Category: Your holiday

Beach Retreats Top 2019 Instagram moments

As we say goodbye to 2019, we look back at some of our most memorable Instagram moments from the team at Beach Retreats, past guests, bloggers and photographers using #beachretreats. We hope to welcome you all back in 2019 for another memorable stay.

Follow us on Instagram to see all of our 2019 moments.

Visiting Cornwall for a romantic adventure? Check out our romantic cottages.

Tintagel Castle in north Cornwall just got better with their brand new footbridge, recreating the historic crossing from the mainland to the headland. Would you brave the drop?

We enjoyed a day in sunny St Ives earlier this year, walking the coast path past its picture-perfect beaches. Look out for our brand new property nearby joining in 2020, 4 Godrevy Court in Carbis Bay.

It’s no surprise that Fistral Beach is one of our favourite go to sunset locations. Pack a picnic and watch with your loved one on the headland, or dine alfresco at The Stable, Fish House or Fistral Beach Bar.

Newly decorated for 2018, The Penthouse at Coast (sleeps 6) offers fantastic sea views, with the golden sands of Porth beach as its back garden. Can you imagine relaxing on this balcony watching the world go by?

Look out for our brand new film in 2020, where we showcase the beautiful harbour town of Porthleven. Home to our Tom’s Cottage, guests can enjoy amazing surf here and dine at Kota Kai or Rick Stein Porthleven.

Another photo taken while we were filming at Porthleven earlier this year. Look over the wall above the beach and you’ll often be greeted to calm and crystal clear waters, perfect for a morning swim, kayak or SUP.

 

Ramble along Treen Cliffs and  you’ll be greeted by some beautiful wild horses (and very friendly). We enjoyed a spot of lunch here while overlooking the insta famous Pedn Vounder and Porthcurno beach in west Cornwall.

From Treen cliffs to Porthcurno. Here the water is often a Caribbean blue with pristine white sand, making it a popular choice for photographers in the summer months.  We recommend a visit during autumn or spring.

Quite possibly the best sunset we witnessed in 2019, here’s Mawgan Porth and our friend Pete from King Surf Surf School. We enjoyed a day filming and were treated to this at the end of the day. See our range of family properties.

Instagram loved our sunset taken above overlooking the brand new Dunes development on Perranporth beach in north Cornwall. All our properties here come with private balconies perfect for those all important sundowners.

 

A brand new location coming to the Beach Retreats portfolio in 2020. Duporth is a private beach located close to the Poldark famous Charlestown Harbour and Carlyon Bay. Guests staying here will have a private key for beach access.

Skyline is one of our top properties, popular with large families with its short walk to the beach, large garden, games room, private balcony with ocean views and log burner for cosy winter nights. What more could you ask for?

Known as the home of Doc Martin, Port Isaac is always making hearts swoon with its old white washed fishermen cottages, picturesque harbour and towering cliffs. We recommend walking to nearby Port Gavern.

Our followers loved the idea of traffic-free coastal escapism at its finest, while cosying up in this perfect little cabin clinging to the cliff above Whitsand Bay. Could you see yourself waking up here in 2020?

There’s something charmingly simplistic about Praa Sands. A long stretch of white beach with a cafe, surf school and a classic seaside shop selling buckets and spades. Our guests loved hearing about it on Instagram.

Pedn Vounder on a normal day gets heads turning, but we absolutely loved (and so did you) this perfect sunset shot taken by Stephen Kiley on Instagram. So much so, this post reached nearly 24,000 Instagram users!

Chapel Porth beach is a short drive from our St Agnes properties. Famous for its hedgehog ice creams, this is a popular location for local surfers. Their famous ice cream comes with clotted cream and chocolate and nut sprinkles.

Take a look and book our self-catering properties at Porthtowan, or talk to a member of our team on 01637 861 005.

It’s impossible to name just one thing, the hot tub, the view, the five acre garden, the incredible sense of space, the impressive design. Everything about this property is inspiring and that’s why you all loved it so much.

Capture Cornwall’s beauty with our guide to the most Instagrammable locations!

 

Follow us on Instagram for inspiration on things to see and do in Cornwall in 2019.

Discover South East Cornwall

Once referred to as Cornwall’s forgotten corner, South East Cornwall is a place steeped in beguiling beauty and legends of smugglers…

Far removed from the wild, Atlantic-lashed beaches of the surfy North Coast, here beach life beats to the pace of calmer seas. And whether you go rock pooling on Downderry, fly a kite on Rame Head or hop aboard a boat cruise to Plymouth, you’ll discover that any trip here is truly unforgettable.

Visiting with a large group? Discover our large holiday homes perfect for big families or friend groups.

Here are six things we love doing in South East Cornwall:

Walk from Cawsand to Whitsand Bay

Step straight out of our waterfront Beach Retreat onto Cawsand Beach, dip your toes in the sea, and then strike out along the South West Coast Path. It’s an easy three miles through magical woodland to Penlee Point and onto the ancient chapel on Rame Head, where you’ll often encounter wild ponies. From here soak up coastal views as far as the Lizard Peninsula, some 50 miles away, and then push on another couple of miles around the headland to the golden stretch of Whitsand Bay.

Walk the South West Coast Path.

Hop aboard the Looe Valley Rail Ale Trail

Take a seat aboard one of Devon and Cornwall’s Great Scenic Railways, which hugs the river as it wends through a wooded valley from the market town of Liskeard to the seaside town of Looe. Make the most of the journey – and the scenery – by stopping off to sample some of the region’s finest ales in a series of country inns. If you collect stamps from all nine watering holes on the route, you can claim a free Rail Ale Trail t-shirt.

Explore Cornwall by train.

Catch the Ferry from Cawsand to Plymouth

Stay in our stylish Beach Retreat on Cawsand Bay and it’s easy to mix barefoot beach life with the buzz of city living. Step out of your stylish abode onto a quaint smuggler’s cove, from where you can hop on the foot-passenger ferry to Plymouth’s lively waterfont Barbican. Once you’ve had your fill of shopping, sightseeing and dining in this maritime hub, hop back aboard The Western Maid and castaway to the sandy shores of Cawsand.

Enjoy a cruise from Cawsand.

Take a boat cruise from Looe

Walk the banjo pier, go crabbing off the harbour wall or hop on a boat trip from the harbour – you’re spoilt for choice for what to do in the seaside town of Looe. Veritable nature enthusiasts shouldn’t miss out on a trip to Looe Island Nature Reserve with Cornwall Wildlife Trust (Easter–October), during which you’ll learn about the unique wildlife habitats and have time to take a self-guided walk around the island. However, the best way to witness the wonders of the marine world and the wildlife around the island is on a 45-minute ride aboard the Boatzer glass-bottomed boat.

Go rock pooling on Downderry Beach

A long stretch of sand and shingle backed by staggering sea cliffs, Downderry is an excellent spot for rock pooling and also home to the stunning beach house Far Horizon. Stare out to sea from an old sea captain’s house, Far Horizon, while you wait for the tide to ebb, then pad along the shoreline to Downderry, scouring the rock pools for the ocean’s bounty on the way. Keep an eye on the tides if you want to walk back along the sand, and be aware that you might feel a little over-dressed when you reach the secluded eastern end of the beach where naturists like to hang out.

Take a look around Far Horizon.

Go surfing on Whitsand Bay

Although the south coast isn’t as well known as the north coast for its surf, when conditions prevail there are a few decent waves to be found along this more sheltered coastline. Just a stone’s throw from Looe’s flat-water beaches, the surf wraps around the rugged tip of the Rame Peninsula and hits Whitsand Bay’s four miles of golden sands. So when you stay in one of our Beach Retreats overlooking Whitsand Bay, when the surf’s up you can hit the waves under the wing of expert instructors. If the waves aren’t working, you can always take plunge on a thrilling coasteering trip instead.

Find out about surf lessons.

Check out our other locations and other retreats across South Cornwall.

Take a look at our favourite ‘must sea’ retreats and explore our other holiday lets.

Beach Retreats Top 2018 Instagram moments

As we say goodbye to 2018, we look back at some of our most memorable Instagram moments from the team at Beach Retreats, past guests, bloggers and photographers using #beachretreats. We hope to welcome you all back in 2019 for another unforgettable stay.

Want to stay in a luxury holiday house with a view of the sea? Check out our cottages with sea views.

 

Sunsets don’t get much better than this! With low clouds, fiery colours and a water reflection, this became one of our top posts in 2018. Thank you to @edgeofthemap_uk for sharing this fantastic shot of Newquay with us.

Remember the arrival of the Beast from the East? Well here it is in March down at Lusty Glaze beach in Newquay. The untouched snow and its twinkling lights made this image by @mikesearlephoto a firm favourite.

Known as one of Cornwall’s most ‘Instagrammable’ locations, hundreds flocked to this beach throughout 2018. Pedn Vounder is a known nudist beach, and visitors need to climb down the cliff to reach its clear water and white sand.

Newly decorated for 2018, The Penthouse at Coast (sleeps 6) offers fantastic sea views, with the golden sands of Porth beach as its back garden. Can you imagine relaxing on this balcony watching the world go by?

Have you experienced a Porthcothan sunset? North Cornwall really knows how to put on a display. Thank you to @asugarfreeblonde for capturing this magical moment with her partner in July. We have three amazing properties nearby.

Because dogs love Cornwall too! Barney loves to run around on Mawgan Porth beach when staying with us. His owners @kick_back_times said he didn’t want to leave. This beach is dog-friendly all year round.

Fancy staying in Mawgan Porth? Have a look at our Mawgan Porth holiday properties.

 

You scream, I scream, we all scream for ice cream. We took this snap while visiting the new Dunes development in Perranporth. Be sure to head to the Pavilion Ice Cream Parlour when holidaying here.

Back in October, the sea at Mawgan Porth was looking like one big hot tub. @kingsurf Surf School got up bright and early to capture this shot and its candy floss skies. This is a great spot for those wanting to learn to surf in 2019.

Now here’s something we didn’t expect to see in February. As the water was cascading down the cliffs at Watergate Bay, it was freezing into icicles. We hope to see this again in 2019 for more memorable moments.

We visited Pedn Vounder beach in July, located next door to the more popular Porthcurno beach and Minack Theatre. Guests climb down part of the cliff to reach it, but once you’re there you’ll feel like you’ve reached the Caribbean.

 

Ride the wave of flavour with our top picks for the best surf cafes in Cornwall!

 

We’re sure you’ll all recognise this iconic beach – Fistral. Known for its fantastic surf, its great collection of restaurants and fabulous walks on its doorstep. This is one of our most popular holiday locations, join us here in 2019.

On the Summer Solstice, we broke the record for most visited Cornish beaches in one day. Here’s a snap from our final location at Crooklets beach, the 47th beach we visited that day to raise money for the South West Coast Path.

We love it when our guests share their holiday memories with us. Here is a Watergate Bay sunset from July, snapped by @paula1773. Use #beachretreats if you have some of your own to share, for your chance to be featured.

New for 2018, Ferrypoint is a coastal house in Rock, located opposite the Camel Estuary with superb views over the river and towards Padstow. Sit back and relax in 2019 on this balcony with family and friends.

We do love an aerial view and @aerialcornwall do it so well! Here’s the clear waters of Fistral beach in north Cornwall, perfectly photographed with a kayaker in July. Choose from many watersports to try here in 2019.

Walk the coast path from one of our Rock properties and find yourself here at Daymer Bay. We walked the South West Coast Path in June when we were treated to glorious sunshine and perfect water conditions for swimming and stand up paddle boarding.

Chapel Porth beach is a short drive from our St Agnes properties. Famous for its hedgehog ice creams, this is a popular location for local surfers and families. Their famous ice cream comes with Cornish clotted cream and chocolate and nut sprinkles. Sounds good right?

One of our most recent photos, we were up bright and early to catch the sunrise over Newquay harbour in November. Guests staying at one of our Fistral properties can walk here in just a few minutes and watch the bobbing boats and fishermen bring in their daily catch.

Follow us on Instagram for inspiration on things to see and do in Cornwall in 2019.

Cornish Saints

Our 17 Village properties at Watergate Bay are each named after a Cornish saint and place name – except one… We trace their names and learn some Cornish geography and history along the way.

Explore seaside dining at its finest with Beach Retreats’ curated list of top 5 restaurants in Watergate Bay.

Cornwall is often referred to as the land of saints. It’s no surprise then that many Cornish place names derive their name from the saints who went on to found churches here and in other Celtic lands such as Brittany in France. Let’s meet some of them.

Visiting Cornwall for a workcation? Have a look at our holiday lets perfect for extended stays and working.

St. Mawes

The fishing town of St Mawes on Cornwall’s south coast is thought to have taken its name from the Celtic Saint Maudez. He is believed to have settled in Brittany where he founded a monastery on the Island of Saint-Maudez with his two disciples, Saint Budoc and Saint Tudy, also Cornish place names.

St. Breock

St Brieuc became the first abbot of Saint-Brieuc in Brittany in the fifth century. Churches in England, Ireland, and Scotland are dedicated to this early Celtic saint, including the parish church of St Breock in Cornwall, just west of Wadebridge.

St. Minver

The village of St Miniver, inland from Rock on the north Cornish coast, centres upon St Menefreda’s Church – the origin of the present day name Saint Miniver who was one of 24 children of St Brychan, a fourth-century Welsh saint and king.

St. Winnow

The stunning isolated church of St Winnow overlooks the River Fowey. It is named after Saint Winnoc or Saint Winwaloe.

St. Endellion

Travel four miles north of Wadebridge and you’ll come across the pretty village of St Endellion near Port Isaac. It takes its name from Saint Edelienta, another child of King Brycha and sibling of St Miniver. Today, Saint Endellion Church brings together musicians from all over the world for superb festivals at Easter and Summer.

St. Blazey

The small town on Cornwall’s south coast takes its name from Armenian Saint Blaise. The Eden Project is close by.

St. Issey

You’ll find St Issey, named after the Saint Yse or Ida, just outside of Padstow. Yet another child of St Bruchan.

St. Merryn

Located between Mawgan Porth and Padstow, Saint Merryn is disputed to be named after a Welsh priest or monk named Maraunus or Maruan. Either way, it has seven beautiful bays nearby: Porthcothnan, Treyarnon Bay, Constantine Bay, Booby’s Bay, Mother Ivey’s Bay, Harlyn Bay and Trevone Bay.

St. Breward

On the western side of Bodmin Moor is the village of St Breward, deriving from English Saint Branwalader. He also gives his name to Saint Brelade in Jersey.

St. Erney

The village of Saint Erney in between St Germans and Saltash in south east Cornwall is thought to be dedicated to St Ternius, Terney or Erney. Widemouth Bay is nearby, as is the Port Eliot Festival.

St. Agnes

The original name of St Agnes was ‘Brynick’, a Cornish word meaning pointed hill, thought to be St Agnes Beacon. Officially named after the female Roman martyr Saint Agnes, you’ll find four unique beaches close by: Trevaunance Cove, Trevallas Porth, Chapel Porth and Porthtowan.

St. Ives

Named after the arrival of the Irish princess Saint Ia, today Saint Ives is well known for its pretty cobbled streets, fishing harbour and artistic community.

St. Mabyn

The Cornish female Saint Mabena gave name to this small village east of Wadebridge.

St. Buryan

Situated five miles west of Penzance, it is named after the Irish Saint Buriana. The picturesque coves of Lamorna and Porthcurno, home to the Minack Theatre, are a short drive away.

St. Levan

Saint Levan, a small hamlet situated near Porthcurno in west Cornwall, was probably named after Selevan, a Celtic form Solomon). The pretty coves of Porthchapel and Porthgwarra are close by.

St. Mawgan

The origin of the name St. Mawgan is unclear. Mawgan and Meugan are both place names in Cornwall (St. Mawgan is just up the road from Watergate Bay) and Brittany, and Meugan in Wales. It is believed they refer to one or two saints from the fifth or sixth century.

St. Denzel

The odd one out! Denzel is the only village property not named after a Cornish saint but we love it all the same.

Explore and book your holiday at The Village, Watergate Bay.

 

Want to explore our holiday lets in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

Christmas in Cornwall – top five must dos

Christmas tree at Watergate Bay, Newquay

December is almost upon us, which means we can officially start to feel festive. Christmas in Cornwall is a truly magical time, with lots to see and do for the whole family. It was hard, but we’ve whittled down our top five Cornish Christmas must dos.

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

Take a dip

Nothing shakes away the Christmas feeling of excess better than a Christmas or Boxing Day swim. And we’re talking about nothing more than a bikini or shorts and a string of tinsel. At a cool 10 degrees Celsius, it’s certainly bracing, but you’ll be surprised to find quite a few others getting into the spirit of things and taking the plunge. Organised swims take place at Bude, Gwithian and Sennen, but Watergate Bay is great for warming up with a hot chocolate afterwards.

Have a look at our Bude holiday properties & book your stay in Bude.

Ice skating at the Eden Project

Visit a rainforest and go ice skating all in one Cornish afternoon at the Eden Project. The covered ice rink is open until 22 February and costs £6 per person (in addition to an Eden admission ticket) for a 40 minute session starting on the hour. For little ones, penguin skating aids are available to lean on and hold on to.

Padstow Christmas Festival

The gastronomical delight that is Padstow Christmas Festival returns from 4-7 December, starring award-winning chefs and more than 100 artisans and producers. See Santa arrive on his horse-drawn Victorian bus, spectacular fireworks, live music, carol singing and a lantern parade, plus lots more. Over on the south coast at Fowey Christmas market from 6-7 December, you can expect BBQs, Cornish traders, mulled wine, Santa arriving on a boat and even a sheep competition.

Cornish gardens and the National Trust

Nothing feels more festive than wrapping up in a bobble hat and gloves and visiting one of the many beautiful gardens or old properties in Cornwall. At Cotehele, see the famous 60-foot flower garland in all its glory – and help if you wish. Meanwhile, Trelissick house and gardens will be illuminated and decorated during certain weekends in December, and the Elizabethan manor house Terice will be a craft heaven of Christmas tree decoration and mincemeat making workshops.

Santa Fun Runs

Don a red suit and white beard and take part in one of Cornwall’s many Santa Fun Runs in aid of Cornwall Hospice Care. Events are taking place across the county in Truro, Newquay, Padstow, Falmouth, St Austell plus many other locations. If you’re not feeling up to it, it’s still a great event to support and watch go buy from the comfort of the side lines.

 

Thinking about staying for the New Year as well? Find out the best way to celebrate and spend the New Year in Cornwall.

Best dog friendly beaches in North Cornwall

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again…we love dogs and dogs love Cornwall, especially the beaches. With over 150 beaches to explore, dig, run and play on, you and your dog are more than catered for.

We’ve compiled a list of the best dog-friendly beaches in North Cornwall, including the closest ones to our Beach Retreats properties.

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

Watergate Bay

Watergate Bay is dog-friendly year-round and encourages you to bring your dogs onto the sand to play. With over two miles of sandy beach with rock pools and sea caves to explore, it’s fair to say your dog will love it here. And once you’re both tired out there is The Beach Hut and Living Space restaurants for something to eat and drink, again both dog friendly.

Porth beach

Porth Beach, situated between Newquay and Watergate Bay, is a large, west-facing, sandy beach with a long tidal drop. Porth beach welcomes dogs through the winter months of October to Easter but there is a seasonal ban throughout the summer months.

 

Whipsiderry Beach

Dog friendly year round. Whipsiderry Beach is a beautiful, quiet beach, with sheltering cliffs and an abundance of rock pools and caves for hours of exploring fun. There are a set of steep steps to gain access to the beach but it’s worth the climb.

Perranporth

Dog friendly year round. At low tide Perranporth beach and neighbouring Penhale sands join together to make one of the largest stretches of unbroken sand on the North Coast. Let your dog off the lead and send them chasing after their ball along the shore, they’ll love it. And then recharge in The Watering Hole, also dog friendly.

Check out our holiday lets in Perranporth.

 

Mawgan Porth

Mawgan Porth is another year round dog friendly beach. Even at high tide Mawgan Porth has plenty of sand to run ragged on. Compared to other beaches on the North Cornwall coast, Mawgan Porth is fairly quiet allowing you and your dog a more peaceful visit.

Fistral beach

Fistral is possibly the most popular beach in North Cornwall, being at the very heart of the British surfing scene. The beach is a wide expanse of sand sheltered by two headlands. Dogs are welcome at Fistral beach year round.

 

Discover dog-friendly restaurants in Cornwall with Beach Retreats.

 

Search our dog friendly properties and book your stay with Beach Retreats at one of our many beach locations around Cornwall. Keep an eye on our special offers page, too, for the latest discounts and deals.

Blue Bay – Catered self-catering, Cornwall

Blue Bay offers a lot more to guests than your average self-catering property. Not only does it have beautiful views over Mawgan Porth beach, it also offers an award winning restaurant service. James and Pippa, Blue Bay’s owners, are experienced chefs having travelled around the world, working in some of the best restaurants. They have fitted Blue Bay with an industrial kitchen, which guests are welcome to use, but its main use is catering for up to 20 people at a time for breakfast, lunch and dinner, if requested*.

Visiting with a large group? Discover our large holiday homes perfect for big families or friend groups.

James and Pippa offer a seasonal menu year round, from steaks to local seafood, proper Cornish fish and chips to Italian inspired pasta dishes. It’s fair to say you won’t go hungry at Blue Bay. James and Pippa go above and beyond for guests, if requested they can leave dishes in the fridge ready for guests to heat up when they arrive at the beginning of their holiday. They also offer to make up beach picnics using locally sourced food from Mawgan Porth or BBQ packs tailored to the party’s unique requirements.

The service offered at Blue Bay is truly unique and flexible. We asked James whats the most challenging request he has had since running the Blue Bay kitchen and we were very surprised by his answer.

Want to stay in Newquay? Have a look at our luxury holiday properties in Newquay.

‘A few years ago Pippa and I were asked to host a 40th wedding anniversary for a group of 20 guests staying at Blue Bay. We assumed they would want a full three course meal of the finest produce Cornwall has to offer, but instead they requested a meal inspired by the rations of WWII. Having never had such a unique request we spent weeks researching everything from how to use potato flour to dried egg powder. It really was a fun and interesting challenge which met high praise from the anniversary party’

The beauty behind the catered option of Blue Bay is that guests can dip in and out of the service. If they are going out for an evening meal they can just ask for breakfast, or alternatively, dive head first into the self-catered option and give James and Pippa the week off.

‘We want it to be an added extra of staying at Blue Bay. There is no pressure to have every meal catered for, in fact we love to see guests using the kitchen and creating culinary masterpieces of their own. However, we recommend everyone to try James’ profiterole mountain with lashings of chocolate sauce and sparklers for decoration’

Blue Bay is the perfect place to host a special occasion or family get together. Take a look round Blue Bay here.

Add some luxury to your self-catered holiday with Beach Retreats.

Interested in other Beach Retreats properties? Get a taste of paradise with a weekend at Porth Beach House – expect luxury, relaxation, and memories to last a lifetime with Beach Retreats.

*at an additional charge