The Headland hotel, Relax and Indulge on the North Coast of Cornwall

Nadia Ismail | 19th April 2018

The second chapter of our Cornish adventure lead us to the North Coast of the county, known for its endless golden sand beaches, surfers atop rolling waves and an effortlessly balanced approach to life on this stunning coastline. Looking to kick back and indulge for a few days we travelled to The Headland hotel, an impressive building that  sits on the edge of the water like a beacon of style, comfort and welcome shelter from the blustery March weather. The history of The Headland isn’t nearly as serene as the current interior might lead you to believe, in 1897 the construction of the hotel was overshadowed and temporarily halted by local fishermen claiming that the land belonged to the community. Following a rocky start the hotel was finally opened in 1900 and we would say it was well worth the struggle, even now it exudes the majesty it had represented over one hundred years ago. Aside from the turbulent beginnings it has enjoyed a rich history, with several members of the royal family visiting the hotel on frequent occasions, and you may even recognise its impressive facade and interior from the film adaptation of Roald Dahl’s The Witches. Thankfully our stay was more a royal experience than the scenes of the latter.

The Headland hotel offers over 90 rooms all uniquely designed with plenty of thoughtful touches and home comforts, the nespresso machines are perfect for lazy mornings sipping fresh coffee in bed gazing out to sea. If you prefer a more relaxed environment or you’d like to travel with your dog The Headland also offers a number of self-catered cottages just a stone’s throw from the hotel, guests can enjoy all the facilities and comforts of the hotel and of course the view is included! We would absolutely recommend booking a room with a sea view, the moment you hear the sound of the waves lapping the shore outside your window you’ll instantly feel more relaxed. But, if that isn’t quite enough you can soothe your aches away in the tranquil surrounds of the spa, the ground floor of The Headland echoes the same peaceful feel of the rest of the hotel but the style is infinitely different, the clean lines and contemporary coastal touches create a beautifully calming atmosphere. Each area of the spa has been thoughtfully designed lending to the unique mood of each location, the smooth stone clad curved walls of the pool and jacuzzi are a soothing backdrop to the low lighting and modern chrome and glass details. The treatment and relaxation rooms however offer a more contemporary cabin feel with the wooden panelling on the walls and the rich faux fur blankets, achieving a warming and serene space. Guests are welcome to enjoy the facilities as they please, but The Headland spa offers an incredible range of treatments, from massage and beauty treatments to their signature packages including a Moroccan full body mud cleanse.

I was recommended one of their newest treatments the Biotec facial, anyone that knows me well knows that I’m far more likely to have my nose in a cookbook than in a face mask, but all in the name of good journalism! Following a consultation on my skin type and general health and beauty regime my therapist Libby selected the radiance renew treatment for me, explaining the process and the particular type of technology that would be used. An ultrasonic plate works to exfoliate the surface of the skin and bring out the impurities, followed by a galvanic current that enhances and rejuvenates the skin. The humming sound of the machinery was slightly off-putting at first but Libby encouraged a few breathing techniques to start the treatment and between the more technical aspects of the facial the oils and masks were applied in such a way to really soothe and relax you. I found that after a short while I noticed much less tension and felt the relaxing benefits that you usually find with a massage, my breathing had slowed and I was feeling quite rested. The evening following the treatment my skin certainly appeared refreshed but it wasn’t until a day or so later that I really noticed the benefits, my skin was much softer, I needed far less moisturiser than normal and the usual dry patches I often notice weren’t there, for a beauty sceptic I was pretty chuffed with the results. It is recommended that you undergo a series of six Biotec facials to feel the lasting effects, I would agree that after a few weeks my skin is starting to return back to it’s normal patterns so a repeat treatment would probably be desired about 3-4 weeks later.

The Headland Hotel offers everything you need for a truly indulgent break, after enjoying an afternoon in the spa we dined in the Samphire restaurant,  led by their executive chef Christopher Archambault, Samphire has been awarded two AA rosettes.  The dining room itself is a large and elegant room, each morning breakfast is also served here which makes the most of its position and the stunning view, in the evening it has a relaxed but graceful atmosphere and the service is second to none. The menu is exciting, it’s adventurous but by no means extravagant for the sake of it, the variety of flavours and influences offer a lot of choice but each dish has a stand out element that may be very particular to the season or a unique flavour combination. The starter of wild garlic soup with a truffled brie beignet and of asparagus with hen’s egg were the perfect entrees to the meal, the focus on seasonality meant the flavours were very much at their best and complimented the plates to follow. For me the main was a real stand out course, a light pea and sorrel flan with a crisp saffron spiced cauliflower tempura, often vegetarian and vegan dining can be limited in restaurants but this was so colourful, full of texture and perfectly balanced flavours, vegetarian or not I would defy anyone not to commend it. The plating of each dish is really meticulous, you can clearly see the artistry of the chef at work and particularly so in the desserts, the light crisp rose macaron with the sweet soft consistency of the turkish delight was magical. I was extremely impressed by the level of sweetness, rose, lychee and turkish delight could be dangerously cloying all on one plate but this was not the case at all, I enjoyed every mouthful. The exquisite food, wonderfully attentive service and beautiful surroundings made for a really lovely evening, just a few steps from the room, that’s what we call indulgence at its finest.

The hotel is set just above one of Cornwall’s best known and loved beaches, renowned for its impressive surf Fistral beach attracts people from all over, board or no board. The long stretch of soft sandy beach is a perfect spot to while away an afternoon, just a short stroll from the hotel we wandered across the beach on a beautifully sunny Sunday morning. If you’re feeling a little energetic continue along to the end of the beach and walk around the headland and onto Crantock beach, the golden sand stretches for miles and the soothing waves are just the soundtrack for pure relaxation. You’ll find a number of bars and restaurants on Fistral Beach, Rick Stein has one of his many outposts here, for relaxed dining The Stable pizzeria hosts live music every Sunday or for more coastal treats The Fish House has been receiving a lot of attention recently.  However, you can’t beat the view from the hotel’s Terrace restaurant and bar, sit back with a crisp gin and tonic (Tarquin’s of course) watch on as the hive of activity on the beach below slowly dissipates until it’s just you, a few silhouettes on the water trying to catch the last of the day’s waves and the sun gently settling on the sea.

 

To book your stay at The Headland visit them here, they are offering a number of packages throughout April and May so why not escape the city and try on the Cornish pace of life for a few nights this Spring.