Welcome to the Cornwall Tourism Magazine - Review on the Meudon Hotel at Bream Cove, Mawnan Smith, Nr Falmouth.

 

 

 

 

The Meudon Hotel - Where heaven comes down to the Earth.

 

As you may appreciate, we get asked to review a lot of hotels in Cornwall. It is after all one of England's most beautiful Counties and it has an abundance of really lovely hotels of all shapes and sizes spread both along the coast as well as the inland areas. Some are large and others much smaller and of course, every hotel is different. Despite there being so many hotels in Cornwall, some really stand out for their location, their accommodation and for other reasons, but occasionally we come across one that offers something so special and unique that we just have to write about it. One of these is the Meudon Hotel and we recommend you read this review as this hotel is totally unique.

 

Special, unique and hidden away in a quite part of Cornwall....

 

The Meudon Hotel in Bream Cove, Mawnan Smith, near Falmouth, offers something that is in a completely different league to any other hotel you will find in Cornwall. A real family run hotel, the Meudon Hotel sits on 8 - 1/2 acres of its own wooded valley and also has its own private beach, Beam Cove. That alone makes it very special, but in addition to that it has the most spectacular gardens you will ever see. It truly is like the Garden of Eden. Add to that a sunning location by the coast, its 29 room accommodation, an equally stunning restaurant and menu, staff that will provide for your every whim and a level of relaxation, serenity and tranquility that is beyond anything you can ever imagine and you can begin to understand why we think heaven really has come down to Cornwall.

 

The Meudon Hotel's history - Its a family affair.

 

The Meudon Hotel is a genuine family affair. Run by the Pilgrim family, the Meudon Hotel is one of four that they have run in the Mawnan Smith area since 1929. These being the Budock Vean Hotel in 1929, Nansidwell Hotel in 1938, Trelawne Hotel in 1955 and the Meudon Hotel since 1966. As you can see they have a long and distinguished heritage with providing luxury accommodation for their guests in Cornwall and the current generation has created a truly special environment that offers all guests their own slice of heaven. And make no mistake, these people know exactly what they are doing and are very good at what they do and what they are offering you. And what they are offering is something very exceptional indeed.

 

The main house.

 

The main house was originally built in 1814 by Robert Were Fox for his new wife Maria Barclay of Barclays bank fame. It was then a family home owned by different people over the years until it was purchased by the current Mr Pilgrim senior who converted into a hotel in 1966. This involved a complete restoration on the main 19th Century house and the building of a new wing which is the main accommodation section today. All the hotel's rooms were designed as en-suite which was, in 1966, unheard off so Mr Pilgrim senior pioneered the hotel en-suite bathroom which we all take for granted today.

 

The new wing.

 

In addition to restoring the main house and adding the new wing, they also restored the gardens to their former glory and created some new areas and terraces to compliment the new buildings and extend the gardens appeal. The stunning gardens, which are described in another section below, are set in a wooded valley rich in fine trees and shrubs, and were created in 1815 by the famous garden architect Robert Were Fox. Since then and certainly after the new wing was built in 1966, the garden has been fully restored, added to and faithfully maintained to provide one of the best gardens you will find anywhere in the world. And with its rare and exotic plants and layout, it really is like the Garden of Eden.

 

Its all in the name.....

 

In terms of location, Mawnan Smith, where the Meudon Hotel is located, is a lovely quite area to the south of Falmouth, which is around 20 minutes away. The area has a strong historical connection to the Napoleonic Wars in the late 18th and early 19th Century's as indeed does the hotel. The name Meudon came from the word " Mewden " which is a Cornish name for the farm that was originally there and dated back some 200 years. The adjusted name of Meudon actually came from the French prisoners of war who were working on the farm in the late 18th century before the main house was built. As was very common practice in those days, prisoners of war were made to work on the land and Mewden farm was one of the farms that they were sent to, however, the French prisoners found the word " Meudon " easier to pronounce than " Mewdon ". Now although it sounds exactly the same to us, to the French prisoners the pronunciation of " W " has a different emphasis and different sound, so their version gained prominence and in an ironic twist of fate, the name Meudon was born. And the rest is history. 

 

So why we are recommending the Meudon Hotel to you?....

 

To a lot of people, a hotel is just a place you stay and dine in. You have certain expectations of how the rooms should be and the service provided by the staff, and of course the food, but in essence, we tend to think of hotels as a building we sleep in. Now if that is how you see hotels then you are definitely spoilt for choice in Cornwall because there are an abundance of cheap ones that will give you exactly that. However, if you are looking for something a little more discerning and special; something that offers you significantly more than just a room to stay in during your holiday or long weekend break, then the list of available hotels in Cornwall is surprisingly small. There are just a handful that really stand out, but the reason we are recommending the Meudon Hotel to you is because it stands out amongst them like a shining beacon in a sea of darkness. Put simply, there is no other hotel in Cornwall that can offer you what they can for the price so if you are looking for something different and special, read on because all is revealed below.

 

Why location is everything.....

 

To fully appreciate why it so special you have to look at all the elements that make an outstanding hotel. The first is the location. Some people like hotels in the centre of a bustling town or city whilst others prefer the quietness and serenity of a hotel out in the countryside away from the madding crowd. Now whilst there is absolutely nothing wrong with being in the middle of the countryside, if you are coming to Cornwall it is because you want to see the stunning coastline and the sea, so having a hotel in a quite location that is also on the coast and has its own private beach is something really special. But the Meudon is so much more than just a hotel with its own private sandy beach.

 

 

Would you like a garden with your hotel Sir?......

 

Then there is the landscape the hotel is located in. There are a few hotels in Cornwall located by the coast, usually on cliffs and headlands and whilst the views are stunning, they are usually in an environment devoid of trees and foliage simply because on a coastal headland, the wind makes it almost impossible for trees and larger shrubs and plants to grow. With the Meudon Hotel, things are very, very different. It is located right by the coast in a gorgeous wooded valley and they have their own historic fully landscaped valley garden that was created by Robert Were Fox, who also built the original house, and is who is also renowned for other historic gardens in the area.

 

Nothing compares to you.....

 

This makes the Meudon Hotel totally unique, so not only do you get your own private beach, you also get the stunning views and a garden that Kew Gardens would be proud to own. There is a separate section on the garden below, but nothing can compare you for when you first experience the garden at Meudon. It has multiple level terraces, lovely lawned areas and an almost endless parade of exotic shrubs, plants and trees that were specifically imported by Were Fox just for his garden. Indeed, some guests actually go there just to spend the whole of their stay sitting out in the garden. It really is that good, whatever the weather.

 

 

A view to die for.....

 

The next element is the building itself. There are many very old hotels and many newer ones in Cornwall, but what makes the Meudon so special is it's marriage of early 19th Century Country Mansion House and a contemporary styled newer wing that forms the main accommodation section and moves the bedrooms out into the garden. As you will read elsewhere, the property was converted into a hotel in 1966 when the new accommodation area was built. But if you are thinking of a horrible drab 1960's concrete monolith, think again because the main accommodation section blends in perfectly with the older part of the house and the gardens and actually compliments the main house's architecture giving it all a totally natural and organic feel. In the main accommodation section all the rooms look out onto the garden and in the end " T " section, they also look out towards the sea and the coastal region so every room really does have a view to die for.

 

They are all so very accommodating.....

 

The accommodation itself is very stylish and has very comfortable beds, a mixture of contemporary and traditional styling and decor and all rooms are en-suite. In fact, the creator of the Meudon Hotel, Mr Pilgrim senior, was the pioneer of en-suite accommodation in Cornwall and the Meudon Hotel was the very first one to have them back in the 60's so you are also stepping into some very relevant hotel history. You have a choice of rooms with either a double bed or two singles and there are also executive rooms and suites, most with balconies and some with direct garden access. In the main house there is a very romantic four poster bedroom which takes you back to a forgotten age where quality and style were the main priorities in life. And this is the theme that flows throughout the Meudon.

 

 

Heart and soul.....

 

It offers very high quality accommodation at very good prices and when you throw in the location, the garden and the private beach, there is nothing else in Cornwall or anywhere else for that matter, that compares with the Meudon Hotel. But a hotel is not just about the sum of its various parts and elements. To be really special it also needs a heart and a soul and the Meudon has more heart and soul than you can shake a big stick at. You feel its history and heritage oozing from the buildings fabric like a slight sea mist, but it is also the hosts and the staff that add the icing to the hotel characters cake.

 

Its all about the people.....

 

So many hotels are just cold empty buildings. Yes they serve their function and purpose but somehow there is a lifeless quality about them that makes them just a touch too clinical and detached. This is actually down to the people who own them and staff who work in them more than anything else and so many people who own and work in hotels treat it just as a job or cash cow and do just the bare minimum required to satisfy their guests needs which comes across no matter how much they try to hide it. They are also just like hotels, i.e. they feel like a commercial enterprise, however, at the Meudon, things are very different. Instead of being like a normal hotel, it feels as though the hosts have invited you into their home, which in reality they have, and as such, you actually feel part of it rather than just a paying guest.

 

Dynamic personalities....

 

What makes it so different is the personalities of the hosts, Mark and Gaye who as brother and sister, share their hearts and passion for their hotel in ways you have ever experienced before. Their personalities are huge and generous, very honest and also slightly self-effacing which makes them so likeable and you warm to them instantly. They are not the over-the-top hotel owners that you usually find though. They are real people who have the same feelings and vulnerabilities as the rest of us and they both wear their hearts on their sleeves so they share their passion for their hotel, their guests and their interest in your enjoyment and complete satisfaction in a very different way to what you will be used to. They are not detached or aloof from the guest as you find in most hotels, they really do care that you are enjoying your stay with them and they willingly interact with you and you will quickly see that this comes straight from their hearts.

 

Hey, it's an adventure....

 

To them a stay at their hotel is an adventure and they want you to experience all of what they offer and for your stay to to be as perfect and as memorable as possible so they do everything they can to ensure you enjoy your time with them. And that is what they are really about. You see, when you visit the Meudon Hotel, you are not just going to another hotel, you are entering a different world where your enjoyment is paramount and you really can let yourself go and feel all the stresses of life quickly flowing away from you almost as soon as you get there. For example, they will tell you the vest best time to go down to the beach to see the Dolphins that swim in the cove right up to the beach. They will also tell you the very best places to sit in the garden so that you can enjoy it's beauty without being burned by the sun. Little things maybe, but this is what makes them so special and why a stay at the Meudon is so desirable.

 

 

And then there are the staff.....

 

The staff are just as good at the hosts and most have been there for many years. In fact the staff turnover is virtually non-existent, but don't for one second imagine that you will find staff stuck back in the past because you won't. What you will find are a team of people that are just as passionate and enthusiastic as Mark and Gaye and in many ways even more so, who work together with a flow that is very rare. They never need to be told what to do because they simply just know and they have an uncanny ability to read your mind and know exactly what you want, when you want it. They are also very friendly and love to engage in conversation with you and can tell you everything you ever need to know about the hotel and the local area. So they are both an asset and a resource and an integral element of your stay and overall experience.

 

Are they really psychic?....

 

They are always there ready to help and assist you but in a very subtle way, not in your face. More than a few times they seemed to just appear when we were thinking about asking for something which is exactly how it should be. And they all work together so very well. This is no autocratic working environment. Mark and Gaye work with their staff because they recognised that they are just as important to the running of the hotel as they are themselves, so it is a constantly evolving environment that makes it very exciting to both visit and work in. And I think that is their real secret. The staff are both individuals and also a single entity who work together and what this does is give you a truly unique and memorable experience when you stay with them. They also remember you from your past visits, are all unique characters in their own right and are also great fun. You never, ever get the feeling it is just a job to them, instead you see very quickly that they all take full ownership of their roles and their enthusiasm for the hotel and your stay flows from them in huge waves.

 

Food for thought.....

 

And the last ingredient ( excuse the pun ) that makes the difference between a good hotel and an exceptional one is the food. So many hotels are let down by their food. Their menus are uninventive, the quality is sometimes well below par because they work on the principal that as you are staying with them, they already have your money so the can afford to give you mediocre food and they generally purchase the cheapest provisions so they can add to their profit margins. You will never, ever find this happening at the Meudon Hotel. Profit margins will never come before quality at the Meudon because they simply will not compromise on what they offer their guest. They offer a complete package and the food is just as important to them as the rooms you stay in and the levels of service they give you. The fact that the food is very popular with the locals who come and dine there, especially on Sunday lunch times, shows just how good their restaurant is.

 

When only the best is good enough....

 

It isn't just that though. Mark and Gaye would never expect you to eat food that they would not eat themselves and as their standards are very high, you can be assured that the food they serve is well above average in every way. Their Chef is a quite, unassuming man, not known for throwing tantrums, but he is known for great quality and every dish is cooked to perfection and just the way you want it. Their menu is always stunning and they only ever purchase the best possible ingredients, mostly from local producers wherever possible to keep the area sustainable. They are also very inventive and you will understand why their restaurant is so very popular as soon as you sample your first dish and feel the food melt in your mouth. So whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner, you are in for a seriously sensual taste bud experience.

 

The dining room....

 

Along with exceptional food, you also get to dine in the large dining room that looks out across the garden. It has large full glass windows that are also opened when it is hot and this gives you an almost Alfresco dining experience. Even on a wet and windy day, the views out across the garden and the coast are just as stunning and many local people dine there just for the views, and of course the gorgeous food. You can also dine outside in true Alfresco tradition if you want to and if there is not a suitable table in the location you want, they will put one out for you and believe me, there is nothing quite like dining outside in the garden on a summers evening with a lovely glass of wine as the suns golden rays spread across the shrubs and lawned areas.

 

 

Lounge lizards.....

 

The main house has a lovely large lounge were you can sit on the numerous armchairs and sofas and chat with other guest or simply relax with a nice drink. Being part of the original 19th Century house, it is full of period features and offers a highly relaxing environment. The bar is just off the lounge so a fresh drink is just a second or two away and it also has a large open fireplace so if you visit during the winter months as a lot of people do, you can also sit in front of a large blazing fire. As you would also expect, they have an extensive wine cellar along with a very good selection of spirits and other drinks and a good supply of Cognac and on the subject of wines, Mark is a very sophisticated wine connoisseur and always purchases spectacular wines so whatever your preferred wine is, they will always have something very special for you to drink.

 

Cottage industry.

 

In addition to the hotel rooms, you can also rent Meudon Cottage which is the former Head Gardeners Cottage, on a self-catering basis. It is located away from the main house and accommodation wing and sits in its own garden. It is a two story cottage, very nicely decorated throughout and comprises of two bedrooms, a double and a second twin bedroom, both of which are located upstairs, with space for an extra bed or cot. On the ground floor there is a modern kitchen - breakfast room, a large family bathroom with bath and shower and large lounge for chilling out in. Meudon Cottage is rented by the week from Saturday to Saturday and provides something very different to the normal Cornish holiday cottage because not only do you also have full access to gardens and the private beach, you can also dine in the hotel's restaurant and you are well away form the main hotel so your stay there will be completely uninterrupted and totally relaxing.

 

The price for freedom....

 

The cost of renting Meudon Cottage is not as high as you may think though and actually compares very well to other holiday cottages not in such a stunning location. The rental charges range from £490.00 per week in the low-season ( 4 Feb –31 Mar, 3 Nov – 22 Dec ) to £630.00 a week in the mid-season ( 31 Mar – 28 Apr, 29 Sep – 3 Nov  ) through to £770.00 a week in the high-season (  28 Apr – 29 Sep ). Compare those prices with other holiday cottages in Cornwall and you will see just how reasonable they are, but given that the cottage is located in a quite area away from the main buildings and right in the middle of the garden and offers a very good standard of accommodation, these prices are actually a lot more than just reasonable, they are excellent value for money. But the holiday cottage is also very popular so make sure you book it well in advance to avoid any disappointment.

 

So what is the cost of such beauty?......

 

Now having read this far, you may be thinking that the cost of a stay at the Meudon is going to involve the removal of one of your arms or legs, however, you would be very wrong because it is in fact a high-end hotel with mid-range pricing. This means staying there is very, very affordable and when you consider what you are getting, it actually represents extremely good value for money. So how do their prices work out?.....They charge by the person, per night and in the low-season ( 1 Feb – 31 March, 1 Nov – 21 Dec  ) the cost is £69.00 per person, per night including breakfast. In the mid-season ( 1 Apr – 30 Apr, 1 Oct – 31 Oct ) the cost is £84.00 per person per night, again these are bed and breakfast prices and in the high-season, ( 1 May – 30 Sep  ) the cost is £99.00 per person, per night.

 

Executive and suite.....

 

These prices are for the standard rooms and they also do a room only rate without the breakfast as well at lower prices, however, as the breakfast is seriously good, we don't really see why you would want to forgo that. Their executive rooms which are larger and at the end of the main accommodation wing have windows on three sides and are charged at an extra £48.00 per room per night, whilst the suites which include a lounge, balcony or patio ( with direct access to the garden ) are an additional £100.00 per room per night and these are very popular. They also offer other packages including stay for 7 nights and only pay for 6 as well as special packages at Christmas and other times. As mentioned elsewhere you can also bring your dog and they are charged at an additional £10.00 per night, all year round, excluding their food of course. So what you have to consider is, do you want to pay these or similar prices for a stay in a regular, mediocre hotel, or do you want stay in a stunning location that offers you things you will find no where else?.....We cannot answer that question for you, but we know exactly where we would be booking and the " m " in our choice doesn't stand for mediocre.

 

Your own private beach.

 

And then there is the private breach. Finding a hotel in Cornwall with its own private beach is extremely rare at the best of times but when you find a beach as beautiful as the one owned by the Meudon Hotel, you will feel truly blessed. It is a smallish beach with lovely white sand and large splashes of rocks spread across a beautifully quite little cove that offers stunning views across the sea. You can look out to the open sea and also see the Roseland Peninsular and off to the north west, Falmouth Harbour and St Mawes. The sea is a lovely deep blue, the water very clear and it is very safe for swimming as well as catching the sun, which shines on the beach all day long. It is also near the Coastal Path and surrounded by National Trust land so you can walk around the beautiful area and surroundings and explore or just sit on the beach and catch the sun.

 

It's hypnotic....

 

At low tide the sandy area is extended and with its quiet, tranquil ambiance, you can while away the hours reading a book and drinking a lovely chilled bottle of white wine or simply take in the whole vista and instantly relax and de-stress. Words really cannot describe the beautiful qualities that Bream Cove offers you and just sitting there watching the waves gently kissing the white sand will quickly relax your mind and body. It is all so hypnotic and serene and time really does stand still. And if you are there for just a couple of hours or all day, it doesn't really matter because you are on holiday and you are experiencing something very different to anything else in Cornwall.

 

There be Dolphins....

 

The beach is surrounded by gentle green hills that come right down to the sand and the cove it is very sheltered so even if the sea is throwing up big waves, it still offers a gorgeous environment. Besides, a troubled sea has its own special beauty and we can think of no other place in Cornwall where you can feel and watch the full force of natures glory whilst being perfectly safe. And talking of nature, you may also be lucky and see the school of Dolphins that frequents the cove on regular days ( ask Mark and Gaye or the staff for the best times to see them ) as well as the occasional Seal who swims past and stops to look at you. But the Dolphins are the real event and you can watch them gracefully moving through the water as they come up to have a look at you and then you can decide who is the more curious. Them or you. Now you simply cannot get anything more magical than that and whilst Cornwall is blessed with many beautiful beaches, very few compare with Bream Cove. Below are some images of the beach.

 

Getting to the beach - walking through Eden

 

Even the pathway to the private beach is an adventure as you walk down through the valley and the lower part of the garden and see the exotic plants and trees before you reach the gate area and look out onto the sea. The beach is then reached through the wooden gate and down a slipway. And when, at the end of your visit to the beach you walk back up to the hotel, you can take a different path that takes you right through the garden. Now although you do have to climb up a hill, the ground is not as steep as you think, but if you do need to stop and rest, there are plenty of plants and shrubs to attract your attention along the way. And of course, there is the scrumptious menu awaiting you along with a lovely glass of wine to refresh you when you reach the hotel. In fact, why not sit out in the garden and enjoy the late afternoon sun with your wine?......You see that is the beauty of the Meudon Hotel. You can do whatever you want and whether is relaxing in the garden or sitting in the lounge or taking in the view in the sunroom with its large sliding windows, everything is heavenly and is designed to totally relax you in a way other hotels simply can't.

 

 

Welcome to the Garden of Eden....

 

What really sets the Meudon Hotel apart from every other hotel in Cornwall, or the UK for that matter, is their sub-tropical garden. Nothing can prepare you for the the vision you will see when you first walk out into it. It is full of stunning design features, exotic plants and shrubs, water features, lawned areas, little places to sit and pathways that you just have to explore. It was first created in 1815 by Robert Were Fox Junior (1789-1877), when he built the house for his new wife. Robert Were Fox was a wealthy Cornishman who's family owned the foundry at Perranarworthal along with Ship brokerages and many other business interest.

 

The temperature is rising....

 

He is also known for his work on mapping the temperature of the earth, including discovering that the earth's temperature increases as you went deeper in the ground and he did a lot of related work in the Cornish Tin Mines to prove his theories. He is also equally well known for inventing and constructing a sea compass that measures the magnetic dip when navigating at sea. As sea based navigation is based on magnetic bearings, this compass significantly reduced the errors which in some cases could take you right past a small island, etc, and in its day, it was as important an invention as the current GPS positioning system.

 

Botanical excellence....

 

He also had a very strong Botanical interest and created a number of garden in the Falmouth area such as in Penjerrick and Rosehill, both of which can be visited and are open to the public. However, the garden at the Meudon Hotel was for his own use and for that reason, it is doubly spectacular. Rather than being laid out as a formal garden where people are directed to walk in specific areas as in the other gardens, his own was built to be a working, living garden, therefore you can walk amongst the foliage and feel the garden rather than just look at it. Yes there are formal pathways, but rather than direct you away from things, they actually take you in and through the garden and there are also lawned areas where you can actually walk amongst the foliage which makes you actually feel a part of the garden rather than just a spectator.

 

A garden for all seasons....

 

Having a huge number of exotic plants and shrubs means the garden constantly evolves throughout the seasons so what you see in Spring completely changes in Summer and again in Autumn and is again completely different in Winter; only instead of seeing a colourless skeletal garden in Winter with no greenery, what you get in an explosion of colours that takes you completely by surprise. It is as though you are in a different country. Autumn brings its own magic to the garden where the mixture of Autumn hues is mixed in with the vibrant greens of the trees and shrubs and reds and purples of the leaves and encourages you to walk amongst it.

 

Bring on the Summer....

 

But the best season by far has to be Summer where the garden comes alive and everything comes out in its full glory which provides the wonderfully relaxing environment that permeates the whole of the Meudon Hotel. The very fact that the building and accommodation sections take you right into the garden only adds to the experience and feeling that you are at one with it. And indeed you are. You can sit out in the garden early in the morning and drink some coffee or even have breakfast. You can walk around it at any time of the day or night as they have lamps, and experience its unique beauty or sit out during the day and catch the sun or sit in the shade whilst reading or just taking it all in. And that is what makes it so special, you can do whatever you want in it, whenever you want and everyday offers something new. We could very easily write a whole book on the garden but it is the visual experience that makes it what it is so we will let some images do the talking for us in the garden image section below.

 

So what are you really getting for your money?......

 

As you may have already gathered, we really love the Meudon Hotel. It isn't just the building or the garden or even the private beach, it is the wholeness of everything about it that impresses you. Many hotel emphasize their major elements with grand gestures but actually, just like being in love, it is the little things that really make it so special and at the Meudon Hotel, there are many little things to go with the big.

 

Its the little things that make all the difference....

 

For example, the main accommodation section is reached by walking through a corridor which is in fact the bridge between the two buildings. Now they could have simply put a couple of small windows in the walls as it takes just a few seconds to walk the distance and you wouldn't be any the wiser, but they didn't. What they did was create a long sun room with large windows that look out onto the garden so when you walk across the bridge to the other building, you have a stunning view and a lovely fresh feeling, especially if the windows are open. So now, instead of walking though the space to your room or the main building, you will be very tempted to actually sit in one of the lovely comfortable lounge chairs for a few minutes or maybe longer and take in the huge vista of the garden. A simple thing maybe, but you can see that the whole hotel is geared towards serenity and relaxation. And it really doesn't matter if you sit there for just a few minutes or a few hours. Time is not relevant anymore. What is relevant is that you can completely relax.

 

Walk on the grass....

 

Its the same with the garden. It is stunning and could very easily be classified as a show garden, but instead of making it a case of " look but don't touch " it is actually a living useable garden. You can walk on the grass. You can smell the flowers and touch them. There are pathways through and around it, but you also have to walk on the grass to get to some parts of it and this makes it feel alive and also like your own garden at home. They have also placed garden seats in the best spots so when you sit on them, you are surrounded by beautiful flowers and shrubs and this furthers its amazing ability to completely relax your mind and soul. And there is nothing quite sitting in the garden drinking a lovely chilled glass of wine in the afternoon and early evening and letting yourself totally relax. Likewise, it is the same when you are sitting out there in the morning drinking coffee. You feel the freshness and vibrancy of the garden and it is very different in the mornings to later in the day and if you ask them, the staff will tell you where the best places to sit. It is these little things that makes the Meudon Hotel so very unique and very special.

 

The world outside....

 

If however, you feel more energetic, then you can walk down to the private beach and take a bottle of wine with you and some towels and have a wonderful afternoon by the sea, knowing that just a few minutes away, your gorgeous hotel room and a lovely menu awaits you. It is also the perfect location to use as a base to visit the rest of southern Cornwall. Falmouth is around 10 - 15 minutes away. The Lizard is around an hour away and Penzance, Cape Cornwall and Lands End a little further. And there is so much to see and do in the area that you really need to stay for at least a week to take it all in. But you might have to make that two weeks because you will probably want to spend a few days just milling around at the hotel. And that is the attraction of the Meudon Hotel. It gives you all the ingredients, but you get to make the cake anyway you want. In other words, if offer you everything you could ever want and more and a stay there becomes exactly what you want it to be.

 

A more intimate experience....

 

Many hotels are cold unconnected places which as said elsewhere, you simply sleep and eat in and never connect with either the owners or staff or other guests. Now some people really like that, but with the Meudon Hotel, you get a much more intimate experience. The hosts engage with you, the staff engage with you and the other guests who come to the Meudon Hotel will also engage with you. That doesn't mean they dominate your stay, quite the contrary. What it means is that they share their own experiences with you and this makes your stay there so much more interesting and alive. If you are using the hotel as a base to explore from, you will be out and about much of the time so you only need see other guests when you want to, but as Mark and Gaye are so interesting to speak to, you will find conversation with them very easy and actually quite desirable, so you will want to join in with the fun. But if you don't, then you can also have time alone to enjoy each others company. And that is the appeal. You can do whatever you want to do. They supply the environment and items to make your stay very special but what you do with them is entirely up to you.

 

Who is it aimed at.......

 

You won't find the Meudon Hotel full of children or drunken teenagers because it is aimed at and structured for the 45 plus age group. It is therefore, absolutely ideal for couples who want a long romantic weekend or a couple of weeks away together. You can also bring your dog with you and as the coastal path is just a few minutes walk away, you can explore this part of Cornwall to your hearts content. But don't get the wrong idea though, the Meudon Hotel is no Library or quite zone where you dare not even cough, it is alive and vibrant and there is always something going on somewhere. But of course, if you do want to find a quite zone, you will easily find one in the garden so in reality, it offers the best of both worlds.

 

Its unique and special....

 

The Meudon Hotel is not an " out there " retreat, what it is, is a lovely relaxing hotel, located in one of the best locations in Cornwall, with a stunning garden and its own private beach that offers you a totally unique experience that once sampled becomes totally addictive and believe me, if you do there once, you will go back again and again. Whilst it is not exactly the Hotel California where you can check out any time you want to but never leave, the draw to go back to The Meudon will be very strong because it offers you a total experience, not just a room over your head and a plate of food to eat. That is a very big difference to what you will get elsewhere in Cornwall and the Meudon Hotel hasn't stood still either. It is constantly evolving and improving its offering and the experience just gets better and better.

 

So do we recommend you stay there?.....

 

In one word, absolutely. You will not find anything quite like it anywhere else and for that alone, it is worth a visit, but when you add all the unique and special things they are offering and their pricing into the equation, it all adds up to a " must visit " hotel. And the staying options cover every situation. You can stay there for a long weekend or a few days during the week or for a whole week. Maybe even two weeks, but however long you stay there, you will never have any regrets. Well actually that's not strictly true. You will have one regret and that is that you cannot stay longer. But, and here is the real trick, you can always come back again for more. And we suspect you will because we know you will fall in love with it and just like a lover, the Meudon Hotel will embrace you again upon your return. So if you have read this far, then you only have one thing left to do now, book your stay at the Meudon Hotel and experience what we have written about for yourself. And on this, we promise you that you will definitely have no regrets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our business methodology is very simple. We are promoting Cornwall as an all year round holiday destination and to do this more effectively, we need your local stories and feed back from your visit to Cornwall which we will post on a dedicated page, so please send us your thoughts and any tourism related local stories or your feedback on your stay in Cornwall. We will publish them on the website every two weeks and we will give the best story of each fortnight a free Cornwall Pass so please send your stories and information to us on editor@cornwalltourismmagazine.com and we will publish them for you.

 

The Cornwall Pass - save money at over 300 different businesses when you visit Cornwall and Devon.   

 

If you are holidaying in Cornwall or Devon, just visiting us for a few days or live in Cornwall, you can save money at over 300 businesses with the Cornwall Pass. The Cornwall Pass is a discount card that allows visitors to Cornwall and residents to make big savings at over 300 businesses all over Cornwall. It has been in operation since 2008 and gives you discounts and savings at over 300 businesses like Attractions, Restaurants, Accommodation, Cornish Farm Holidays, Activities,  Historic sites and Gardens, Zoo's and Wildlife Parks, Surfing, Body boarding and Coasteering, Holiday Parks, Golf Courses, Taxi's, Dining Pubs and many others across Cornwall.  

 

Discounts start at 10% with many of our participating businesses offering much higher discounts. Each Cornwall Pass covers up to 5 persons and can be used as many times as you like, in as many different participating businesses as you like. If you are visiting Cornwall there is a 7 Day or 14 Day Pass for £7.00 and £10.00 and for frequent visitors and residents there is a 12 month Pass for £20.00 and to put the Pass into perspective, you can easily save up to £200.00 a week or more. For more information and to purchase your Cornwall Pass using our secure on-line purchasing system, please click here, the Cornwall Pass.