There’s no better way to escape the elements this winter than with a stay at one of these undeniably cool places in the South West
Scarlet Hotel, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
Peel off those layers of woolly winter clothing and revel in reconnection with your physical self at this eco hotel on Cornwall’s north coast.
The grown‑ups‑only space is all about rejuvenating mind, body and soul. Take a cold-water dip in the outdoor reed pool, indulge in treatments in lantern‑lit tented rooms, melt via the sauna and steam experiences, and relax in a suspended cocoon pod.
Wellness‑restoring wonders are fabulous, but great food and wine are the key to a fully rounded getaway. Happily, the hotel’s season‑specific cooking and wine tasting sessions are seriously good too.
With sustainability and ecological considerations built into everything, indulgence feels contemporary and justified.
Bluebird Penthouse, Taw Valley, Devon
Bet you’ve never taken a dip in a Land Rover? That’s one of the fun elements of a stay at Little Place in the Country’s Bluebird Penthouse in the South West.
The beautifully restored 1950s‑style caravan is a vintage heartbreaker set in rural surrounds overlooking the Taw Valley.
Bluebird may feel like a spot for a summer getaway, but it’s actually very cosy in winter, thanks to generous insulation and central heating. That said, the best bits are outdoors: the views, the covered terrace with pizza oven and barbecue, and the opportunity to lounge beneath the stars in the toasty waters of that Land Rover hot tub (fuelled by a biomass boiler using wood grown on the farm next door).
Star & Garter, Falmouth, Cornwall
When you’re after a weekend away in one of the South West’s coolest towns, Star & Garter‘s guesthouse and serviced apartments are an attractive find.
The apartments and rooms are in the most interesting part of Falmouth, and feature the harbour on one side while also being surrounded by the town’s best indie restaurants, an artisan bakery, speciality coffee shops and exquisite lifestyle stores.
Winner of the Cool Place to Stay award in the Food Lifestyle Awards 2024, the accommodation is an adjunct to The Star & Garter pub. It’s now open from Thursdays to Sundays when the Restaurant Mine team (who have a restaurant across the road) take over the kitchen to craft a menu of seasonal small plates and bar snacks.
Bovey Castle, Dartmoor, Devon
For traditional glamour of the classic country house hotel variety, take flight to Bovey Castle on Dartmoor. The huge estate is the setting of a PG Wodehouse novel brought to life with its roaring fires in carved stone fireplaces, huge comfy sofas, smart food and falconry displays. One of the best bits is arriving via the long and winding drive through the golf course and grounds to be greeted at the grand house by tweed‑clad porters. Visit in winter for stomps over the moor followed by tea by the fire.
Kin House, Kingston Langley, Wiltshire
The ultimate upmarket party pad, Kin House is an elegant Georgian manor that’s been restored with style and contemporary good taste.
Its 12 bedrooms make it a special find for a large group getaway where you, as the organiser, won’t have to do anything. That’s because the Kin House team can arrange everything from yoga classes and treatments to foraging walks. They’ll also rustle up drinks at the smart bar and cook fabulous family‑style breakfasts and dinners; the house speciality is a huge joint cooked over fire in a woodland glade in the grounds.
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