Wish to escape somewhere with stunning azure seascapes and dreamy interiors? Check out these five coastal breaks that will feed body and soul with a blast of sea air this summer
Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate, St Ives, Cornwall
If the prospect of having everything you could possibly want on holiday all in one place sounds heavenly, you’ll be on cloud nine during a coastal break at the Carbis Bay Estate near St Ives.
A variety of accommodation options guarantee sumptuous lodgings whether you’re visiting with family, friends or as a couple. In addition to the central white-walled main house are beach lodges, suites, houses, as well as valley cottages and nearby coastal properties.
Also on-site is a contemporary first-rate spa with plush extras (think infinity outdoor pool, beach hot tub, outdoor sauna cabin and spa gardens) and a privately owned 25-acre Blue Flag beach. A smorgasbord of quality dining options includes the sustainable-luxe Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling, casual seafood thrills of The Beach Club Restaurant and uber-glam Walter’s on The Beach.
Locanda on the Weir, Porlock Weir, Somerset
Take to the wilds of Exmoor National Park to explore the best of land and sea, and indulge in peaceful surrounds, at this boutique inn with excellent foodie creds.
Overlooking 15th-century Porlock Weir harbour, guests can look forward to waking up to entrancing views across the bay each morning – a visual only rivalled by Michelin-rated dining come evening.
The secluded inn’s zero-waste restaurant serves an impeccable five-course tasting menu from Monday to Saturday in a relaxed environment where you don’t have to dress to the nines to enjoy fine dining. Refined dishes nod to head chef Pio’s Italian roots and are created around the abundant produce available from the surrounding moorland, kitchen garden and local waters.
When visitors aren’t stomping the South West Coast Path, getting lost in a local woodland or soaking up the picturesque harbour, they’re often whiling away hours in the country-chic inn. The cosy lounge is a great space for unwinding with a pot of Exmoor tea, sticking on a vinyl from the carefully curated selection and working through the stacks of games and puzzles.
The Nici, Bournemouth, Dorset
Recipient of Conde Nast Johansens‘ Best New Hotel gong in the Awards for Excellence 2024, The Nici has a luxury Miami-esque resort vibe that’s feeding holidaymakers’ appetites for a coastal-cool break without the airmiles guilt.
The Nici’s location near Bournemouth Beach is one of its best attributes – it’s within walking distance of the vibrant town and some of the area’s best coastal spots, but still feels peaceful and private. However, much of guests’ time is taken up enjoying the sublime hotel facilities. Swim laps as the sun showers your shoulders in the 30m outdoor pool, lounge in the cabana area, read on a sun lounger with a glass of something sparkling and feast on smart-casual dishes in the South Beach restaurant.
As you might expect from a five-star hotel, the decor is on-point. Aesthetics of each room feel playful yet contemporary and are complemented by plush furniture and fabrics.
Wildcomfort, Dartmouth, Devon
Overlooking a stunning panorama of Start Bay’s coastline, Wildcomfort’s sustainable birdhouse cabins may be nestled high up in the canopy but they’re located just a few minutes’ walk from Blue Flag-winning Blackpool Sands beach.
This slice of paradise in South Hams is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which is clear to see from its sparkling waters, golden beach and dramatic cliffs. And there’s no better base from which to immerse yourself in the untouched environment than in one of these eco-cool cabins, crafted from planet-friendly materials and designed for ultimate unwinding and sensory pleasures. Drink in the vista from your private balcony, listen to birdsong and the distant crash of waves on the shore, and make the most of the natural playground at your fingertips.
In addition to the birdhouse cabins is The Lookout (a tent-like innovation made in Wildcomfort’s signature craft style) and a BYOB pub and kitchen – The Captain’s Cabin – a rustic and laidback setting for eating, drinking and chinwagging with other guests.
Scarlet Hotel, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall
Everything about this grown-ups-only retreat in Mawgan Porth lulls guests into a gentle rhythm of life that’s in keeping with its harmonious setting.
From its position embedded in the rugged cliffs, each of the boutique hotel’s 37 bedrooms offer stylish furnishings and shimmering sea views. And when you’re not admiring the coastal setting from the comfort of your room, you’re bathing in it from Scarlet’s eco indoor-outdoor spa or appreciating it as you indulge in produce-led plates care of head chef Jack Clayton in the hotel restaurant.
A spell in Scarlet’s high-spec spa is a surefire way to connect you to this pristine natural setting and press pause on the everyday stressors of life. Indulge in one of the restorative treatments before entering a zen-like state in one of the suspended cocoon pods, join one of the wellbeing classes then switch between plunges in the indoor heated pool and outdoor natural reed pool, and make time to bliss out in the clifftop hot tub and and cedar-wood sauna.
Get the most out of your retreat by booking one of the packages. The Restorative Sleep Break, Two-Night Spend Time Together and Signature Scarlet Break are perennial faves.
Enjoyed our round-up of coastal breaks in the South West? Discover exquisite countryside breaks in the region.
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