With sandy beaches aplenty, the Cornish Riviera is a picturesque paradise of classic British seaside towns, little villages, harbours and towering cliffs. What more could you want from a place to escape to?
And escape to is exactly what we did. After a near seven-hour drive from London town we hit the coastal retreat of Burn, where a collection of luxury holiday cottages and apartments sit within 45 acres of unspoiled landscape. This is all part of the offering from Luxury Lodges and our home for two nights was The Glasshouse.
The Glasshouse is as special as it sounds, a Grand Designs-style three bedroom apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the property with light and offer some pretty amazing views of the countryside. This sleeps six across three bedrooms, with the two upstairs coming en-suite. The master bedroom also has a balcony facing out over the fields in the distance and it’s from there we spotted a group on horseback exploring the countryside.
The open plan living is spacious, bright, light and has a fully equipped kitchen to cook up a feast fit for a king. The living area is comfy with two big sofas centred around a TV for movie time and the dining table is where the bulk of the action (eating) takes place. Outside is even more WOW. The decking leading out from the two sets of doors is set up for alfresco dining and sun lounging. Then there’s the hot tub which makes for fun come sun or snow.
As this is self-catering, you’ve got to do your shop (or have it delivered). Handily, there’s a huge ASDA less than a mile away, so it’s easy to stock up on essentials and for any additional pickups needed. There is also the town of Bude with plenty of local independent shops and amenities to take advantage of, and with all that fresh fish around we sure did.
It’s worth exploring the surrounding area; a short walk over the nearby golf course brought us to one of many beaches and swimming areas, and pubs for local brews, coffee and other Cornish delights.
Back on the Luxury Lodges site, we started each morning with a swim in their indoor pool and a quick sauna before enjoying a coffee back on the terrace of the Glasshouse. There’s also a fitness room and we are afraid to say we’re those people who’s gym kit didn’t leave the bag on this trip and it felt good.
Whilst we didn’t get a chance to properly try out their on-site restaurant aside from grabbing a scone (and damn good they were too), it serves up a classic menu and there are plenty of events during the week to keep those who want to mingle with other guests entertained.
As well as providing a base to explore the unspoilt countryside and coastal areas of the south west, the Glasshouse played its part by bringing a luxurious feel to the experience. The seven-hour drive was worth it, the only downside was not staying longer.
Poundfield, Stratton, Bude EX23 8SF
luxurylodges.com