Luxury lodges with hot tubs in a perfect North Cornwall seaside location.
Situated on the north Cornwall coast, halfway between Newquay and St Ives, Rosehill Lodges are a bit of a hidden gem: buried deep in the woods, yet only a ten-minute walk from the Blue Flag beach at Porthtowan. Run by the affable John and Pauline Barrow and their team, they describe themselves as 'luxury lodges' and for once it's a description that is spot-on. Constructed with locally sourced timber, and with sustainable bamboo flooring and grass roofs, they are super-well-insulated and stay cool in summer and warm in winter. They've also used reclaimed materials as much as possible – ships's timbers and railway sleepers – and energy comes from solar panels, so they're eco-friendly too.
There are ten lodges in all, with between two and three bedrooms, and beds that can be configured in various ways depending on what you need, so ideal for both families and groups of friends. There's a kitchen with a fridge, freezer, dishwasher and washer/dryer, a decent-sized living area, and each lodge comes with its own wood-burner (and yes, since you ask, seasoned logs, firelighters and kindling are all provided, for free). It's not all rustic home comforts – each lodge also has superfast wifi and a smart TV, as well as an external drench shower to properly wash away the sand before collapsing into your very own hot tub on your very own verandah. You'll have worked up quite an appetite at the beach, but luckily there's also a charcoal BBQ for cooking up those all-important al fresco feasts. Some lodges are dog-friendly -and guests with dogs receive a hamper containing a dog blanket, a bath towel, a dog bowl, some poo bags and a bag of dog treats. Truly they seem to have to thought of everything...
As for the location, it really couldn't be much better. It's a perfect spot for exploring this part of Cornwall, but also interesting and comfortable enough in its own right if all you want to to is veg out and stay put. You could easily spend entire days on the beach, and the lodges are close enough to pop back now and then; you're also right on the South West Coast path and walking in either direction is a great way to explore this stunning coastline. The village has a shop, surf tuition and somewhere to eat in the excellent Blue Bar, along with other amenities, and the Rosehill Valley is a delight for birdwatchers – as is the nearby Hayle Estuary and Godrevy Head, both of which are a lovely walk away on the coastal path through an SSSI and land owned by the National Trust. By car, you're also just half an hour away from some of Cornwall's most iconic attractions – the Eden Project, Lost Gardens of Heligan, Falmouth, Truro and Land's End. If, that is, you can drag yourself out of that hot tub.
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