FROM a pad that can accommodate an entire family to a hotel perfect for toddlers, we visit two brilliant spots for your next staycation.
The Big Get-together house
BEAUTY Editor Tara Ledden took seven of her nearest and dearest to luxe self-catering pad 8, Woodlands in Newquay, Cornwall.
The Pad
Perched on a cliff overlooking the Gannel Estuary, all three floors of this contemporary four-bedroom house have breathtaking views over the tidal waters and surrounding countryside.
Expect coastal-inspired interiors, a large open-plan, well-equipped kitchen and dining area, plus a garden complete with a barbecue and hot tub.
Smart TVs, Sonos speakers, Babyliss hairdryers and child-safety gates on every floor mean the whole clan are well looked after.
Explore
At low tide, build sandcastles on the estuary bed, 30 seconds from the back door.
Come high tide, pump up a paddleboard from the fully-stocked activity shed and hit the water.
It’s only a five-minute car drive (or a hilly 20-minute walk) to Newquay’s high street, with local institution Morris Pasties serving the area’s best Cornish pasty (Morris-pasties.co.uk).
Plus, at Roly’s Fudge Pantry, watch the sweet treats being made from local Cornish cream, then pick up a souvenir bag (Rolysfudge.co.uk).
Rainy day? At Wax Activity Bar, try axe-throwing, interactive darts or an escape room. Prices start from £6 per person (Waxactivitybar.co.uk).
When the sun shines, take the coastal walk home via Towan Beach to spy local landmarks The Island House and Huer’s Hut, a 14th-century fisherman’s lookout with panoramic coastline views.
Refuel
Fistral Beach is just five minutes’ stroll from your bed, and is home to all-day brunch spot Sea Spray, with its excellent chorizo-peppered hash, £13.50.
Ten minutes’ drive up the coast is Watergate Bay, where surf lessons are on tap at Wavehunters.
A two-hour group lesson costs £45 per person (Wavehunters.co.uk).
Post-surf, The Beach Hut serves up one of the best – and biggest – fish and chips, £19.50, I’ve ever had, as well a cracking Oreo hot chocolate, £5.50 (Watergatebay.co.uk).
Closer to home is Secret Garden Pizza, with epic creations like Piggy’s Can Surf, loaded with prawns, pancetta, caramelised onions, mozzarella and rocket, £15.50 – a meal complemented by organic wines and moreish Aperol and blood orange sours, £9.50 (Secretgardennewquay.co.uk).
Meat lovers will adore nearby Rebellion Roast House’s slow-cooked beef brisket in a focaccia bun, with house slaw and addictive rosemary fries, £16.50.
The Bangin’ mac and cheese side, £8, comes topped with pulled pork and garlic breadcrumbs, too (Rebellionroasthouse.co.uk).
Don’t miss
A behind-the-scenes-tour of nearby Healeys Cornish Cyder Farm.
The makers of Rattler Cyder also have a petting zoo, tasting room and serve proper cream teas in their tea room.
Entry costs from £33 for a family of four (Healeyscyder.co.uk).
Book it
A week’s stay at 8 Woodlands costs from £1,428 for up to eight people.
Book now at Aspects-holidays.co.uk.
The Toddler-friendly hotel
Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley, husband Andy and kids Poppy, four, and Raffy, 22 months, checked into Foxhills Hotel, Surrey.
The Pad
Surrounded by 400 acres of countryside and three golf courses, rooms at this family-owned hotel are mostly corporate-chic, but there are five pools, including three outdoor ones.
The role-play town and soft-play in the recently-added Pavilion delighted Poppy and Raffy, who nursed animals at the vets before hitting the slides.
Spanking-new climbing frames, ride-on tractors and toy lawnmowers went down a storm, and I hit the adults-only spa for a bit of calm and an Elemis facial, £53.
Explore
You really don’t need to leave Foxhills, but Windsor Castle lies just 30 minutes away if you fancy spying inside St George’s Chapel and the incredible Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.
Tickets cost from £28 per adult, and £15.50 for over-5s (Rct.uk/visit/windsor-castle).
Drop into lifestyle shops Huttons (Huttonsathome.com) and Nomad (Nomadwindsor.co.uk) for homeware gems and kids’ gifts while you’re in town.
Refuel
The Fox dining rooms, set in the hotel’s picturesque manor house, serves up treats, such as cured mackerel with buttermilk, cucumber and fresh citrus, £9, and truffle gnocchi in Madeira cream, £17.50, alongside kid-pleasing pasta and sausages and mash.
Plus, there’s a plentiful breakfast buffet come morning. Moroccan restaurant Meimo in nearby Windsor offers flavoursome lamb-shank tagine, £17.95 (Meimo.co.uk).
Later, get your sugar fix from salted caramel crown bon-bons and carrot-cake ice cream at Dr Chocs cafe – you can even make your own bars if you book ahead. Workshops cost from £14.95 per person (Drchocs.com).
Don’t miss
Legoland Windsor – its mini cars and boats to steer guarantee smiles.
The Dragon, Deep Sea Adventure and Flight of the Sky Lion rides were our faves.
Day tickets cost from £34 per person over 90cm (Legoland.co.uk).
Book it
Family rooms sleeping four start from £250 a night B&B (Foxhills.co.uk).
For more information on Aspects Holidays go to aspects-holidays.co.uk
