eggs and a fresh fruit bowl.The facilities were endless, and there was plenty of room for the dogs. We had them set up for bedtime in the entrance / utility room and Sue and Steve had even left them some lovely treats, too.Location wise it was brilliant. Within half an hour you could be at Padstow or any of the beaches we visited below and of course you have the entirety of Bodmin Moor to explore; and Port Isaac just down the road. I wish we could've stayed longer, it was such a tonic and I'd go back in a heartbeat.
THE BEACHES.
Trebarwith Strand.What a sight to behold. This beach is spectacular. From the beautiful houses built into the rocks, to the dog friendly beach and miles of open space and mountainous walks it was absolute perfection. We took our own drinks and snacks with us, but I've heard there are some killer hot chocolates in the cafe.
Tintagel - Merlin's CoveA popular hot spot is Tintagel's Castle, but we were more interested in Merlin's Cove. We got there so early we were the only ones there, and because of the time, the tide was in. But it was restorative in a way I can't even explain. The immediate calm of being wrapped between the coves and the waves hitting the rocks was breathtaking. It felt like our own private beach and I would've happily stayed all day. Again, this is dog friendly, but it is super rocky. So just make sure they're okay with climbing / jumping or that you can lift them safely!
A HIDDEN GEM.
My aunty had visited Cornwall last year and told me about a hidden gem we had to visit. St Nectan's Glen was all kinds of beautiful. It's a good old walk to get to your destination, but boy is it worth it. We walked through a gorgeous little jungle fern haven. Over bridges, past streams and eventually wound up at the entrance to the waterfall. Completely set up for Covid, with hand sanitisers and a oneway system we paid our entrance fee and made our way down from the top of the hills to the mouth of the waterfall. Pictures could never do it justice. But it was absolutely stunning.
I don't think I can quite explain how relaxing this break was. Even driving from one destination to the next was so calming. The views and quiet roads just hit the reset button for me. And Jamie and I have spent our time planning how and when we can make the move to Cornwall in the future.A huge thank you to Smuggler's for making our trip as special as it was.And I'd love to hear your recommendations for where to visit when we go back for our next trip!