Enjoy a very grown-up getaway on the Cornish coast
As our car rounds the final bend, Mawgan Porth comes into view, blinding us with its Cornish beauty. I squeeze the leg of the driver (who also happens to be my boyfriend) with a sudden surge of excitement. The Scarlet’s enviable coastal location aside, we are here to take some time out and really focus on our relationship. This isn’t a ‘make or break’ holiday or a dirty weekend away, but a couple of nights to nurture the connection between us while also checking in with ourselves. At least that’s the idea. I’m equally excited to jump in the cliff side barrel hot tub.
MAKING SUSTAINABILITY SEXY
Checking into our room, I’m drawn to the sea view which looks like an impressionist painting with its shifting shades of greys and blues. It’s hard to imagine anyone around here feeling anything less than Zen and our tense argument over that wrong turn is soon forgotten.
Eco has become such a buzzword of late, but this adults-only, luxury hotel has long been flying the flag for sustainability. You won’t find kettles or mini fridges in rooms (in order to reduce energy). Instead herbal teas will appear at your door after a quick phone call. The slippers are made from recycled plastic bottles (not that you’d know) and cloth bags are provided for us to take home our half-used bar of locally-made soap. Never has sustainability been quite so sexy. There’s no phone signal at The Scarlet which takes some getting used to, but means we soon stop refreshing Instagram and instead give our full attention to each other (and the cocktail list) over a lazy lunch.
COMPLETE RELAXATION
One of the biggest draws of The Scarlet is its spa and as part of the Love Yourself package we are being treated to a very romantic copper tub experience, followed by a solo facial. They follow a holistic approach offering ayurvedic treatments, albeit with a Cornish twist. Soon we find ourselves in a tub big enough for two and, candles lit, we take it in turns to gently buff each other’s aches and pains away.
After a heavenly facial I’m taken to the relaxation room where I’m tucked into a cocoon-like pod hanging from the ceiling. Having lost all track of time, I’m only stirred after a concerned boyfriend comes to find me. I’m glad he did because it would be a shame to waste my new luminous glow nestled away in the dark. I use my new found confidence to take a dip in the natural, reed-filtered outdoor pool. My screams pierce the air as I take the plunge – not relaxing but certainly invigorating. Thankfully a barrel hot tub provides relief and with a glass of champagne in hand, watching the sky turn pink as the sun goes down, there’s quite possibly nowhere that’s more romantic.
A lot of your time at The Scarlet will be spent wrapped up in fluffy gowns, but if there’s one thing worth getting dressed for, it’s the five-course tasting menu from head chef, Mike Francis. Forget fancy foams and silly swirls – the restaurant utilises the exquisite local produce and turns it into the likes of Cornish crab risotto and venison ragu with saffron pappardelle; comfort food at its finest.
BLISSED-OUT LUXURY
Breakfast at The Scarlet can be taken in the dining room, but as we are here for the lurrve, we decide to make the most of their breakfast-in- bed policy and tuck into sunflower seed sourdough with homemade marmalade, freshly baked croissants and spiced cauliflower fritters topped with a fried egg. The breakfast menu changes daily, which makes us want to stay for another week. Feeling guilty that we’ve missed the complimentary yoga class, we pop along to a guided meditation session later in the day, keen to prolong our blissed-out state.
In case you need any more convincing that the calming and reviving nature of the north Cornwall coast is the perfect place for a grown-up getaway, we’ve already booked it for our mini-moon.
