Tucked just beyond the narrow lanes of Marazion, and blessed with fantastic views of Mounts Bay and St Michael’s Mount, the Mount Haven is a smart yet unpretentious hotel and restaurant for all occasions, from a romantic holiday to a pit stop along the South West Coast Path.
It’s run with dedication and passion by the owners, Mike and Orange Trevillion, and the feel of the place and the service is something special: if you want a swanky hotel close to Penzance and the wild, western tip of Cornwall, bag a four-poster suite or boutique balcony room here with all the trimmings you’d expect of top-notch accommodation and you will be very happy indeed. Local artwork adorns the walls and sculptures dot the hallways and living spaces, but every area from the lounge and terrace to the restaurant beckons you to relax and enjoy the sea views.
There’s a spa offering holistic treatments and all sorts of rejuvenating pampering, and it has a pretty decent restaurant too – popular with non-residents, and serving refined yet simple food based on local, often foraged produce. Whether you want a Cornish crab sandwich after a dog-walk on the beach, morning coffee with a view, or a three-course gourmet dinner, it’s one of the best dining venues around; and this, surely, is one of the best places to stay – in a part of Britain where there’s no shortage of good competition.
Cool Places is a new website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk)