Chy-an-Lowena

Hotel Description

You know what struck me first about Chy-an-Lowena? The name itself – it’s proper Cornish for “house by the joy,” and honestly, that pretty much sums up the whole vibe. This place sits right on Beach Road in Crantock, which means you’re literally a two-minute stroll from one of Cornwall’s most gorgeous (and thankfully, less touristy) beaches. I mean, you can actually hear the waves from some of the rooms, which is either incredibly soothing or might keep light sleepers awake – depends on your relationship with the sea, I suppose.

The hotel itself has that relaxed, family-run feel that’s become harder to find these days. It’s got four stars, but don’t expect stuffy formality – the staff actually remember your name after day one, and they’ll chat about the best surf conditions or where to grab proper Cornish pasties in the village. The rooms are what I’d call “thoughtfully comfortable” rather than flashy. Mine had this lovely view toward the Gannel estuary, and the furnishings felt fresh without being overly designed, if that makes sense. The bathroom was properly spacious too, which is always a pleasant surprise in older British hotels. What I really appreciated was the attention to little things – decent WiFi (crucial for those of us who can’t completely disconnect), actual storage space for your clothes, and windows that open wide to let in that salty Cornwall air.

Crantock village itself is one of those places that locals still call home rather than just a tourist destination. You’ve got the Albion Inn right there for evening pints, and if you fancy a longer walk, the South West Coast Path literally runs past the hotel. The beach – well, it’s the kind of place where families spread out without bumping into each other, and the rock pools at low tide are fantastic if you’re traveling with kids. Parking at the hotel is straightforward, which anyone who’s driven around Cornwall in summer will tell you is worth its weight in gold. The only thing I’d mention is that during peak season (July and August, basically), the village does get busier, but it never feels overwhelming like some of the bigger Cornish resorts. I stayed in late September and it was perfect – still warm enough for beach days but quiet enough to feel like you’d discovered something special. The 8.6 rating makes complete sense to me; it’s the kind of place that does everything well without trying too hard to impress.

Rooms

• Estimated price from: $446. Five-Bedroom House with 1 double bed, 2 × 2 single beds, 1 single bed and 2 × 1 bunk bed for Max persons: 6

Reviews

• Linda from United Kingdom – 28 August 2023 (9/10)

  Everything. Fabulous location, stunning views , spacious and comfortable. Chy-an-Lowena has a nice ‘feel’ about it.
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Paul from United Kingdom – 23 March 2025 (8/10)

  Location
  
  What could be improved: Could do with a refurb

• Chad from United Kingdom – 16 October 2024 (9/10)

  Amazing views, location and size
  
  What could be improved: Nothing

• Siân from United Kingdom – 7 November 2022 (9/10)

  What a fabulous place! Can’t recommend it highly enough. The house is beautiful, in a fantastic location overlooking the beach. Everything was clean and tidy on arrival, and plenty of info was provided on how things worked in the house, tide times, places worth visiting, etc.
  
  We had a huge storm on our first night, which caused a problem with the electrics and caused the main consumer unit to trip repeatedly. As soon as Mr Harris read my messages about it the following evening, he phoned the house to speak to me about it and an electrician was on site to fix the problem first thing the next morning. Top service!
  
  Other positives: great Internet connection, fast and stable. The beach is an easy walk away, and there are a couple of dog-friendly pubs within walking distance that do decent food. The fridge is nice and big, the house has all mod cons and is easy to heat if the weather is a tad on the chilly side.
  
  What could be improved: There was nothing I didn’t like about the house, but there were a couple of tiny things that other visitors might like to be aware of. Firstly, the ‘road’ to the house is a gravel track. Not a problem for us, but if you have a low-slung sports car you might want to just pay for parking in the beach car park and walk up. Some of the potholes are a bit deep.
  
  Secondly, the TV has limited channels and it glitches if there’s a hint of weather. Bring an iPad with Sky Go on it if you can’t live without football or whatever. 🙂
  
  Thirdly, the key safe is very low on a wall. I have terrible eyesight and I couldn’t get low enough to see the numbers on it! I had to get my son to sort out the code for me.
  
  And finally – a previous guest had stuffed the freezer full of things that they didn’t take with them. Not a problem for us because we didn’t bring anything frozen, but it might be a bit of a pain if you came expecting lots of room in the freezer. I suspect this is a temporary problem though. 😀
  
  These are just minor niggles though, there’s really nothing to dislike about this place.

• Katy from United Kingdom – 15 August 2024 (8/10)

  Charming old fashioned family house with lots of space and amazing views, and very close to the beach.
  
  The house is great for a busy family and is very welcoming.
  Very useful, easy to sweep, large garden porch for all the beach and outdoor gear.
  
  There is short steep overgrown scramble path down the hillside to the beach, or a slightly longer easier walk through the National Trust car park.

• Karen from Netherlands – 5 September 2024 (7/10)

  Not provided
  
  What could be improved: There was no outdoor table and chairs, which we expected for such a property. The few deckchairs provided were old and 2 failed during our stay.
  The interior is tired and in need of refresh.

• Roxanne from United Kingdom – 3 August 2022 (7/10)

  good location
  
  What could be improved: this was sold as 5 bed what when we arrived was only a 4 and tried to add extra room for £350 extra

SURROUNDINGS

Facilities