Bedruthan Hotel & Spa

Hotel Description

Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much when I first pulled up to Bedruthan – it’s tucked away in Mawgan Porth, which most people drive right past on their way to the busier Newquay beaches. But you know what? That’s exactly what makes this place special. The hotel sits right on the clifftop, and I mean right on it – you can literally hear the waves crashing against Bedruthan Steps from your room if you’re lucky enough to snag one facing the sea.

The thing about this spot is that it’s properly Cornish without trying too hard. You’ve got these dramatic rock formations jutting out of the water (the “steps” that give the place its name), and on a clear day you can see for miles down the coast. The spa here actually makes sense – not just some afterthought in the basement, but this glass-fronted space where you can soak in the hydrotherapy pool while watching surfers tackle the waves below. I spent way too much time in there, but honestly, where else are you going to get a view like that while getting a massage?

What I really appreciated was how they’ve managed to feel upscale without being stuffy. The restaurant focuses on local seafood – and when I say local, I mean the chef was telling me about the day boats coming into nearby Padstow that morning. The crab salad was ridiculous (in the best way), and they’ve got this wine list that actually includes some decent Cornish whites. Parking’s free, which is a blessing since you’re basically in the middle of nowhere – well, beautiful nowhere. Mawgan Porth village is literally just a few houses and a surf shop, but that’s the charm. You’re a ten-minute drive from Watergate Bay if you want more action, or you can just walk down to the beach below the hotel when the tide’s right. Fair warning though – it gets busy in July and August, and the restaurant books up fast during peak season. I’d actually recommend visiting in September or October when the crowds thin out but the weather’s still decent. The 8.7 rating makes sense to me – it’s not perfect (the rooms could use USB ports, and good luck getting mobile signal in some spots), but it nails what matters: location, food, and that feeling like you’ve found somewhere genuinely special rather than just another hotel by the beach.

Facilities