You don’t go to The Scarlet for a simple get-away; you go to The Scarlet to completely switch off, to re-energise and find yourself again.

Don’t get me wrong, the food is amazing (most of it locally-sourced), the beds ultra-comfortable and the staff incredibly friendly, everything you’d hope for in a luxury hotel, but for me the highlight was the peace and solitude. With incredible views overlooking the beach at Mawgan Porth, plenty of carefully designed quiet nooks, a superb spa and ‘grown-ups only’ policy, it’s a place you can truly forget about the outside world.

Everything just flows. It was fully booked when we stayed but you’d never have guessed. Everyone seems to glide through the public spaces in harmony. Not once did we have to share the amazing indoor pool (which overlooks the beach) or the steam room, and in the relaxation room there are quiet corners for everyone; just close your eyes and you are instantly transported to a world where food shopping and laundry do not exist!

If you can’t escape for the night, then it’s worth noting that the hotel and spa is open to non-residents, and they do great out of season lunch and spa deals for people living in Cornwall. Mawgan Porth is one of my favourite Cornish beaches, but in the summer months it gets busy, so I’m looking forward to escaping the crowds and heading up to the peace and quiet of The Scarlet for a pot of local Tregothnan tea overlooking the sea.

Images courtesy of The Scarlet Hotel