The Bite Magazine - Summer 2019 - Issue 25

bite travel I f you wish to get away from the hustle and bustle of life for a season but don’t wish to get on a plane to do so, Cornwall is a delightful place to spend your holiday. It’s near the sea and usually, in the summer, it has good weather. The Idle Rocks and St Mawes Hotel are two charming, luxury boutique hotels that sit on the harbour-front of the picturesque, cobble-stoned fishing port of Mawes. The Idle Rocks features 19 bedrooms and an award-winning res- taurant with outdoor decking that overlooks the bay, led by Chef Guy Owens. You’ll be delighted by the interior which reflects the relaxed and friendly attitude of the village with colourful and comfortable furnishings as well as unobstructed views of the Fal estuary. At low tide, you’ll see a sandy beach revealed at the base of the hotel. St Mawes Hotel has seven bedrooms, with each one individually designed to optimise natural light with the furnishing, and many of them by local artisans. The Upper Deck Dining restaurant and the Lower Deck Bar are informal places to get a bite to eat with fresh, local produce, fish and other supplies being the focus that is at the heart of the hotels’ food philosophy ‘from the heart, from the hearth’. This is in addition to their ethos of supporting local businesses in the community and reducing food waste. Guests at these hotels will also have the opportunity to ‘fish for their supper’ with the traditional Cornish activity of mackerel fishing combined with new experiences such as collection oysters or diving for scallops. Whatever is caught by guests will be fully prepared and cooked by the chef in the comfort of the hotel later that day. There are plenty of activities suitable for families, cou- ples to solo escapes in this wonderful area of St. Mawes including coastal walks and beaches that line the scenic Roseland Peninsula surrounding the village. Some will be pleased to know that the bay is sheltered and a great place to learn or practice stand up paddle boarding or take sail- ing lessons around the present fortress of St Mawes Castle built by Henry VIII. If you feel like having an evening in, head to the Hidden Cinema at St Mawes Hotel and enjoy classic films. Or you can take a short ferry ride to Falmouth, which is just across the bay. Both hotels can be reached via Truro Train Station, Cornwall Newquay or by road. https://idlerocks.com https://www.stmaweshotel.com The Idle Rocks and St Mawes Hotel, Cornwall Images courtesy of Ann Scott Associates