Surfing and sunsets at The Point at Polzeath, Cornwall

Cornwall Special 2015

For a great base for exploring the surfers’ paradise of the north Cornish coast, it’s time to ‘get to The Point’…

eco-friendly design at The Point at Polzeath
eco-friendly design at The Point at Polzeath

Sitting back on a private balcony, Cornish beer in hand, you can barely hear a pin drop (or a surfer splash) from The Point at Polzeath. This complex (‘resort’ isn’t quite the word) enjoys a priviledged position amidst farmland and its own golf course, a 20 minute gentle climb up from the coast.

The Point, which consists of a golf club, health club, restaurant and bar, has been hosting guests at self-catering cottages on its land for years. This spring, The Point opened a brand new set of seven luxury holiday apartments designed with eco-friendly credentials at its core.

Kebony-clad apartments at The Point at Polzeath
Kebony-clad apartments at The Point at Polzeath

Eco-friendly design
The apartments, designed by architects Laurence Associates, consist of four three-bedroom and three two-bedroom luxury units, located just a two minute stroll from The Point’s restaurant and health club. The building itself sits within a hill ridge, complete with a sedum roof and Kebony cladding, discretely blending with the surroundings. High quality building materials, including the acclaimed and sustainable alternative to tropical hardwood, Kebony, are used for the cladding and soffits – over time this material will develop a beautiful silver patina blending in with the surrounding environment even more. In addition, ground source heat pumps have been installed, which supply hot water and underfloor heating throughout.

Our apartment – Scandinavian style meets Cornish innovation
The Point’s owners Eva and Jeremy offer a very warm welcome and ensure everyone is in proper ‘holiday mode’! We stayed in ‘Viking’ (they’re all named after shipping forecast regions), a two-bedroom apartment on the west end of the complex which allowed for sweeping views both north and west. It was surprisingly spacious, light and airy inside with top-of-the-range fittings including the bespoke kitchen made by a local craftsman.

stylish interiors at The Point at Polzeath
stylish interiors at The Point at Polzeath

The interiors and furnishings are contemporary with a Scandinavian feel, including cool, mid-century upcycled furniture. For when you want to stay indoors, there are cosy and homely touches too with a wood burning stove, flat screen TV, wifi and a choice of board games. We made the most of watching the sunsets through the floor-to-ceiling windows or from our balcony with its uninterrupted view stretching down to Polzeath and Pentire Point.

Family-friendly extras
For those travelling with little ones, we’d recommend booking your bulky baby equipment with local hire company Babes & Bikes. They hire out kit such as highchairs, travel cots and buggies ensuring it’s already assembled at your accommodation before you arrive. A great help as this saved vital space in the car (and our own sanity from lugging around our own kit everywhere!).

Food and drink
As the apartments are self-catering, you may want to take a break from preparing your own food and try the on-site restaurant (which is also open to non-guests). Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus an all-day bar, make sure you try one of their specials nights – Thursday is Fizz ‘n’ Chips night (£15 for a choice of three fish with three batters, plus a glass of bubbly), or go for Steak Night on Friday (£30 for two steaks and a bottle of wine).

view from the balcony to Pentire Point, Polzeath
view from the balcony to Pentire Point, Polzeath

Facilities
The Point at Polzeath is known for its golf course so expect to see plenty of golf buggies trundling around during your stay, usually chased by Scrabble, Eva and Jeremy’s friendly spaniel. But don’t worry if you don’t play, there are plenty of other activities on offer including a swimming pool, gym, fitness classes and spa treatments (we tried a heavenly massage from Seventh Heaven). There are also plenty of walks….

The surrounding area of Polzeath
Ask at reception for a local map and advice about walks in the area. You’ll be walking across the golf course (watch those balls!) and down into Polzeath village (25mins) where a windy day with rough seas will attract surfers from all around. You can hire boards or book in for surfing lessons yourself if you fancy it. Otherwise, the coastal path will take you along Pentire Point to enjoy stunning views of the bay.

In the other direction, you can walk to the village of Rock (35mins) with its calm bay and ferry point over to foodie destination Padstow. Short drives from The Point take you to the historic fishing village of Port Isaac, and Tintagel Castle associated with the legend of King Arthur.

All in all, for a stylish Cornish holiday as relaxed or as activity-packed as you need, don’t mess about, just get to The Point!

Prices for an apartment start at £140 per night. Visit www.thepointatpolzeath.co.uk for full details including booking and use of the restaurant, golf course and health club facilities.

The Point at Polzeath is located at St Minver, Nr Polzeath, Cornwall, PL27 6QT

new apartments at The Point at Polzeath
new apartments at The Point at Polzeath

5 of the best…Luxury wellness holidays

From educational eco-forest walks in Bali, to dining on nutritious organic cuisine grown in New Zealand, Paul Joseph, co-founder of wellness holiday specialists Health and Fitness Travel, picks five healthy eco-friendly holidays to make you feel more connected to yourself and nature…

These luxurious wellness retreats boast superb eco-design and green-friendly awards, meaning you can travel abroad happy in the knowledge that these retreats actively support sustainable tourism.

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Italy: Lefay

Situated on the shores of magical Lake Garda, this eco-friendly holiday destination values the connection between personal and environmental wellness. From the heat insulation and local natural materials used in the eco-designed architecture, to the use of renewable alternative energies, Lefay actively promotes eco-sustainability. Begin your holiday boosting your health and fitness by personalising your stay with activities from personal training to Pilates and Tai Qi. Ideal for a singles holiday, make the most of complimentary group fitness classes from yoga to circuit training, before unwinding with a relaxing spa massage.

New Zealand: Aro Ha

Encircled by New Zealand’s stunning Southern Alps, luxury wellness retreat Aro Ha fuses eco-friendly accommodation with self-sufficient cuisine, using locally produced organic ingredients from their on-site garden. Enhance the connection between yourself and the environment around you with sub-alpine hiking and kayaking across the lake to the natural bird sanctuary of Pigeon Island. Complement TRX, yoga and meditation sessions with daily therapeutic spa massages and unlimited use of the water therapy suites, to ensure you return home in optimal wellness from this breath-taking eco-friendly holiday destination.

Bali: Zen

Escape to this luxury holistic and eco-friendly wellness holiday destination in Bali, surrounded by pristine tropical gardens. This green retreat offers a range of healthy cuisine, using only the freshest ingredients, with fish caught in the nearby sea and fresh fruit and vegetables grown at the on-site farm. Get closer to nature with a sunrise dolphin sail, rice field trekking and educational eco-forest walks to learn more about local wildlife, flora and fauna. Escape the stress of everyday life with sunrise yoga, sunset mediation and holistic spa treatments.

South Africa: Karkloof Safari Spa

Working with environmental and wildlife professionals to restore the region to its natural splendour, the surrounding eco-system of the eco-friendly Karkloof Safari Spa in South Africa, is happily once again home to a diverse range of indigenous fauna, flora, wildlife and birdlife. The perfect destination for a luxury spa holiday, enjoy indulging with unlimited spa treatments using natural ingredients, from a Maldivian black pepper scrub to a coconut body polish. Explore your natural surroundings by hiking, fishing, mountain biking and spotting local wildlife with private guided safaris.

Greece: Porto Carras

Make a healthy getaway to the white sandy beaches of northern Greece where this eco-friendly holiday destination boasts Blue Flag beaches and respected awards such as the Green Key Eco Label. Using natural ingredients for relaxing therapies, such as mud and clay treatments, pamper yourself at a choice of two luxury spa centres. Ideal for a fun-filled activity holiday, relish in the variety of sports and activities you can enjoy from tennis to windsurfing and meditation. Take advantage of complimentary group fitness classes, including yoga and aerobics, to improve your fitness levels and leave you feeling renewed and revitalised.

For advice, guidance and booking visit www.healthandfitnesstravel.com or call 0203 397 8891

About the author: Paul Joseph is co-founder (with Adam Heathcote) of Health and Fitness Travel, the leading experts in tailormade healthy holidays worldwide. He searches for the rare and hidden gems around the world and puts together exclusive and trend-setting holidays for those who would like to improve or maintain their health and fitness whilst on holiday. As well as a love of all things travel, Paul’s other love is exercise, cycling and yoga. Paul also contributes to the travel pages of various high-profile newspapers and magazines where he offers his expert advice on wellness holidays.