Hotel review: Watergate Bay Hotel, Cornwall

Filed under: Short breaks, UK travel

First impressions
Ten minutes from Newquay airport by car or bus, your approach is down a steep hill that reveals a stretch of sand with wonderfully wild waves. To the right, nestled in the rocks, you'll see a traditional Victorian hotel. On closer inspection it's a vibrant, re-vamped hotel that is relaxed enough to welcome sandy-soaked dogs and wetsuit-clad kids.

What's to love?
You can check-in and throw away the car keys. With a backdrop to rival any beach vista in the world, there's more than enough to occupy and relax you in this small bay - despite there being no local shops. From the newly renovated spa with an almost-infinity pool, to surfing, and exploring the rock-pools.

Best room in the house
A "better family suite" with interconnecting rooms and in-room roll-top bath to contemplate the sea-view at leisure.

Where to eat
Choose from a snack in the Beach Hut with the surfing instructors and dog-walkers or dress-up for dinner at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen. If you can't bear to leave the hotel then eat in the Brasserie or the Living Space with panoramic views and delicious sharing plates and gastro-pub classics.

If you're a city-dweller or busy family that yearns for some space and pampering yet doesn't really like sitting still. This is a short-break for all seasons - with the hotel and environs reminiscent of a ski-resort. When we visited the weather varied from stormy to sun-soaked and both experiences equally fitting. Imagine yourself sipping a hot chocolate in front of the wood-burning stove in the spa cafe after a surf lesson in winter wetsuit or sun-bathing on the terrace or beach with a good book.

Parental extras
Tucked around the back of the Living Space is a fully-equipt nursery and playground. It offers nursery care sessions for over-3s and cinema nights for the older kids. The hotel also has baby-monitors you can use so you can eat your dinner while the kids sleep or you could just take advantage of their baby-sitting service.

If you do one thing here, make sure it's...
Feel the real spirit of the bay and visit the Extreme Academy. You'll find some of the best surf and kite surf instructors anywhere in the country. Absolute beginners are more than welcome - of all ages - and there's plenty of support and encouragement for the hesitant. You'll be in good company, as we're reliably informed by Sports Manager Carl Coombes that the Academy has had some pretty important visitors - if you consider this sort of thing an endorsement - Prince William and his friends have had a lesson or two there.

Things to do, places to see
Realistically, there's more than enough to do in Watergate Bay if you're staying a couple of days but should you want to venture out you're in a prime position to explore the North Cornish coast - Polzeath, Newquay and Padstow or south to St Ives. Inland, the Eden Project is approximately 20 miles away. The stunning Tintagel Castle is around 30 miles away but be aware that Cornish roads can be a very slow drive should you get stuck behind a caravan or tractor!

Prices and offers:
We suggest you try the taste of the bay in Autumn a three night stay costs from only £275 per person for 3 nights including breakfast and dinner at Fifteen, The Beach Hut and the hotel. For all other details and offers, go to Watergate Bay Hotel, Extreme Academy or Fifteen Cornwall.