The Loft Review by Interiors Specialist Helen Powell
Award winning interiors writer and stylist Helen of @designhunter_uk has written a beautiful review of our self-catering apartment The Loft, read on to hear her thoughts on a weekend stay and be whisked away by her beautiful photography.
We always love to try to escape for a few days in February. It feels like a turning point in the year – still technically winter but with Spring within touching distance. And it feels especially good when you have the chance to spend a few days at the coast out of season when the beaches are less crowded and most other people are still at work. So a couple of weeks ago we headed down to Cornwall and spent a long weekend at The Loft, a lovely hillside retreat overlooking the beach at Mawgan Porth.
THE INTERIORS
The first thing that hit you is the beautiful natural light that floods the apartment. There are lots of windows and skylights and from its elevated hillside position it has great sea views. It’s also a lot bigger than we were expecting – it feels really spacious. There’s a large open plan kitchen dining area and a comfy lounge with lots of sofas to spread out on. And of course there are also all the conveniences you’d expect from a modern luxury holiday apartment – wifi, a nesprosso machine and a large TV.
The decor is a mix of neutrals, soft pastels and pale wooden flooring, with midcentury and upcycled pieces sitting alongside more contemporary furniture. The result is a relaxed vibe with lots of little luxury touches that will instantly make you feel at home – from soft, fluffy bathrobes to Neal’s Yard toiletries.
There are two bedrooms – a large master bedroom and a slightly smaller twin.Everything about the place feels so light and spacious. The en suite in the master bedroom (there’s also a larger family bathroom). Lots of inspiration for our bathroom makeover here. Isn’t that little mirror cute?
THE LOCATION
It’s no accident that a number of luxury hotels have clustered around this part of Cornwall in recent years – The Scarlet is nearby as is the Watergate Bay and there are lots of good restaurants in the area too. It’s a stunning stretch of coastline and just a short taxi ride from the airport, giving you the option of flying as an alternative to driving, which makes it more easily accessible for a quick weekend trip. 
A HAVEN FOR FOODIES
A welcome hamper with the most amazing home made flapjacks and lemon drizzle cake plus a bottle of prosecco and some other ‘essential’ provisions greeted us when we arrived. We’d originally planned to head out for dinner that evening but after a long drive we quickly settled in and found ourselves so comfortable that we just couldn’t bring ourselves to move. So we raided the welcome hamper and feasted on scrambled eggs on toast and prosecco instead.
In the past we’ve sometimes stayed in holiday homes with kitchens that were equipped to only the most basic of standards but The Loft comes fully equipped with everything you could possibly need for cooking even the most elaborate of meals. There’s a Smeg fridge, a big range cooker, and ample cookware and tableware for entertaining, plus a range of store cupboard ingredients guests can make use of.
If you don’t feel like cooking for yourself however, you can always opt to have breakfast at the B&B instead. In fact you really should – the veggie breakfast with honey roast halloumi and home made baked beans was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. There are also lots of other options to choose from – from the healthy to the more indulgent, including chia pudding, waffles, french toast, homemade granola and a really good green juice. Kate and Oz are clearly passionate about good food and use organic and locally sourced produce where possible, making this place worth seeking out on the strength of the breakfasts alone!
IN ROOM TREATMENTS
Guests staying at the The Loft and The Lodge can also book an in room treatment. Janey of Maya Holistic is available for a wide range of treatments including Reflexology, Aromatherapy and Indian Head Massage. She works only with certified organic products and she’s pretty amazing. I booked in for a hot poultice massage – a wonderfully relaxing treatment in which a Thai herbal compress is heated in steamer to allow the oils and aromas of the herbs to be released. This is then applied during the treatment to warm the muscles, release tension and ease aches and pains. It’s a wonderfully relaxing and soothing treatment and one I’d definitely recommend. It’s great as a skin conditioning treatment too – my skin felt incredibly soft and cleansed afterwards.
OUT & ABOUT
We spent lots of time on the beach at Mawgan Porth (perfect for dogs and dog friendly all year round) and walked along the coastal path to Bedruthan Steps – a beautiful and dramatic beach dotted with huge slate outcrops.
Of course the area is famed for its surfing – Kate and Oz will happily recommend local surf schools if this is something you fancy trying out. Or for foodies Rick Stein’s cookery school is nearby at Padstow.
It’s such a lovely stretch of coast that you could happily spend your time just exploring locally rather than venturing too far afield. Padstow and Newquay are just a short drive away if you need to pick up provisions (there’s a good small local shop in Mawgan Porth itself too). We came home laden with Cornish cheese and other local goodies which we bought from local suppliers.
The Loft is ideal for couples but would also more than comfortably accommodate a family of four. Do check out the neighbouring property The Lodge (which has a hot tub and a wood burner) too. All in all it’s the perfect destination for a getting away from it all break, with the option to be as lazy or as active as you please.
The Lodge and The Loft, Mawgan Porth, Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 4AL. From £160 per night (minimum two night stay).
More information and booking at www.thelodgeandtheloft.co.uk
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With thanks to Kate and Oz for hosting us and making us so welcome. As always we only feature destinations we genuinely love and would happily recommend.
