Cornwall's incredible renaissance as a romantic destination

With its wild windswept beauty, spectacular beaches, lush semi-tropical gardens and breathtaking cliff-top walks, Cornwall is one of the most romantic regions of England. For years the region has attracted many artists with its magical backdrop and the shimmering quality of light it is known for; now the stage of the latest romantic comedy of movie director Richard Curtis, About Time, Cornwall does not cease to inspire and impress.

One of our favourite parts of this southwestern tip of England is the unspoiled Roseland Peninsula and the picture perfect village of St. Mawes, with its rows of pastel colour cottages that front the water, its sandy beaches, its cosy pubs and stylish boutiques.

At its edge, Olga Polizzi’s Hotel Tresanton, still remains one of the most stylish seaside retreats in the country, and the most romantic! To cite Richard Curtis, following his stay at Tresanton during the recce of About Time, “the hotel is so beautifully decorated it is almost painful”. Every room, except one, has stunning vistas over Falmouth Bay, St. Anthony lighthouse and the many bobbing sailboats that crowd the shimmering waters.

Rock Cottage and the Lamorran Suite are the latest expression of Olga Polizzi’s declarative style and effortless elegance. Inaugurated last Spring, The Lamorran Suite sits above the main Tresanton building, so the views of St Mawes bay and beyond are even more spectacular. You are cocooned in your own apartment with three bedrooms, two big bathrooms and a large sitting room. Every room has a door onto a private terrace and its lovely vista of sailing boats of all sizes.

The suite is perfect for a family with three or four children and was conceived with that in mind. One of the bedrooms is a smart, light filled, tongue and groove ship’s cabin with two built-in bunks and its own large television set into the wall… heaven for any child. There are washed wooden floors throughout and a casual marine feel in keeping with the rest of Tresanton. The furniture is a mix of old and new, with some unusual pieces, and some of the best local art. Rock Cottage can be rented as a whole house or separate suites, some with their own log burning stoves.

In recent years Cornwall has seen an incredible renaissance. New hotels, restaurants, gardens, resorts, museums and galleries are opening, offering visitors an increasingly high quality experience. Tresanton was at the forefront of it all, and still remains unsurpassed.