On our latest trip to Cornwall, we were looking for a hotel that offered a little more than bed and breakfast, and checked in to the Bedruthan Steps hotel, situated high on the cliffs between Newquay and Padstow.
Bedruthan Steps is well known for its retro vibe. The hotel is a brilliantly retro 1960s style building, and has a slightly utilitarian feel, but it’s tempered by the flat roofs, complete with thriving moss and plants. The 60s vibe continues in the lobby, which has suspended swinging chairs and swirly carpets.
The bedrooms don’t follow suit (thankfully) and are kitted out with modern decor, comfortable beds and simple fixtures and fittings. There’s no air-conditioning, which was initially surprising, but we quickly realised this is in line with the hotel’s eco-credentials. The sea view rooms have fantastic vistas over the bay below, with floor to ceiling windows, offering amazing light, and a nice bit of ventilation.
If you book a family room, there are roll down blinds in the middle of the room that offer a degree of privacy, although obviously the blind doesn’t do anything to mute sound in either direction.
The hotel prides itself on being ethical, and this doesn’t just mean there’s no air-con. There’s a massive focus on locally sourced food in all the hotel’s catering, and no orange juice unless you pay a supplement towards carbon off-setting. Apple juice is more ethically sound, apparently. You’ll also struggle to find a bible in this hotel room – instead there’s a (HUGE) copy of Leo Hickman’s Ethical Living Bible.
It’s not all old-school, mind – the hotel has decent WiFi and there are TVs and DVD players in the bedrooms.
Dining at the hotel is interesting – we found the food to be amazing, but I thought it was expensive at £31 a head for dinner (not including wine) considering the room rates are already on the high side. The service was fine, but not at a level I would expect in this sort of hotel.
For those families that return to the hotel year after year (and there are lots of them), the attraction is what the hotel offers besides food, and a place to sleep.
There are kids’ clubs for families, and a spa where we were treated to a fantastic massage, followed by a traditional Cream Tea. All spa days should end that well, I reckon. There are dance classes, cooking classes, even surf lessons on the beach below the hotel. While many activities carry a charge, there are plenty of free activities, including the on-site pool and outdoor play areas for younger guests.
Bedruthan is within easy reach of some great attractions in Cornwall, including the Eden Project and the town of Padstow, or Newquay if you’re a fan of surfing. The local beach is a 5 minute walk down steep steps, and well worth the energy it takes to make it down there and back.
Disclosure: A Sea View King family room at Bedruthan Steps costs from £260 per night in mid-season. Surfing lessons for two people cost from £75 for two hours, and spa treatments start at £24 for a VOYA seaweed back massage.
