Visiting Tamar Valley.
Back in December, just before Christmas, we visited Cornwall and the beautiful Tamar Valley.
Hosted by the wonderful Boutique Retreats - Quiet Cottage is nestled into the beautiful countryside border of Devon and Cornwall - with River Tamar running alongside it. The beauty of Boutique Retreats is that they do beautiful stays that little bit differently. Short breaks across the breadth of the UK with a personal service - from arranging catering or deliveries of fresh local produce to your cottage, booking restaurant reservations, or just helping you explore the area. They beautifully bridge the gap between hotels and holiday cottages to ensure you get the very most from your stay.
And this stay was no exception. Set within 35 acres of private land, it really is an incredibly special spot, where we spent the entire weekend cosied up by the log burner, in-between tranquil walks along the river with the girls. I can’t quite explain how magical it was to wake up in the morning and look out the windows to see and hear water flowing by. Visiting in winter meant we were also treated to stunning clouds of mist and fog traveling over the river which was so picturesque. I even did some morning yoga outside on the little footpath! A stones-throw from the cottage, within the private grounds, is an old mine, which was so beautiful to explore.
It felt like pure escapism, having such a huge amount of outdoor space all to ourselves - the type of holiday where you really question why you don’t already live in the middle of nowhere with stunning views to wake up to! The cottage is beautiful and compact and has everything you need for a really romantic getaway. The owners very kindly left us a gorgeous welcome hamper with locally sourced produce and a bottle of bubbly, too.
The open plan downstairs kitchen and living room’s country style is warmed by the central log burner and upstairs you’ll find a spacious bedroom with a king sized bed and en-suite in the eaves.
We took a food shop with us in the car, but also ordered a Cote meal box with a pre-prepared dinner to be delivered on the Saturday which felt very fancy - and even though the lanes down to the property are narrow, DPD still managed it!
On our way back home we passed through Tavistock, a lovely market town with gothic architecture, incredible food and quaint independent shops. We booked in for lunch at the Cornish Arms - most certainly a treat as it cost us a pretty penny; but the food was absolutely delicious and they are dog friendly, too.
We had such a special time. And If you’re looking for a romantic staycation that feels private and tucked away from the world, but still has the option for exploring the local areas amenities, I couldn’t recommend Quiet Cottage more.
*press stay