Category: Festive

Shoreside inspired drinks

Christmas cocktail nights, seasonal hosting, or settling down with a warming drink over ice on a dark evening, add some coastal flavours and inspiration to your glass…

House seaweed bitters for umami notes, gin that could only have been made in St Ives or an oakwood and sea rosemary, alcohol-free, take on an after-work classic. What will it be?

Only in St Ives

St Ives Gin came into existence around six years ago in a restaurant looking out to St Ives harbour, says Tim at St Ives Liquor Company (Silco): “Considering the amount of G&Ts we sold and the fact we made everything else ourselves it made sense to make our own alcohol.”

Image credit: Silco St Ives Gin restaurant

What started with a locally-sourced and made gin has expanded to nine drinks: other gins, liqueurs and ready-to-drink cocktails are now on the menu at Eat Silco.

Image credit: Silco St Ives Gin

“From day one, we’ve foraged for botanicals from the surrounding area. No air miles, sustainable, and, so, competitively priced,” explains Tim.

The west Cornwall coastal stars of the show at Silco are bladderwrack seaweed and the shoreline plant samphire. “Their minerality and salinity really balance drinks nicely,” says Tim.

“We have always used gorse in our drinks; we find the slightly bitter coconut flavour works so well in cordials and infusions. We also use seaweed to add an additional umami note.”

Spritz sans-alcohol

Days spent in the north Cornwall surf as instructor and evenings at work in London bars led Alistair Frost and Ed Grieg-Gran to create Pentire, a maker of non-alcoholic spirits, aperitifs and cocktails founded on botanical flavours native to the Cornish coast.

And Pentire has just released its own sea-influenced take on an after-work classic, originating from Italy: the spritz. Like other Pentire drinks, this one has been “crafted in collaboration with some of the world’s best bartenders, who share our love for the outdoors,” says Alistair.

Image credit: Pentire Coastal Spritz

The Pentire Coastal Spritz aims for a balance of natural bitter flavours and refreshing coastal tones, taking the company’s signature coastal blend and combining it with tastes of blood orange, sea rosemary and oakwood.

The core flavours in Pentire drinks came together during experiments in a kitchen in Port Isaac, after Alistair’s discovery – with the help of a botanist – of 1000 different plant species growing along just one Cornish headland.

“It’s a naturally bitter and refreshing aperitif,” says Alistair.

Foraged cocktails

At Tom Thumb cocktail bar in Newquay the drinks menu is currently all about the RNLI with a selection of sea-themed spirits ready to mix. These reach further along the coastline to the Channel Islands, including Salcombe Island Street Rum and a Tidal Rum from Jersey.

 Image credit: Jamie Mitchell, Tom Thumb

The ingredients that go with the spirits though come from much closer to the bar. “We always forage for local ingredients,” says Jamie. “We are blessed to have many naturally occurring products to use along the coast. We have always used gorse in our drinks; we find the slightly bitter coconut flavour works so well in cordials and infusions.

“We also use seaweed to add an additional umami note. The added saline from seaweed also brings underlying notes and can add another element to the drink almost as if its seasoning the drink for us.”

On the current lifeboat-themed menu is The Oggin (an old maritime word for the sea). “We infuse gorse and cacao nibs through a pear cognac, and add a number of other ingredients all bought together by our house seaweed bitters,” says Jamie.

Another drink on the menu takes its name from an active member of the Newquay RNLI. The Dangerous Bri is a cherry-flavoured carbonated Negroni, made with Tidal Rum and a kelp seaweed dilution.

A measure of coastal plant-infused spritz with soda, something stronger with seaweed bitters or the fresh taste of the sea with tonic, just some of the shoreside inspired drinks produced and mixed around Cornwall. Why not add a splash of coastal wonder to your drinks line-up this festive season.

Festive Nights at Watergate Bay

From 1 December, Watergate Bay is lighting up with a festive spirit. From new shorefront dining experiences, wreath making, Champagne tasting, live music and a dozen Christmas trees each telling a different story, discover the advent of Festive Nights on the beach this December. Here’s what’s on at Watergate Bay this Christmas.

Find your retreat by the bay

Twelve Trees of Christmas

Pearly oyster shells and bee-friendly flower seed packets, beach-found Lego bricks and hand-tied botanical decorations – this year the iconic Christmas trees around Watergate Bay will do more than just look beautiful; they’ll be telling stories too. Twelve Trees of Christmas draws on twelve different friends, partners, suppliers and team members, each will decorate a tree in their own unique way. Expect sustainable, organic displays from Emily at 3 Acre Blooms; recycled, repurposed decorations from Beach Guardian; botanical aromas from land&water, and coffee card baubles from Origin Coffee Roasters.

If you’re staying in the area, be sure to wait until dusk and experience the trees as they light up by the ocean.

Craft workshops

Through December Watergate Bay Hotel is hosting a full calendar of winter events to spark that Christmas feeling, including hands-on wreath making, monoprinting and calligraphy workshops. Feel festive whilst crafting a perfect gift to take home to a loved one- book your session here.

Zacry’s on the sea wall

From the start of December, the popular modern dining hub of Zacry’s is moving to the seafront position down on the sea wall, directly overlooking the tidelines of Watergate Bay. Tuck into a seasonally changing three-course menu, bringing the best of Cornish sea, sky and field to the table. If you’re staying with us in the area this winter, be sure to book your table.

Curry Fridays at The Beach Hut

Warming spices and local hero ingredients, head to The Beach Hut for their new Curry Fridays. Every Friday through November and December they’ll be cooking up authentic Indian feasts, with lively Bengali curries, and all of the extras; lemon turmeric rice, warm chapati, spiced carrot pickle, onion bhaji and quince ‘mango’ chutney.

Book your retreat by the bay and experience the seasonal magic of North Cornwall

Celebrate by the sea

Create new family traditions and truly memorable festive moments. Coastal celebration brings the awe-inspiring and restorative power of the sea to your Christmas and NYE…

Winter might mean wet weather, temperatures that bite and short, dark days, but that doesn’t mean you need to steer clear of the seaside.

In fact, a coastal festive break might be just what’s needed to break out of the yearly cycle of heaving crowds in shopping centres, the last-minute panic buying, the relentless sounds of devices come Boxing Day and wondering how to make December 31st special.

“An afternoon on a beach you have all to yourselves, before climbing into an outdoor hot tub back at your retreat as the sun sets.”

Image credit: Mia Rumble

Create your klys

The Cornish word for cosy or snug, klys can loosely be equated with the Danish concept of hygge – a way of life that embraces cosiness, warmth and good times with friends and family, with the help of scented candles, cashmere socks, twinkling fairy lights and anything else that says cosy to you.

“Think rugged coastal walks, cliff views and the ocean stretching out before you, ending in a warm and welcoming 12th century pub with delicious local food and drink.”

Where klys differs, is the role the beautiful Cornish wilderness has to play. Immerse yourself in the raw elements of our winters outside, before heading indoors to warm your soul in front of a log fire and a hot cup of cocoa.

Think rugged coastal walks, cliff views and the ocean stretching out before you, ending in a warm and welcoming 12th century pub with delicious local food and drink.

Or an afternoon on a beach you have all to yourselves, before climbing into an outdoor hot tub back at your retreat as the sun sets.

Celebratory splash

It might seem ridiculous – or completely insane – to plunge into freezing water when the mercury is dropping rapidly outside, but the effects of cold water are well known. Chief among them, that natural high thanks to the heady rush of chemicals, endorphins and hormones circulating around your body, lifting your mood, making you feel alive. Really alive.

Image credit: Mia Rumble

That cold rush surrounded by Cornwall’s varied and beautiful coastal landscapes is an unrivalled feeling.

Local favourite locations include Christmas day gatherings in Sennen Cove, Porthtowan beach and Coverack harbour on The Lizard, where you’ll be joined by other brave souls.

Don’t stay in too long, be aware of how you’re feeling and prepared – with warm clothes at the ready for when you get out. For cold water novices, check out the Outdoor Swimming Society and RNLI guidance.

Auld Lang Syne to a new scene

From assembling, hand-in-hand on a deserted beach at midnight to usher in the new year to gathering round a fire with the sound of the sea in the distance, the ocean is an epic backdrop for special celebrations.

Image credit: Mia Rumble

It’s a time of high drama at sea, with waves crashing into harbour walls and barracking monumental cliffs. Sealife of the most epic proportions can also be spotted in winter months, so keep those eyes peeled for fin or humpback whales cresting the surf.

“Think celebratory evenings filled with talk, laughter, insight and meaningful connection.”

Make a visit to some of the most impressive vantage points we have, like Cape Cornwall – exposed to the full might of the Atlantic and part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.

Or share warming refreshment and celebrations at your retreat, while drinking in the expansive sea views – so you get the best of both worlds.

Deep connections

It’s Christmas Day afternoon or post New Years’ Day lunch. You’ve eaten too much, you’ve drunk too much, and now you’re slumped on the sofa in front of the TV surrounded by your family and friends. No-one’s really talking to each other. Sound familiar?

What if, you swapped the TV for a crackling fire with a sea view or candle-lit coffee table? Like staring at the sea or the stars, flickering flames are mesmerising and elemental. And in the winter months, they can be a source of warmth, literally and figuratively.

Think celebratory evenings filled with talk, laughter, insight and meaningful connection. Play cards or be more profound: explore your family’s or friends’ deeper selves: what are their private joys, fears, regrets and hopes? What do they wish they could do in a utopia and why? Celebrating by the sea could turn out to be more surprising than you expect.

Gather and celebrate on the beach or find just the place to huddle up for the festive season.

New Year in Cornwall

Wondering what to do on New Year’s Eve in Cornwall? Welcome in the New Year with a bracing sea dip, don fancy dress and party on the streets of St Ives, or watch harbourside fireworks reflect into moonlit seas.

Here are some of our favourite ways to bring in the New Year in Cornwall.

Not yet booked your accommodation? Search our remaining retreats with up to 20% off.

Dress up for a street party, St Ives

This idyllic Cornish fishing village hosts one of the UK’s most famous New Year’s Eve parties, which sees crowds come from far and wide to hit the streets in fancy dress. Spectacular costumes and vibrant parades floods onto the beach and harbour, where food stands serve up festive treats. Listen for the chime of the bells at midnight, when fireworks fizz and pop over the ocean, bringing in another year in style.

harbour beach st ives

Watch fireworks over Newquay Harbour

Another seaside town that hosts an almighty New Year’s Eve party, the highlight of New Year’s Eve in Newquay is the spectacular fireworks display over the harbour and ocean at midnight. Make your way through streets packed with party goers in fancy dress, squeeze into local taverns or book a table at a sea-view restaurant, and make your way down to the harbour for the countdown to the incoming year.

Have a New Year’s day sea swim, Bude

Blast away the cobwebs and embrace the New Year with an invigorating dip in the ocean. The craze of shedding your wetsuit and leaping into the icy waves has become a New Year’s Day tradition across Cornwall. Join in the icy experience at Crooklet’s Beach in Bude, or head to Summerleaze tidal pool for a more sheltered dip.

Dine by the sea

Fancy food, fine wine and starlit seas. Book a table at a restaurant with a sea view and dine beside the waves. If you’re not big on partying, this is the perfect way to see in the New Year in style, without the headache the next morning.

Enjoy a beach walk

A New Year’s break in Cornwall isn’t all about revelry. Welcome in the New Year at a more relaxing pace, with a stroll along the beach or the South West Coast Path, enjoying the eye-popping scenery as the sea breeze brings a glow to your cheeks. We recommend the 2-mile walk from Watergate Bay to Mawgan Porth, hugging the cliff-tops and keeping your eyes peeled for seabirds and seals at the pristine Beacon Cove along the way.

Book your New Year retreat and welcome in 2024 by the shoreline.

5 retreats for Christmas

The scent of pine needles, wood fires and sea salt. Christmas lights glinting from harbour waters. The chorus of waves from outside your window. Christmas spent by the coast invites you to step away from the busyness of this festive period and reconnect with the senses, making time to cherish loved ones, good food and relaxation. Because after all, that’s what Christmas is about.

Looking to celebrate the festive season, coastal style? Here’s our pick of five winter retreats with availability this Christmas.

Fancy staying in a holiday retreat with a log burner? Check out our cottages with a log burner for a cosy getaway.

Ellenglaze, sleeps 10, Holywell Bay

The ultimate decadent, glamorous retreat for anyone wanting to celebrate in style. Ellenglaze, a beautiful Grade II listed farmhouse tucked away in acres of land near Holywell Bay. Inside, you’ll find a heated swimming pool and a hot tub with a movie projector – we can’t think of a better way to watch a Christmas film. You can also keep cosy with the Aga and large fireplace, perfect for festive evenings.

Gwynver Beach Cottage, sleeps 10, Sennen Cove

Beach chic meets elegance at Gwynver Beach Cottage, a stunning retreat with almost instant access to one of the most beautiful stretches of West Cornwall coastline. Here, the little ones can play in the glass-walled garden room, with views of the ocean, as you relax with a newspaper. Plus, the chance to spot dolphins on Christmas Day from Sennen Cove is not to be missed.

Check out our other Sennen holiday properties from Beach Retreats.

Gwel Teg, sleeps 12, Porth

Ideal for a large family looking for a North Coast escape, Gwel Teg is just moments from Porth beach, meaning Christmas morning walks await. Stride all the way along the South West Coast Path to Watergate Bay, where you can enjoy a seasonal feast or warming hot choc with all the toppings.

Inside, Gwel Teg is stylish and modern, featuring a games room and hot tub, ideal for hosting a large family get-together.

Swell, sleeps 8, Falmouth

Spend Christmas on the South Coast at Swell, a modern and light filled family retreat seconds from Swanpool beach in Falmouth. Here, you’re close to Falmouth’s array of restaurants and bars, but far enough away to enjoy the peace and seclusion of Swanpool beach. There’s also a great coastal walk from here to Maenporth beach.

Seamist, sleeps 16, Watergate Bay

Our largest retreat, Seamist, sleeps 16 just a few minutes from the Watergate Bay shoreline. Here, there’s plenty of room for a multi-generational family to dine, watch Christmas films, unwrap presents and make memories by the coast.

Read our blog to find out more about what Watergate Bay, Newquay has to offer at Christmas, especially at night.

Stay by the sea this Christmas, with selected retreats offering up to 15% off and open for short breaks of 4 nights or more. 

New traditions

As the festive season approaches, create new traditions by the coast on a Christmas holiday in Cornwall. From Christmas morning sea dips to boxing day drinks at your favourite sea-view pub, spending Christmas in a different landscape means creating new festive rituals to return to year on year.

Add that little extra magic to your stay and form lasting memories with these new coastal traditions you could try.

Christmas morning sea swim

This one is local tradition: every year you’ll see Cornish folk (many with santa hats on) running into icy waters on Christmas morning.

Start the day with a dash of exhilaration and dip in the closest sea to your retreat. Then, return back to your retreat, light the fire and get cosy as you unwrap presents with your loved ones.

Christmas drinks

On Christmas afternoon, swap the living room for a seafront pub and raise a glass to coastal wonder. There’s sure to be a lively festive atmosphere, and heading out for a drink is a great way to fight the post-lunch slump whilst taking in some of Cornwall’s incredible views.

Christmas Day coastal walk

Another way to wake yourself up after your festive feast is to refresh with a Christmas Day walk along the South West Coast Path. Rather than nodding off in front of the TV after one too many pigs-in-blankets, get the kids togged up and set off in search of sea vistas.

Beach scavenger hunt

A tradition that the little ones especially will enjoy. Set out on a Christmas treasure hunt along the shoreline, investigating what’s been washed in by the tide. Keep what you find as a Christmas memento, or search for a pretty shell or interesting rock to give to one another. It’s a great way to appreciate nature’s wonder and make gift giving about small acts of love.

Stargazing on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, trade the twinkling indoor lights for the celestial wonders above. Wrap up warm and take a blanket on the beach (or your balcony), gaze at the starlit sky, and share stories beneath the cosmic canopy. It’s a quiet and magical prelude to the days of celebration ahead.

Seafood dinner

Sure, seafood isn’t typically included in traditional Christmas cuisine, but if you’re spending the season in Cornwall, why not sample some of the delightful local produce which the fishermen bring in every day?

Dine in an award-winning Cornish restaurant and make your festive stay extra special. Or, purchase some local fish and include a seafood recipe in your Christmas meal plan.

Image credit: Graham Gaunt photowork

Escape the ordinary and embrace coastal wonder this Christmas with Beach Retreats, creating new traditions by the coast. Book your Christmas stay.

National Trust at Christmas

Get into the festive spirit at the National Trust’s houses and exotic gardens, which transform every year into winter wonderlands. From holly-adorned great halls serving up mulled wine, woodland strewn with fairy lights, wreath making and Santa’s grotto, these Cornish heritage sites are the ultimate Christmas delight.

Here’s a run down of what’s on.

Find a festive retreat in Cornwall

Cotehele

Visit this atmospheric Tudor house with Medieval roots, with a mill on a historic quay, and a vast estate and garden to explore. This grand home, near Saltash, is a festive wonder, with a 60-foot garland in the Great Hall, festive lights along the stream and choir performances throughout the season.

See this year’s garland in all its glory from daily Saturday 18 November – Sunday 7 January, 10.30am-4pm. (Closed 25-26 December).

Trelissick

This lovely house and garden, set in an estate with maritime views and woodland walks, gets festive year on year. With Father Christmas in residency, mulled wine and spiced apple juice in the café, Christmas gifts in the shop and festive cheer in the stable yard, this is the perfect day out for all of the family. This year, pick up (or make) some Christmas gifts at the Christmas craft fair and festive weaving workshop.

Find Trelissick in Feock, near Truro, with Father Christmas around from 2 – 23 December.

Lanhydrock

Enjoy woodland magic and festive delight at Lanhydrock. This late Victorian country house features a countryside trail, Father Christmas’s woodland grotto and plenty of surrounding land for winter walks and bike rides. With frost-dusted trees and a festive cheer in the air, Lanhydrock makes for a perfect wintry visit. Open throughout the festive season.

Trerice

Trerice, near Newquay, is an Elizabethan manor house bursting with colourful plants by summer and a festive ambience by winter. This year, experience storytelling with Father Christmas, wreath making in the hayloft, and festive performances from the volunteer choir, the house and barn adorned with traditional decorations and festive cheer.

Father Christmas will be at Trerice on Saturday & Sunday 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17 and then daily between Monday 18 – Saturday 23 December.

Godolphin

Open throughout the festive season except for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Godolphin hosts a range of Christmassy activities and events. From Christmas wreath making, craft sessions, candle and lip balm making, and a variety of Christmas performances, head here for a fun day out. The 500 acres of countryside are also perfect for a winter walk.

Godolphin is near Helston, experience the Christmas House Sat 2 – Sun 3 Dec, Sat 9 – Sun 10 Dec, Sat 16 – Sun 17 Dec, 10.30 am – 4pm (last entry at 3pm).

Find your Christmas retreat in Cornwall and be here for the holidays.

10 Retreats for New Year

New Year’s Eve by the coast means watching fireworks reflected in harbour waters, dining on seasonal fishermen’s catch of the day and sipping bubbles by a fizzing tide. We have retreats around the Cornish coast where you can dance the night away at one of many street and beach celebrations or simply curl up by the log burner at home. However you choose to see the new year in, do it in Beach Retreats’ style.

Here’s our pick of 10 retreats with New Year availability. We’ve got something for everyone, from couples looking for a romantic weekend away to multi-generational families seeking a large holiday home to celebrate together.

Find out why January is the best time to visit Cornwall and some of our favourite winter retreats.

See all our New Year retreats.

Lobster Pot, Porthcothan – sleeps two

A cosy cabin made for two, Lobster Pot is set off the beaten track, offering a unique and romantic hideaway for couples. Featuring a coastal interior with a rustic and contemporary twist, this beachside shack sits just one mile inland with at least 10 beaches all within a 5-20 minute drive from the cabin. For a quiet New Years away from the crowds, Lobster Pot is your haven.

Discover our other Porthcothan holiday retreats.

No 7 The Beach, Porthtowan – sleeps four

This sleek, modern apartment is just footsteps from the wild shores of Porthtowan beach, inviting you for a rugged New Year in the fresh sea air. If you’re looking for a quieter celebration, this is the spot for you. However, if you do fancy a party, head to Hayle or Perranporth either direction along the coast for a selection of restaurants and beachside bars.

White Sails, Carlyon Bay – sleeps four

This New Year, celebrate in coastal style at White Sails. This sophisticated clifftop penthouse boasts stunning views over the ocean and is close to the coast path towards Carlyon Bay and beyond – perfect for a New Year’s day stroll. Wrap up in blankets and take your Champagne out on the balcony to cheers as the clock strikes midnight.

Oakfield, Widemouth Bay – sleeps six

However you want to spend your New Years, do it in beachside style at Oakfield, a spacious retreat with its own bubbling hot tub for the ultimate pampering. With a large living room complete with a log burner, games room and wrap around terrace, this is the perfect home for a family get together.

18 Dunes, Perranporth – sleeps six

Start your day with the sight of the cool blue ocean, paddle the shorelines and stroll the soft sand before heading back to your retreat, which sits just moments from the beach.18 Dunes is a peaceful, interior designed seafront retreat which sleeps six, and has availability for uninterrupted coastal New Year breaks.

Wonderwall, Hayle – sleeps seven

Kick back in a stylish beach chalet this New Year’s Eve. Situated in the Upton Towans sand dunes area of Hayle, you’re in the prime position to enjoy the beach by day and the town by night, being not too far from Hayle’s growing foodie scene. The unique and carefully curated interiors of this retreat make it a delight for an evening in, too.

3 Breakwater, Fistral – sleeps eight

Azure blue sea, white sand and a winding coast path- you are close to it all at 3 Breakwater. This state-of-the-art property invites you to indulge from its crushed velvet and polished granite interiors to its proximity to one of the county’s most breathtaking beaches. Head into Newquay for the evening celebrations after a day spent soaking up the views.

The Penthouse Coast, Porth – sleeps eight

Celebrate New Year together at this beautiful penthouse with mesmerising front row views of Porth beach. Spend the day on the sand or roaming the nearby coastal path, before heading to Newquay to see in the new year in style.

The Beach House, Mawgan Porth – sleeps 12

This New Year, get away together in a stylish family home, using time by the shoreline to reconnect and restore. This luxury retreat features a large kitchen with cocktail making area, second relaxing TV room, woodfired hot tub and front terrace overlooking Mawgan Porth beach.

Ivy Cottage, Watergate Bay – sleeps 10

At this warm and inviting cottage, you can see the New Years at your choosing. Head into Newquay town centre to soak up the atmosphere, or simply sit out on your private garden and clink your glasses under the starry skies. This homely cottage provides the perfect space for a large family or group of friends to enjoy the celebrations in coastal style.

Spend New Year in Cornwall.

Want to explore more of Cornwall in the New Year? Read our blog on our 5 favourite coastal walks in Cornwall.

5 Christmas Day Walks in Cornwall

Winter boots brushed with sand, woolly hats and scarves pulled on snug, and cheeks pink from the salty sea air. This year, shake off the post-Christmas lunch slump with a bracing coastal walk.

Christmas day is the perfect time to step outdoors and explore Cornwall’s rugged coast path. With nothing around you but expansive seascapes and open skies, you can take this time to appreciate the beauty of nature and the company of loved ones, a moment of mindfulness amongst the business of the festive season.

Find out why Christmas time is the best time to visit Cornwall and some of our holiday retreats to stay in at Christmas time.

Here’s our pick of five Christmas day walks in Cornwall, where you can embrace that windswept feeling and be the first to leave footprints on the sand.

Watergate Bay – Mawgan Porth

Panoramic seascapes, unruly waves and rocky cliff faces. This walk will truly whisk you away from a drowsy afternoon in front of a Christmas film, instead bringing you feelings of awe at the power of the ocean. This walk, which is just over two miles, follows footpaths on the cliff edge, with endless vantage points to stop and simply soak it all up.

Chapel Porth Beach – Wheal Coates Mines

This short walk features a gentle climb towards one of Cornwall’s most iconic mines. The red cliffs, brushed with sea flora and sprawling greenery, are a sight to behold- bring a flask of something hot and herbal and let the unruly beauty of this area wash over you. Pass streams, springs and areas of bog towards this Cornish Mining World Heritage Site.

Fistral – Pentire Headland

This blustery walk takes you along the pebbled stretch of Fistral beach and around its panoramic headland, where you can cast your eyes across Newquay’s beaches on one side and Crantock on the other. At Fistral, you will spot dedicated surfers riding the swell even on Christmas day. Once you have strolled around the headland, call in at Lewinnick Lodge for a glass of festive bubbles.

Carbis Bay – St Ives

This walk, just under two miles long, allows you to take in the sights, sounds and scents of nature undisturbed. Running parrallel to the scenic St Ives railway, you will be witness to swathes of ocean and white sand. With only gentle ascent and descent, this is a great family walk for those looking to reconnect with one another during this season.

Check out our luxury holiday properties in Carbis Bay by the sea.

Hayle Sands beach walk – Gwithian Lighthouse

Starting in the estuary town of Hayle, this walk follows the coast path all the way to Gwithian, before returning along the flat expanse of beach. A Site of Special Scientific Interest for its sand dunes and wildlife, you are bound to spot sea birds dotted along the water’s edge. Make your way to Gwithian Lighthouse, the iconic Cornish landmark which inspired Virginia Woolf’s To The Lighthouse.

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Interested in exploring more of Cornwall? Read about some of the best National Trust houses and gardens in Cornwall to visit at Christmas.

10 Retreats for Christmas

The scent of pine needles, wood fires and sea salt. Christmas lights glinting from harbour waters. The chorus of waves from outside your window. A Christmas by the coast invites you to step away from the business of this festive period and reconnect with the senses, making time to cherish loved ones, good food and relaxation. Because after all, that’s what Christmas is about.

Thinking about bringing your dog on holiday? Check out our dog-friendly holiday properties.

Looking to celebrate the festive season, coastal style? Here’s our pick of ten winter retreats with availability this Christmas.

Glenfeadon Castle, Portreath

Sleeps two

This Christmas, nestle into this unique traditional folly, converted into a cosy coastal home fit for a Targaryean. Sleeping two in sophisticated interiors, this retreat puts a unique spin on the traditional building. With exposed stone, natural wood and mid-century furnishings, this is the perfect romantic space for Christmas spent just the two of you. Beyond the windows you’ll see the glistening blue sea of Portreath beach, beckoning you for a Christmas day walk.

See inside

Check out our other Portreath holiday retreats.

Glenfeadon Castle

The Lodge, Mawgan Porth

Sleeps four

Tuck into Christmas dinner, followed by a hot tub under the night sky. The Lodge is the dream retreat for a Christmas stay with that little extra coastal magic. The bubbling hot tub, an essential for a decadent winter stay, is perfectly positioned overlooking the shoreline of Mawgan Porth beach. With polished wooden floorboards, velvet sofas and a crackling log burner, you’ll feel at home in this beachside hideaway.

Book your stay

Little Duck, Mousehole

Sleeps four

Little Duck is designed for cosy Christmas days. This wooden fisherman’s cottage is positioned near the adorable cobbled streets of Mousehole, where during the festive period you’ll experience the famous Mousehole lights reflecting in the harbour water. Little Duck sleeps four in luxury, coastal interiors fused with a rustic and contemporary twist and thoughtful attention to detail throughout.

See inside

Drift, Falmouth

Sleeps six

Enjoy a waterside Christmas at Drift. This three-bedroomed apartment is positioned directly above Gyllyngvase beach in Falmouth, close to the buzzing town with a variety of festive restaurants and bars. Drift is styled with calming ocean tones, rustic textured fabrics and sliding doors to the balcony where you can catch a glimpse of the ocean.

Stay for Christmas

8 The Bay, Cawsand

Sleeps six

Curl up in this dreamy coastal apartment, situated directly on the sand of peaceful Cawsand beach. This retreat has three beautifully designed bedrooms and floor to ceiling glass windows opening out to the seafront. From the beach just below, you can catch the ferry across to Plymouth, where you can get your last-minute Christmas shopping done before heading back to Cawsand for a glass of wine under the stars.

Be by the sea

8 The Bay, Cawsand, Cornwall

The Lookout, Porth

Sleeps eight

If you are looking to entertain this Christmas, look no further than The Lookout, complete with colourful lounging space, large dining table with sea views and full width balcony overlooking the beach. This sophisticated detached house will amaze with its interior design, featuring shades of deep ocean blue, rustic textures and vibrant artwork. With plenty of space for family and friends across four bedrooms and Porth beach less than two minutes’ walk away, this is the perfect retreat for celebrating in style.

Book your stay

Point House, Charlestown

Sleeps eight

If you want enough space to gather all of the family but you still relish in the serenity that rural Cornwall provides, Point House is the choice for you. This private detached house sleeps eight across four bedrooms and is set in vast gardens, just a short walk from the private Duporth beach. Take this time away from the chatter of everyday life to restore, reflect and appreciate the company of loved ones around you- from the hot tub, of course.

See inside

Mabyn, Watergate Bay

Sleeps eight

Modern, high-end design meet coastal charm at Mabyn, a spacious eco home overlooking Watergate Bay. Here, you can spend Christmas day striding across coastal paths, the invigorating walk working up your appetite for dinner at a cosy seafront pub. Or, with all the amenities of a chef’s kitchen and ample dining space, enjoy a home-cooked Christmas feast in the comfort of this retreat. A bonus is the sea facing balcony for a night cap under the stars.

Stay in Mabyn

Dolphins, Downderry

Sleeps 10

This coastal-calm retreat is perfect for getting away from it all, together. Set in the quiet seaside town of Downderry, this family home has steps leading directly to the sand at the bottom of the garden. Why not start your Christmas morning with an invigorating dip, before running back to the house to warm up and get gift unwrapping?

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Heron House, Fistral

Sleeps 14

Heron House is a showstopper Christmas retreat. With a heated outdoor pool, hot tub, multicoloured outdoor lighting, inbuilt speaker system throughout the house and garden, and seven bedrooms sleeping an impressive 14, this is your destination for a celebratory Christmas in a large group. Share a feast around the dining table with views of the River Gannel from floor to ceiling sliding glass doors…. what could be more festive?

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Looking for restaurants to visit at Christmas time? Check out our 10 favourite restaurants for a Christmas dinner.

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