Beachcombers

HOTEL OVERVIEW

Look, I’ve stayed at a lot of places along Cornwall’s coast, but Beachcombers really surprised me – and I mean that in the best way. You know how some hotels try too hard to be “boutique” and end up feeling pretentious? This isn’t one of those. It sits right above Watergate Bay, which honestly is probably Cornwall’s most dramatic stretch of sand when the surf’s up, and the whole place just feels… well, it feels like someone who actually loves this coastline decided to open their dream hotel.

The thing about Watergate Bay is that it’s not your typical sleepy Cornish fishing village – there’s proper energy here, especially during surf season. You’ve got the beach stretching for miles, kitesurfers doing their thing when the wind picks up, and yeah, it can get busy in summer, but Beachcombers sits just far enough back that you get the views without feeling like you’re camping on the beach with everyone else. The rooms (at least the one I had) actually face the water, and I spent way too much time just watching the tide change throughout the day. There’s something hypnotic about it, especially early morning when the light hits the cliffs just right.

What I really appreciated – and this might sound small, but it matters – is that they clearly get what travelers actually need. The parking situation is sorted (trust me, this is huge around here during peak season), the WiFi works properly if you need to get some work done, and the staff know the area well enough to give you real recommendations, not just the obvious tourist spots. One of them told me about this little coastal path that connects to the South West Coast Path but avoids the crowds – turned out to be one of the best walks I did all week. The breakfast was proper good too, none of that continental nonsense, and they source ingredients locally which you can actually taste. I mean, when you’re this close to some of Cornwall’s best farms and fishermen, why wouldn’t you?

Honestly, the whole experience felt more like staying with friends who happen to have incredible taste and a house with killer views. It’s not trying to be the fanciest place on the coast – you want luxury resort vibes, head to Carbis Bay or wherever. But if you want somewhere that captures what makes this part of Cornwall special, somewhere you can actually relax and feel connected to the landscape rather than insulated from it, Beachcombers nails it. The only downside? I kept extending my stay because I didn’t want to leave, which probably says everything you need to know.