There’s no doubt that the face of self-catering holidays in Cornwall has changed in the aftermath of COVID-19. But you can still enjoy the perfect stay-cation or work-action in one of our luxury retreats. With the beach on your doorstep you can step straight out onto the coast for a blast of briny air or a saltwater dip, then hunker down in your private space and make the most of your home by the sea.

Here are some things we love staying in for on holiday:

Quality time with friends and family

The best way to catch up with family and friends is to spend time together in a home-away-from-home. When everyday tasks and distractions are left behind, there’s more time to talk, play and relax together, without the pressures of the chores, work and the daily grind. Make yourself at home in one our stylish properties designed for relaxation and leisure time, and you’ve got all the luxuries and entertainment you need to chill out and enjoy time with each other.

Relax and recharge

Bask in Cornwall’s sub-tropical climate, soak up a mighty dose of vitamin sea, and take time for lazy mornings or afternoon siestas. Wind down to the rhythm of the ocean, pad along the shoreline and hunker down by the log burner with a bottle of red wine and platter of Cornish cheeses. In recent years holidays have evolved into time spent cramming as much as possible into our time off, but having space and time to rest and recharge your batteries is what vacations should be about. So make the most of some R&R in your stylish coastal holiday pad.

Eat gourmet food

Cornwall is renowned for its smorgasbord of delicious food plucked from the coast and the countryside. And you don’t have to step foot in a restaurant for a gourmet spread and excellent service. Make the most of having time to cook up a storm with the best Cornish ingredients, or kick back and tuck into home-cooked deliveries from talented local chefs. From breakfast platters and fresh produce, to slap-up dinners from local pubs and pop ups, all sorts of lip-smacking cuisine and can be delivered to your door.

Try new hobbies

Have you ever wanted to try watercolour painting, play guitar or take up yoga? When you’re at home there just seems so little time to take up new hobbies. But once you escape from your daily routine and workaday, there’s much more time to tap into your creative mind and try new things. While you’re taking a break in a Beach Retreat, why not pick up a paintbrush to commit coastal scenes to canvas, craft jewellery from your beachcombing finds, or write a song inspired by the landscapes around you?

Kickback for a guilt-free Netflix binge

Want to catch up on the latest box set or do you have a list of movies you’ve never got round to watching? Once you’ve had a blast of sea air and watched the sun go down on the beach, holidays are a great time to stay in and catch up for a guilt-free media fest. Whether it’s podcasts, Netflix or the latest Box Office hit released on DVD, our properties offer the most stylish lounge spaces and family entertainment systems; so get cosy and grab the popcorn.

Make a playlist

How often do you hear a song you love on the radio, scribble down the name and plan to make it part of a playlist one day? Or hear a tune that takes you back to halcyon days? With time on your hands you can finally take the time to make a playlist of your favourite songs – from chill out tracks to tunes that make you want to dance your socks off. You could even take the time to go through your bulging online photo and video library, and put your memories into photo books and movies.

Take a workation

In an era when the boundaries between home and work are more blurred than ever before, why not mix work and leisure on your self-catering holiday in Cornwall? All of our Beach Retreats are decked out with high-tech facilities, so you’ll have everything you need to run an efficient home office while enjoying time by the sea.

Soak up a different view

Spending time in a different location gives you time to soak up a different view. This doesn’t only mean a change in scenery, but also inspires a shift in perspective. It’s often only when we’re away from home and our usual routines that we find the time to reflect and make fundamental changes in our lives that make us happier.

Secret Beaches

If you’re going surfing or bodyboarding with your family, make sure you head to one of the lifeguarded beaches. But if you want to dip your toes in the breakers and unpack a picnic in a secluded cove, wander off the beaten track to discover some of Cornwall’s more secret beaches. You don’t have to stray far from the heart of Newquay to find the cobalt waters of Polly Joke, backed by miles of rolling heathland. Or nudge north from the main beach at Crackington Haven to witness the staggering rock stacks of The Strangles. Another of our favourites is Nanjizal, a mile or so from Land’s End, with its crystal clear waters and magnificent rock arch. Get an OS map, make it an adventure, and check out a few more of our secret beaches here.

Chasing Waterfalls

The beach isn’t the only place to enjoy the Great Outdoors and dip your toes in the water. Why not head away from the coastal honeypots and explore the woodlands and waterfalls? Tunnel through a wooded valley alongside the River Fowey and you can climb trees, tiptoe across stepping-stones and cross little bridges on the way to the magical Golitha Falls. Take the plunge in one of the pools, picnic in a shady glen and hunt for Cornish piskies in the fairytale landscape.

Get High

Climb the peaks of Rough Tor and Brown Willy, and you’re bound to leave the crowds far behind. Rising from the wild and spacious territory of Bodmin Moor, Cornwall’s two highest peaks offer a different perspective of the coast. At just over 400m above sea level, you get eye-popping coastal and countryside views and can see the beaches of the north and the south coasts from a bird’s eye view. To reach the peaks it’s a relatively easy stroll across the rolling moorland, where you can also witness ancient sites including stone circles, quoits and the remains of Bronze Age settlements.

Free Wheeling

Instead of sitting around on the beaches, get in the saddle and hit some of Cornwall’s cycling trails. While the Camel Trail is perhaps Cornwall’s best-known biking route, it does get busy, so why not head out along the web of mineral tramways criss-crossing the county? Of these the Coast-to-Coast between Portreath and Devoran is our favourite. Tick off sea views, woodland, engine houses and quarries, as you follow 15 miles of disused mineral tramways through a World Heritage Site, from the Atlantic coast to the south coast. With plenty of off shoots and sections to play or picnic, it’s definitely a route where you can escape the crowds and reward yourself with a sundowner on beach at the end.

The South West Coast Path

Most of our properties are just footsteps from the South West Coast Path, where you can step out and enjoy the sea views and salty air, while only passing a few other souls on route. If you’re staying in Porth or Watergate Bay, stroll along the cliff tops between the two and you’ll spot more seabirds that people. Push on along the rugged section from Watergate to Mawgan Porth, eyeing up coastal views to Trevose Head and beyond. If you’re staying anywhere near Padstow, make sure you stand on Stepper Point and stare across the Doom Bar to Pentire Point and The Rumps. And if you’re up in Bude tackle the challenging coast path towards the border of Devon, stopping to peer out to sea from the Hawker’s Hut, built by an eccentric poet.

Discover more of our favourite walks along the South West Coast Path.

National Trust

The National Trust have started re-opening their car parks, gardens and parklands across Cornwall, where you can delve into the natural surroundings whilst maintaining social distancing. So whether you tumble through sub-tropical foliage to a pristine beach at Glendurgan, hit the bike trails at Lanhydrock or park at Carnewas to clap eyes on the rock giants at Bedruthan Steps, there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the natural wonders of Cornwall.

Top tips for staying away from the crowds

• Get up early to explore Cornwall before everyone else. Or have a lazy day and head out to later to enjoy an evening adventure and sunset on the coast.
• Don’t head to the usual spots – get out a map and discover places off the beaten track.
• Leave the car at home and venture out on foot or bike. This way you’ll avoid the busy car parks and find footpaths and coves away from the busiest attractions.
• Stay local – all of our Beach Retreats are in stunning locations in easy reach of the coast and cafés. Don’t feel like you have to explore the whole of Cornwall on your visit, you’ll find plenty to do right on the doorstep. This year is all about micro adventures.

After two weeks of reflection, worry and uncertainty, being humbled by the work of doctors, nurses and key workers, adjusting to the new norm, and contemplating what’s really important in our lives, we’ve turned our blog over to the Beach Retreats team, now working from home.

We asked them to share their exercise route from the weekend, be it walk, run or cycle.  No beach BBQs, no meeting up with friends, just a snapshot from their course while practising social distancing.

We hope you are all staying safe and we will see you in Cornwall some time soon. #beherelater

Porth and Lusty Glaze

This is Lusty Glaze beach perfectly framed by steep cliffs and the rolling surf, between Newquay and Porth beach. This area is close to Newquay centre, and home to some spectacular coastal views and beaches.

Lusty Glaze looking eastwards towards Watergate Bay

Porth beach

Fistral and Pentire

On the other side of Newquay centre sits Fistral beach and the Pentire headland. Little Fistral is a hidden gem at the end of the beach.

From Pentire, Crantock beach sits across the Gannel estuary.

And for an early morning run, this is sunrise over Fistral beach.

Mawgan Porth

A few miles along the coast Mawgan Porth remains one of Cornwall’s hidden gems.

Trerice

It’s not just about the beaches though.  This is the view from Trerice House towards Newquay.

Stay safe and we hope to see you soon in Cornwall. #beherelater