For the last May bank holiday weekend, my boyfriend and I headed down to Cornwall, which I didn’t realise a) just how far it was from London and b) how it is pretty much the tip of England. After a very long 8 hour drive we finally made it to the Luxury Lodges on Clowance Estate. The estate comprises of 97 acres of luscious green woodland, and boasts 9 different type of lodges, ranging from their Treehouse on the Lake , to a St Ives Studio.
We stayed in their beautiful Glass Lodge that was tucked away in a cosy corner of their estate with uninterrupted views of a beautiful unspoilt meadow. Our lodge had the capacity to sleep 6, with two bedrooms on the ground floor and a children’s bedroom on the top floor with the sweetest paintings of animals on the walls. The modern kitchen and spacious lounge area opened up to a large decking complete with our very own hot tub and outside eating area. When we arrived, the team had prepared fresh scones, fruit, local shortbread and Tattinger champagne which we were immensely grateful for after our long drive.
We spent our first evening relaxing and sampling the food from the onsite restaurant that you can either eat directly in the restaurant or order as room service. As we were so tired we ordered room service and had chicken & chips, before polishing off a very moreish warm chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. All the lodges are self catered, and there are several large supermarkets a couple of minutes drive away where you can stock up on food for your weekend.
On our first morning we headed to Gwithian beach which was a short 15 minute drive. Nothing makes me happier than walking bare foot on the sand, so as soon as I could I slipped off my shoes and took a leisurely stroll along the beach. It’s so different to European beaches, the sand banks are much wider, but it’s still beautiful all the same. I didn’t brave the seas, but many were surfing or kayaking. There is parking available right at the front of the beach (we didn’t realise this and parked a short walk away) and there is also a small but popular cafe right next to the carpark that was filled with hungry surfers.
We headed to a nearby farm for lunch that had the most incredible array of homemade cakes I had ever seen – I wanted to take them all home! I settled on these Oreo cheesecake, it tasted so good I didn’t want it to end!
In the afternoon we went for a stroll in the woodland surrounding the Estate. My boyfriend and I love going on long walks and getting lost, and the Clowance Estate didn’t disappoint. At one point it felt as though we had entered Alice in Wonderland with twisted, low hanging branches and beautiful, colourful flowers surrounding us.
Our lodge had the comfiest corner sofa, so every evening we settled ourselves in for the night after dinner and watched movie after movie.
On Sunday morning I headed to the onsite gym for a workout – it was a compact gym but had everything you needed in terms of weight and cardio machines and I was lucky enough to be the only person in the gym the entire time.
After my workout I had a back neck and shoulder massage at the spa. The masseuse was a very friendly lady who made me feel very at ease. The massage was very thorough – we had an indepth conversion beforehand about the niggles in my body and then followed through with the treatment. It was so incredibly relaxing, I definitely dozed off and came away feeling very zen.
The estate also boasts a huge range of activities that we didn’t have time to sample including golf, tennis, swimming, badminton, basketball, outdoor chess, indoor heated pool and a lake with a rowing boat – Notebook style.
There were several guests staying on the estate whilst we were there, but as it was so vast, it always felt very quiet and peaceful – as though we had all the 97 acres to ourselves. My boyfriend and I have very busy, stressful lives in London and a weekend in Cornwall at the Clowance Estate allowed us to completely switch off and recharge our batteries. We headed home in a very happy, relaxed and content state.
Outside of the estate there is lots to do nearby. The infamous indoor rainforest – the Eden Project – is a one hour drive away. If you’re looking for something a bit more adventurous, Flambards Theme Park is great for a family day out. There are a slew of beautiful beaches right on the doorstep of the Estate too, including: Godrevy beach, Praa Sands Beach and Portreath Beach. For those that enjoy working out whilst on holiday, there are over 227 different coastal walks all across Cornwall that range in distance from 2 to 10 miles.
If you’re looking for a luxury staycation in the UK that is far removed from the hustle and bustle of every day life, then be sure to check out the different types of accommodation options the Clowance Estate has for a truly tranquil stay.
*Disclaimer – please note, this stay was complimentary, but all thoughts are my own and not impacted by the complimentary services.