Extend your holiday beyond the summer in a Cornish hotel

Perhaps one of the lesser-known secrets about a holiday in the South West is that it’s not just a destination for the summer months. With its dramatic coastline, beautiful beaches, local food and abundant wildlife, Cornwall offers visitors something different to enjoy each season. With the changing light comes different elements to enjoy, swapping sea swims and sunbathing for long walks and cosy evenings in, just because summer has a sell by date doesn’t mean the holiday season does! With that in mind, here the Good Hotel Guide shares 10 of their favourite hotels in Cornwall to visit all year round.

The Nare, Roseland Peninsula
The Nare is a famous favourite amongst those who visit Cornwall. A luxury hotel in the perfect seaside location, the gardens run right down to the beach and there’s always a variety of activities to enjoy. There is a sense of good an old-fashioned hospitality at this hotel, complemented by awe-inspiring views of the sea. A valet unpacks your bags, silver service is the rule in the dining room, all rooms are individually designed but each is adorned with fresh flowers, armchairs, plenty of magazines. There’s an indoor as well as outdoor pool, spa treatments available, lessons with the artist-in-residence, a yacht and elegant motor launch for use or skippered charter and their classic Morgan sports car to drive. It’s an escape to another time as well as another place.

Bedruthan Hotel and Spa, Mawgan Porth
An award-winning, four-star hotel in Cornwall, Bedruthan Hotel and Spa is a contemporary hotel set into the hillside above Mawgan Porth beach. A real favourite for families thanks to the array of activities and kids’ clubs they have available, it’s also a treat for adults. Spa treatments, a beautiful pool with Atlantic Sea views, a natural outdoor pool, a sensory garden, cocktails and sunset suppers for adults all make it a beautiful experience come rain or shine.

Tresanton, St Mawes
A stylish seaside hotel decorated and owned by interior designer Olga Polizzi, Tresanton is made up of a collection of houses looking out across Falmouth Bay. The hotel is light and airy, peppered with local art including a Poseidon mosaic and coastal prints. Food is inspired by Mediterranean ingredients and guests can also sail aboard Pinuccia, the hotel’s vintage yacht.

Mullion Cove Hotel, Mullion
Set on the Lizard Peninsular with dramatic views of the sea and just moments from the coastal path, Mullion Cove Hotel is an elegant cliff-top hotel. National Trust land stretches out to the south, providing an inspiring vista to wake up to. Inside, it’s all refined comforts including peaceful lounges to sit in and stylish but comfortable rooms and suites. There’s a clifftop outdoor hot tub, an outdoor swimming pool, and an adult-only spa. Meanwhile, dogs are allowed in most rooms and one of the lounges in the hotel.

The Gurnard’s Head, Zennor
A family-friendly hotel in rugged west Cornwall, just minutes from the cliff edge, The Gurnards Head has a welcoming atmosphere and impeccably designed bedrooms that look out to sea or sheep-grazed moors. It is a simple destination but brimming with character thanks to carefully considered details. Fresh flowers, local art, a Roberts radio, Welsh blankets, and all-natural toiletries all add to the charm of each room. A library replaces the need for televisions and fantastic food is the order of the day - all for tremendous value.

The Scarlet, Mawgan Porth
Perhaps one of the best-known spa hotels in the UK, The Scarlet never fails to impress. A treat for special occasions or simply just because, this adult-only, eco-friendly luxury hotel and spa in Cornwall has a reputation for all things beautiful. A low-tech, high-spec retreat, sea views are available at almost every turn, whether you’re sitting in the cliff top hot tub sipping champagne or swimming lengths in the pool surrounded by glass walls and views of the wild Atlantic. It’s the epitome of cool, calm and contemporary.

The Headland Hotel, Newquay
On a hilltop overlooking the crashing waves, The Headland Hotel is an unmissable landmark in glowing red brick and notable style. The setting for many TV shows and movies including Roald Dahl’s The Witches, it is said that star Angelica Houston would receive huge flower bouquets and phone calls from her then boyfriend Jack Nicolson during her time playing the head witch here. Even without its movie credentials however, this dramatic red brick marvel is a treat for guests. Rooms are luxurious, views are breath taking, grounds are vast, and the food is award-winning.

Artist Residence, Penzance
Artist Residence in Penzance is part of the small, family-run collection of stylish Artist Residence hotels, all of which are a visual feast of antiques, colours, and style. Decorated with phenomenal attention to detail, all hotels in the bijoux collection are a joy to visit, this one has the added benefit of being in beautiful Cornwall. Not only is it the perfect location for a romantic getaway or quality time with good friends, it also welcomes canine companions. There is a selection of dog-friendly rooms, and for every pooch that comes to stay they’ll have a dog bed, bowls and Lily’s Kitchen organic dog treats waiting for them.

Idle Rocks, St Mawes
A Relais & Château hotel on the Roseland Peninsula, Idle Rocks is all about the views and the details. Decorated in coastal colours the hotel hangs over the water, so you really couldn’t get closer to the sea. With 19 rooms it’s a fairly small hotel, giving it a lovely personal feel. The restaurant affords sea views, whether you’re inside or sitting on the terrace on warmer days. The menu focuses on locally sourced produce, whether it’s mussels for mum and dad or top notch goujons and chips for kids. The hotel is equal parts sophistication and easy going, making it great for family escapes as well as couples’ retreats.

Blue Hayes, St. Ives
Perched on a hilltop looking over St. Ives, on sunny days Blue Hayes can easily feel as though it’s in the Mediterranean. An elegant hotel surrounded by landscaped gardens and stylish terraces; it is contemporary but homely - a tonic for those of us who have been stuck in the city. There are six suites, and the décor is light and relaxing - befitting its seaside location. Food and drink make the most of Cornwall’s vast natural larder - think Cornish crab or Trelawny cheese and asparagus tart at dinner, or pancakes with berries, fresh-baked croissants, or Cornish gammon steak at breakfast. Walking here can mean a stroll into town or a hike towards the South West Coast Path, enjoying as much of those ocean views as you can manage. Equally, St Ives is well known for nurturing the arts, home to the Barbara Hepworth Museum as well as the Tate St Ives.