Hotels near the Eden Project

We've hand-picked a few good hotels within easy reach of Cornwall's world-famous Eden Project.

This special feature includes hotel descriptions, photos and on-line bookings at attractive rates:

>>> Hotels near the Eden Project

"The Cornwall" - a new experience in Cornwall

The Cornwall Hotel Spa & Estate is situated a few miles from the Eden Project in South Cornwall - a few miles from the spectacular Cornish coast and close to the lovely seaside village of Mevagissey.
The Cornwall offers luxury holiday homes for sale or for a stay in this lovely part of the county of Cornwall. Includes a state-of-art spa in addition to 60 luxury architect-designed woodland holiday homes.

>>> The Cornwall - their website

>>> simplydevonandcornwall.com homepage

Fly to Devon and Cornwall from the heart of London

The South West's own airline, Air Southwest, has today launched twice-daily flights from London City Airport (the closest airport to the centre of London) to both Plymouth and Newquay.

London City Airport is like all airports should be - easy to get to, easy to use, efficient, quick and thoroughly pleasant. No queues, no crowds, and no hassle!

The new Air Southwest link makes Devon and Cornwall a really attractive short-break choice for Londoners, who can now get from the heart of the capital to the far South West in little over an hour.

>>> More info - Air Southwest

>>> Great hotels in Devon and Cornwall

>>> simplydevonandcornwall.com homepage

Best Sunday lunch in Cornwall??

In search of a bit of Sunday lunch in South East Cornwall, we tried the Smugglers Cott Restaurant in Looe. A delightful, cozy restaurant - warm and welcoming. Sunday lunch was one of the best carvery meals we've ever had. A choice of four meats (turkey, beef, lamb, pork) and a counter full of scrummy veg including delicious cauliflower cheese and lashings of hot gravy. All for about eight quid. After you've stuffed yourself, you can always take a bracing walk on Looe beach just up the road. Enjoy! (No website, but for reservations telephone 01503 262397)

Falmouth Oyster Festival 2008

Falmouth Oyster Festival, a celebration of Cornish seafood, takes place from 16th to 19th October 2008 in Events Square, Falmouth.

The festival will open with a cookery master-class with celebrity chef Sophie Grigson followed by a packed programme of cookery demonstrations by leading local chefs, oysters, seafood, wine and ale, children’s shell painting, sea shanties, town parade, live music and marquees packed with Cornish produce and crafts. The festival has broad appeal and is a must for all oyster, seafood and marine heritage enthusiasts!

>> More information on the Falmouth Oyster Festival 2008

>> Hotels in Falmouth and nearby

Camelot Castle Hotel - a great winter retreat

Camelot Castle Hotel is perched on a rugged headland just outside the village of Tintagel (the legendary birthplace of King Arthur!).

This has been one of our favourite Sunday-morning coffee spots for a while now. It's an imposing building, with amazing sea views, and a very comfortable lounge complete with inspired artwork by resident co-owner and artist Ted Sourton. The hotel is co-owned by John Mappin, an heir to the Mappin and Webb jewellery empire.

We've not stayed here yet, but we understand that the hotel has recently benefited from a significant investment in, and upgrade of, the bedrooms and bathrooms.

The Camelot Castle Hotel seems to offer very good value for money for a weekend break away from it all.

>>> Click here for more info and on-line bookings

Watergate Bay in Cornwall - a resort for all tastes and all seasons

We've posted a new page on the website covering everything there is to know about Watergate Bay in Cornwall.

Watergate Bay is a few miles east of Newquay, and has a great two-mile beach, a classy hotel, self-catering accommodation, a couple of bars, and Jamie Oliver's Fifteen Cornwall restaurant.

Click here to find out more about Watergate Bay in Cornwall

Late rates on summer breaks in Devon and Cornwall

If you've not yet booked your summer break, Devon and Cornwall offer good value this summer particularly with the exchange rate making Euro-zone destinations a less attractive choice this year.

We've hand-picked a few deals for you:

(all prices are per room per night, based on two people sharing, on selected dates only, subject to availability)

> St Rita Hotel, Plymouth, Devon - from £50.00 - click here

> Victoria Inn, near St Austell, Cornwall - from £52.50 - click here

> Cape Cornwall Golf & Country Club, near Penzance, Cornwall - from £60 - click here

> Palm Grove Hotel, Torquay, Devon - from £60.00 - click here

> Exeter Court Hotel, Exeter, Devon - from £69.00 - click here

> Atlantic House Hotel, Bude, Cornwall - from £69.00 - click here

> Hotel California, Newquay, Cornwall - from £80.00 - click here

Or for a full choice of Devon and Cornwall hotels, often with good last-minute prices - click here

http://www.simplydevonandcornwall.com/

Rip Curl Boardmasters

The countdown to Europe’s biggest surf, skate and music festival has officially begun. The Rip Curl Boardmasters in association with Relentless Energy Drink will return for a 27th year to Newquay from 4th – 10th August 2008 for its biggest event to date and an epic week of world class action sports and music.

http://www.ripcurlboardmasters.com/

http://www.simplydevonandcornwall.com/

Devon and Cornwall photos

The weather has gone a bit wet and windy in the South West today, but over the last few weekends we've had some lovely bright sunny days, and have used the opportunity to take some new photos for our photo gallery. Do have a look, and enjoy a photographic tour of Devon and Cornwall.

And if you'd like to submit your own photos for our planned Guest Gallery, click here for more information.

Beautiful Fowey

A very nice day in Fowey today. A bit grey, but mainly dry.

Coffee first at the Fowey Hall Hotel. The Fowey Hall is a rather splendid country-house style hotel with comfortable lounges and real log fires. Despite the sumptuous surroundings, coffee was actually pretty good value at £5.00 for the two of us including home made biccies, and there were plenty of papers to read too!

After coffee we parked in the car park at Readymoney Beach (an odd name for a beach!) and enjoyed a very pleasant stroll into the delightful estuary town of Fowey. Lunch at the Ship Inn (delicious homemade soup, sandwich and a sinful portion of chips). The RFA (Royal Fleet Auxilairy) ship Sir Bedivere was in port for her last visit to her "adopted" port of Fowey before retirement from the RFA in the next few days. Tenders were laid on for a trip to the ship, where we enjoyed a fascinating tour of this well-travelled vessel.

For more information on our meanderings around Devon and Cornwall visit http://www.simplydevonandcornwall.com/

A day out in North Cornwall

A beautiful day today - cold and crisp, with clear blue skies. A day out in North Cornwall seemed like a good plan.

Coffee at the slightly strange but beautifully situated Camelot Hotel, on the clifftop at Boscastle. Comfy sofas and nice coffee, with a few choccy biscuits to keep us going.

Headed back into Boscastle village, and ignored the "pay" car parks and parked on the roadside instead (it's amazing how many people don't read the plates which show it's ok to park on the roadside in winter, and pay to park in the car parks instead!). A brisk walk down the steep path to the castle ruins was rewarded with fabulous views of the rugged North Cornwall coast.

Lunch at the Mote Restaurant in the lovely (and mainly unspoilt) fishing village of Port Isaac. Devilled mackerel was delicious - not too boney.

Followed by a nice drive to Polzeath, where the surf was clean and decent, resulting in quite a few hardy surfers in the water. For our part, we stayed firmly on land but did get a bid wet playing "dodge the wave"!

Tea in Rock - thankfully quiet at this time of year - on a sunny terrace overlooking the stunning Camel Estuary. How lucky we are to have all this on our doorstep!

For photos from our day out today, and the best "insiders' guide" to Devon and Cornwall, visit our website at http://www.simplydevonandcornwall.com/