The Cove at Lamorna, Cornwall – Review

I wonder how you would refer to The Cove at Lamorna after spending a week relaxing there?

Their website says “self catering apartments” but I really don’t think that does it any justice at all. It’s not a hotel either and doesn’t feel like one. Think of this place as; the pad you always wanted to have, but without any of hassle of owning.

The apartments…
Apartment 15 – where we stayed – is on the top floor of this renovated complex which climbs the valley wall and although you enter from what feels like ground level by the time you cross the lounge and step through the big glass doors to your private balcony beyond you must be five floors up above the converted church below. The world simply drops before you giving you a clear view down the valley to the coast and to Lizard Point some 17 miles away across the water.

A quiet corner of Cornwall…
This is a quiet and secluded corner of Cornwall, away from the hustle of everyday life, where you can switch off your phone ( o2 don’t seem to have gone this far anyway ), pour yourself a drink and take in your surroundings.

Like any other self-catering?…
We’ve stayed in a couple of decent self catering places and yes, they all – or most – provide a dishwasher, cooker etc. etc. but the guys at The Cove have gone just that little bit further to make sure that, from the minute you arrive, you feel comfortable and relaxed.

Honey, I asked you to bring the milk!…
When was the last time you pitched up to a place like this only to realise you’ve forgotten some vital thing you’d naturally have to hand at home and know that in the morning, on the first real day of your break, you’ll have to go out foraging… What was it? Butter, milk, bread, coffee, juice?… something for breakfast?

The extra little details…
Fear not! The Cove has thought of these things for you. The fridge is stocked with the bare essentials, there’s coffee and tea and cereal and milk and when the sunshine beams through the window on a cloudless day and reminds you that you really are here to relax the only thing you’re likely to hear is a tap on the door to let you know that your hot, fresh croissants have arrived! Bliss!!

Things to do in Lamorna…
When you’ve had your breakfast and done a few laps of the bath (*see below) what else is there to do in this far flung corner of the UK? Well plenty! The open-air Minack theatre is about 5 miles to the south, showing everything from Shakespear and Greek tragedy to the Jungle Book. Penzance is about 5 miles in the other direction, Land’s End is about 20 minutes drive away (although it is itself a bit of a waste of time) and the Eden Project is about an hour back East.

Steer clear of the Ship Inn!…
If you don’t fancy getting back in the car then there are plenty of places to explore on foot (or bike – which you can borrow from The Cove). We walked to the top of the hill and down the cliffs, working our way East to the next village – Mousehole – up the coast. A cute little place (as the name suggests) filled with art galleries and cafes and a proper-looking harbour-side pub called The Ship Inn… although I’d avoid the food there if I were you because the “Fresh, home cooked beef burger” I had still had the Tesco’s Value sticker on it!

Dining out and dining in…
When you get back to Lamorna and if you can’t be bothered to cook for yourself there is a restaurant and bar in the hotel below. Expensive, without being overpriced, and absolutely worth every penny. A fresh menu every day will keep you coming back during your stay. Beautiful fresh seafood, delicious terrines and possibly the most perfectly moist and tasty pork belly I’ve ever eaten with a big chunk of yummy crunchy crackling!

Attention to detail…
My guess is that The Cove was set up by someone who’s done their time travelling and staying in both hotels and self-catering accommodation. They’ve put some real thought into balancing the two so that when you stay there you’ll feel perfectly at ease.

The staff only seem to be staff – we saw no management about – and they’re few and far between too; there’s always someone when you need them but you don’t get any of the bored, loitering bell hops you get in ‘posh’ places like Castle Coombe. They’re polite, professional people who give you every impression they are simply there to look after you.

You have the freedom to enjoy the clean air, the clear views and your comfy, spacious apartment but you’ll still feel looked after like you were in a top class hotel.

And when you`re sitting by the pool sipping a cocktail before dinner stop for a moment, take in the sound of the stream rushing through the valley floor below you and think to yourself; is there anywhere else I’d rather be?