Surf, Sun and Sand at St Moritz in Cornwall
25th April 2014
On our way down to Trebetherick, as we drove along winding country lanes, glimpses of the glittery ocean popped in and out of view, leaving us with a feeling of anticipation. I had looked forward to my Easter break for several weeks now and, finally, it had arrived. We had certainly picked a perfect day for the journey.
This part of the country is famous for its long golden coastline, balmy climate and turquoise waters, and with St Moritz in Cornwall being in a perfect spot to enjoy all three, I was feeling slightly giddy.
The scenery grew more and more beautiful with every mile and we soon reached the hotel. It’s large, white exterior sparkled in the sunshine and I felt like I had arrived on the French Riviera.
After checking in and being taken to our first floor suite, we hung around for a while just to make sure we felt totally at home in the spacious, luxurious suite with balcony and commanding views of the Atlantic Ocean! Did I mention it had my name written all over it?!
Unpacking took all of five minutes as we were eager to get down to the beach before the tide came too far in. Just a five minute walk from St Moritz and we had reached the gorgeous bay, which was sheltered by imposing slate cliffs. Its pebbly beach was perfect for beachcombing and the giant waves crashing against the rocks made it all the more fun. In between, of course, I was happy snapping the sublime seascape.
The fresh sea air had given us a healthy appetite, and as Charlie’s bucket was brimming with beach goodies, we decided to return to the hotel to freshen up and get ready for dinner. The suite had everything you could possibly need, so whilst I pampered myself with the Cowshed toiletries, Charlie had music playing, television on, and feet up as he enjoyed a drink from the pre-stocked fridge. It was official; we had settled in!
At the St Moritz restaurant the atmosphere was lively, a perfect ambience for evening dinner, in my opinion. Well after a hard day on the beach, I felt it would be ignorant of me not to sample the seafood from the à la carte menu. But first, a cheeky cocktail in the bar and, of course, Charlie insisted on a mocktail. The bar staff were very friendly and invited us to relax on the sofas before we were shown through to the adjoining restaurant.
After devouring the Chicken Liver Parfait, I started on the Red Mullet, which, incidentally, blew my mind. As we ate, we observed the culinary drama in the open kitchen, a great aspect of the dining experience at St Moritz. The service was cheerful and totally on the mark when it came to discretion. They were there when we needed them, undetected when not.
It was time to retire, but before I sank into a deep sleep following such phenomenal food, I made sure that my final mental images were those of the view from our balcony, just to ensure sweet dreams.
Waking to the stunning view from St Moritz in Cornwall was a comforting feeling that I would like to repeat. However, I had little time to savour it as Charlie was up bright and early, eager to check out the swimming pool. Although the sun was shining and the skies were blue, there was still a spring chill lingering, which deterred me from braving the outdoor pool. Inside, the pool area was quiet and equipped with a Jacuzzi and loungers. Several lengths were enough to prepare me for breakfast, which was a bountiful buffet with the option of hot food. I was quite content indulging on cereals, pastries and muffins.
And now, what Charlie had been most looking forward to, Wavehunters Surf School. St Moritz not only caters for children, it goes above and beyond entertaining the young ones. As well as the holiday club and Mini-Moritz room, kids can enjoy loads of fun activities on the beach. At the surf school the wetsuit and board were included, and a member of the hotel staff even drove the children down to the beach at Polzeath, which is only a few minutes from St Moritz. Charlie was in his element. Looks like I’ll be investing in a surf board this summer!
Because St Moritz in Cornwall is close to so many fabulous places, you can visit somewhere new every day. In the afternoon we headed down to Rock, where we hopped on a ferry to Padstow, again a member of staff can drive you down so there is no need to take the car. This is a picturesque fishing port that is filled with shops and places to eat and drink. We spent a couple of hours mooching around, sampling ice cream and enjoying a drink before heading back to the hotel. The ferry leaves every 20 minutes so you never have to wait long for the next departure.
In the evening we decided to try something from the bar menu at St Moritz, and it was just as delicious as the food we had eaten from the à la carte. Fish and chips have never tasted so amazing. You could really tell the fish had been caught that day.
The next day we went back to Polzeath for Charlie’s second day of surf lessons. The great thing about St Moritz is that it caters for all ages, so while the kids are at surf school the adults can enjoy a treatment at the hotel’s Cowshed spa, relax in the sauna or burn off some energy in the gym. After lots of beach fun we sat by the outdoor pool at the hotel’s Seaside, a lovely little café that serves a range of dishes such as Salt and Pepper Tiger Prawns, hotdogs, and tomato linguini. With cute little beach huts and gorgeous views, it’s a great place to chill out in the sun.
For anyone wanting a UK holiday by the beach, St Moritz is absolutely perfect. Luxurious accommodation, excellent hospitality and an unparalleled location, it really doesn’t get much better than this.