Bedruthan Hotel Cornwall Muddy Stilettos Cornwall June 2024 1 Dune Garden

WHAT? WHERE?

Bedruthan in Mawgan Porth, north Cornwall, plays homage to California’s modern desert houses. Perched on the cliffs overlooking the Atlantic in a small Cornish beachside village between Newquay and Padstow, this sprawling white eco-friendly hotel was first built in 1959, designed by Richard Neutra. Mid-century architecture and 50s Danish interiors, outdoor shaded terraces and a refreshing sea views means calm and airy family-friendly coastal stays.

THE VIBE?

Rare is the family-friendly hotel that genuinely offers something for all of the family, but Bedruthan might just be it. Although the view on approach from the car park isn’t the most glam, inside the building is cool and welcoming. Long and low, the building is designed to show off the sea views, and almost every window or corridor view will have you reaching for your camera. Steps and tunnels cleverly link the communal areas, bar, restaurant and the art room with the best view I know, to the spa and bedrooms. There’s plenty to keep everyone entertained but also bags of space to switch off and kick back with a drink from the bar. It’s family-friendly without feeling like a pre-school; the vibe is still grown up and sophisticated, just somewhere you can also have your little ones and no-one will mind.

view from Bedruthan Hotel Cornwall at sunset

SCOFF & QUAFF

Two restaurants, Wild Café and Ogo plus an onsite bakery and bar all operate with a low waste approach and serve locally focused menus with glorious sea views. Ogo’s menus change daily and has tables inside and out. The Wild Café is a more casual option where the menu is the same and serves food all day.

view from table at Ogo restaurant Bedruthan Hotel Cornwall

Breakfast is a buffet in The Wild Café with something to please even the fussiest eaters, serving everything you could think of, from meat and cheese to filled croissants, smoothies to homemade granola and local yogurt, cereals, toast and buns. Cooked options are also available for a supplement.

breakfast wild cafe Bedruthan Hotel Cornwall

Afternoon tea is served in the Wild Café looking out over the beach, and is a sweet-treat delight to which you can add local fizz. Book dinner early and you can have kids high tea – with highchairs, kids cutlery and all – or eat later and there is still a children’s menu. It’s not the quickest service but it is a crowd-pleasing menu with options for all. We ate mackerel tacos and a veggie curry; my kids enjoyed burgers and sausages and mash (a little plain for adventurous eaters but just right if yours aren’t, and we’ve all been there!).

PILLOW TALK

interior with sea view meadow villa Bedruthan Hotel Cornwall

Rooms to suit everyone at Bedruthan – we were in a sea view villa, above, with a private-ish terrace that led directly out to the play area, and loungers so we could sit with a drink in the sun and watch the kids play. You can also access the path to the beach from the garden. The room has a separate bunk bed area and then larger room with a king sized bed. Initially it feels a little long and thin but over the course of the stay it really grew on me; natural cork wall details frame the bed, adding textural details and the colour palette is neutral and calming with pops of colour.

sea view suite at Bedruthan Hotel Cornwall

The room itself is pretty sparse, in a good way, with a wooden floor, a fridge, desk and wardrobe handy for longer stays. A large and luxe bathroom is all bronze and moody with a huge shower and their own Oula toiletries. Towels are white and fluffy, robes are provided for adults and there’s a lovely sea view from the sliding doors by the bed. As you’d expect, the huge TV is set up so you can cast content to watch direct from your phone. The longer we stayed, the longer I wanted to stay.

SPA

women being doused by ice bucket at Bedruthan Hotel Cornwall

It is usually adults only in the Sensory Spa Garden which is by the outdoor pool – although in the school holidays there are selected family sessions. Follow a pre-set pattern which involves scrubs, a sauna and a lovely hot tub, followed by more scrubs and then a hot foot soak by the fire to finish. I heard 11 different birds singing during my hot tub session. You can book in a group but I was solo and enjoyed the peace and quiet first thing on Sunday morning – it was super relaxing.

(Adult) guests also have access to the onsite indoor spa facilities with a large hydro-pool – which gets the sunset just FYI – plus steam room and sauna. There are sports facilities, and a daily complimentary wellbeing class, and everyone can use the indoor and outdoor pool (child free slots are first and last thing every day).

KID-FRIENDLY?

Yes! And more yes! Family activities include kids clubs, evening entertainment and family sensory spa garden in the school holidays, a play creche for guests and access to the soft play, cinema and play room, plus daily craft sessions.

interior at wild cafe Bedruthan Hotel Cornwall

Non-residents can book kids crafty parties, visit Create Cornwall with their on site shop and pre-book to join in the daily craft sessions in the sea facing art room. We tried Lino printing one day and screen printing the next, inspired by the cliff view to do a little landscape. The staff will give as much or as little guidance as you need and it was really fun to work alongside the kids creating something to take home.

OUT & ABOUT

There’s a lovely garden to sit in and explore, and then the sandy beach of Mawgan Porth is just below the hotel (you’ll have to walk past Cate Blanchett’s new pad plus the house used as Miles and Lucy’s place in Playing Nice to reach the beach steps). It’s a gentle five minutes down and slightly longer back up, but once you’re down there it is sand for days when the tide is out.

King Surf run surfing lessons and there’s a few little shops like Married to the Sea to pootle in, plus Catch (fish restaurant) and a chippie. The South West Coast Path goes past the door – walk north to Bedruthan Steps for the Carnewas tea rooms (National Trust) or south towards Newquay. Whichever way you choose you’ll be rewarded with glorious views.

Mawgan Porth is handily placed for Newquay and Watergate Bay where you’ve more sandy surfing beaches. The towns of Newquay, Padstow and Wadebridge are all within easy reach, where there are many places to eat plus galleries and things to do – check out my guide to Newquay here.

The nearest airport and railway station are at Newquay, and an easy taxi ride away (it’s Cornwall though, so pre-book). If you are driving, Mawgan Porth is not far off the A39 and there’s plenty of parking at the hotel.

DOG-FRIENDLY?

Various – but not all – rooms are dog-friendly, accepting small to medium dogs at £20 per night. Includes use of dog bed, towel and two bowls. Mawgan Porth beach is accessible on foot from the hotel and is dog-friendly year round. Dogs are welcome at some tables in the Ogo restaurant and The Wild Café and a dedicated dog menu is available for ordering through room service.

ACCESSIBILITY

Bedruthan is on a sloping clifftop which can affect access, nonetheless, there is a dedicated accessible sea view bedroom that sleeps six (King bed, bunk room & twin room). Other rooms are accessible via a lift which can also be used to access most of the communal areas except the spa and garden rooms. Step-free ramped access to Ogo can be arranged.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

A much-loved and long-time favourite with families for Cornish holidays as well as for locals having a night off, or weekend away with the kids. It holds the accolade of being my children’s favourite; while exceedingly family-friendly it also manages to feel grown-up, which for them, and us, is a winning combo.

Good for: Families, obvs, but it is also very welcoming for groups of friends. Particularly good for inter-generational holidays or for families where there are both younger and older kids, especially where creativity is welcome, as there is plenty to do to keep everyone happy.

Not for: The beauty of Mawgan Porth is that is quiet, so if you’re after walking distance from a town, this might not be for you. Even when busy it doesn’t feel overrun with children, but if you’re after a kid-free special occasion, look at sister hotel The Scarlet set just below.

The damage: Children go free when you book your family break, from £220 per night. 2-night minimum over weekends & Easter, 4-night minimum during October half term – excludes Festive period, May half term, July & August.

Bedruthan Hotel and Spa, Mawgan Porth, Newquay, TR8 4BU

Review: Bedruthan Hotel, Mawgan Porth, Newquay, Cornwall

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