Southwest England offers you a huge variety of hotels in stunning locations to suit every preference. From 5 star luxury to accommodations in family friendly hotels to small boutique hotels, they all have one thing in common: their position in one of the most picturesque regions in Britain and Europe. Many hotels have sea views, while others are set in wonderful British countryside.

The Southwest of England’s growing reputation for gastronomic excellence means that you can expect the best local produce from both land and sea in their restaurants.

The Southwest is Britain’s favourite holiday destination

Our selection features only the best hotels that the Southwest of England has to offer in the destinations that you have to visit on your holiday.

Use our interactive map to select your location and choose from our favourite hotels.

St Mary’s is the largest island in the group which makes up the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall’s hidden jewel 28 miles of the Cornish coast. Hugh Town is the main town on the island.

Above Hugh Town, is the Star Castle Hotel, it was originally built during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I for the defence of the Isles of Scilly. Star Castle was built in the shape of an eight pointed star and was converted into a hotel in 1933. It now offers guests the chance to stay in a castle dating from 1593 which has been elegantly restored and furnished for the modern holidaymaker. The views from the hotel are magnificent; the views which were once necessary to protect the Islands can now be enjoyed by its guests and click here to see our review.

A walk around the Garrison is ideal for an evening stroll before or after dinner at The Star Castle Hotel.

There is plenty to do on St Mary’s, it is possible to walk around the island in one day, taking in the views and learning about the history of the island as you go. If you don’t want to walk the whole of the coast path there is a bus which will take you to the north of the island and you can then walk back to Hugh Town via Porth Hellick and Old Town.

Visit Halangy Down, the prehistoric settlement dating from the Bronze and Iron Age, continue your walk passing Pelistry Bay the best place to stop for a swim in the clear sea.

At Old Town is another popular beach and cafe, as well as coastal paths there are nature trails across the island.

The Isles of Scilly Museum is the best place to learn about the maritime, social and natural history of the islands.

A unique part of the Cornish and Isles of Scilly maritime history can be seen in the Gig races which take place every week throughout the summer, the Gigs were originally used to guide ships past the treacherous rocks, but now they are just used in sport. Many of the original Gigs are still used, some over 100 years old.

One of Cornwall top sporting attraction and event is held every year in the spring is the International Gig Racing Championships which take place in the islands and this year between 4^th and 7^th May over 50 boats and hundreds of rowers come to race .This is one of the top sporting attractions in Cornwall and unlike anything else you’ll see.

What can you expect on your holiday on the Isles of Scilly? As visitors to the islands for the last 20 years we never tire of the stunning scenery and the pace of life that harks back to a Cornwall of many years ago.

Travelling around the islands is exclusively undertaken by a fleet of small boats that ferry visitors between the main inhabited islands for day trips, as well as visits to a few of the beautiful uninhabited ones or trips to see the seals, dolphin and puffins.

Each island has at least one boat that performs several roles including daily trips for tourists, bringing supplies and taking produce to market. St Martin’s vessel is known as Voyager, owned and run by the Perkins family for many years, starts the day with from the quayside picking up those that want to visit St Mary’s the largest island. Whether you’re going to the shops of Hugh Town, the only town on the island, or a walking tour to see the historic sites or maybe just a day on one of the many amazing beaches, there is a wealth of attractions and activities.

Take the Spirit of St Agnes, the boat that serves the most south westerly island St Agnes to see the remote community that lives and works in this stunning place. Visit a the small Troy Town farm that produces its own ice cream or enjoy a pint of Cornish beer in the Turk’s Head, famous for its Cornish Pasties. A walk around the islands provides views of the world famous Bishops Rock lighthouse and unusual rock formations on the shore.

Tresco and Bryher are the final two islands to the West, again reached by boats like the Firethorn. Tresco is home to the world renowned Abbey Gardens featuring plants that won’t grow in any other part of Great Britain. Bryher is famous for its beaches and on its westerly coast the notorious Hell Bay where the worst Atlantic’s storms hurl huge waves that have wrecked many ships…..a site to behold.

Day trips to the Eastern Isles are popular with all the family, seeing the grey seals, puffins or maybe even dolphins that are common in these warm waters.

A trip to the Isles of Scilly is unlike any other holiday in Cornwall and a place that you’ll return to again and again.

South West England is Great Britain’s most popular holiday destination; it offers a rich variety stunning landscapes from the remote moors of Dartmoor and Exmoor to the famous coastline of Devon and Cornwall.

This dwindling peninsula reaching out into the Atlantic inspires a great sense of Island Britain than anywhere else in England. It is a land of diverse, yet complementary landscapes that retain strong elements of ancient civilisations that were overtaken, but never submerged by successive conquests.

 Perfect for short breaks or family holidays.

The farmed land of the South West England includes Dorset’s serene and rolling acres and the unremitting flatness of the Somerset Levels from which rises the famous Glastonbury Tor. It embraces Salisbury Plain with Stonehenge, Devon’s lush pastures, the tiny prehistoric fields of Cornwall’s rugged Land’s End Peninsula and the Mediterranean flower meadows of the Isles of Scilly. Within the farmed lowlands are islands of high ground such as the slight, smooth Polden Hills and the Blackdown Hills of Somerset, the bulky Mendips, breached by craggy ravines like Cheddar Gorge, the tawny Quantocks and the high wild acres of Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor.

 South West England is Great Britain’s essential tourist destination

The West Country is defined by its villages and country towns rather than great cities or industrial conurbations. Even the etropolitan centres of the West reflect the culture of rural and maritime England. Bath with its world renowned spa and Roman history, Exeter is identified with its glorious cathedral in a wide green space; Taunton’s urban image is mellowed by county cricket and cider apples; Plymouth, with its powerful seagoing traditions turns towards wide expanse of Plymouth Sound and the open seas.

In a thousand villages, centuries of complex history have created unique communities created the thatched serenity of wooded Selworthy in Somerset and the cobbled streets of St Ives and Clovelly.

 Enjoy beach holidays or tour the historical sites and famous gardens

 There is always a sense of escape in South West of England, of there being enough land to go around. Most strikingly there is the sea, the great element that makes the West Country so emphatically the heart of maritime England. From Devon and Cornish shored the great adventurers of Elizabethan England- the Raleighs, the Drakes and the Grenvilles. Today, the colourful fishing boats and fishermen of numerous West Country ports such as Newlyn, Padstow, Fowey, Falmouth, Beer and Lymington , retain a flavour of the old-time buccaneering spirit.

Above all there is a sense of detachment from the hustle and bustle of London or Bristol that attracts all those who want to escape and enjoy a memorable holiday for families or couples.

Discover the marvellous contrasts of this favoured region, its beautiful and varied countryside, its rugged cliffs, outstanding beaches and resorts, its ancient towns and secluded villages and above all a friendly and welcoming people.

UrlaubCornwall visited The Nare Hotel which is widely known as Cornwall’s most elegant and luxurious hotel, on the idyllic Roseland Peninsula. No small detail is ignored by Toby Ashworth and his team in creating an extraordinarily comfortable experience for you in this beautiful traditional English country house.
The Nare has one of the best collections in the county of modern and Cornish art collected by Toby’s late Grandmother – rather like Penelope Keeling in Rosamund Pilcher’s The Shellseekers.
The whole hotel is furnished with your comfort as priority, allowing you to unwind and enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Cornwall without the stresses of the outside world. Set just above the beautiful sands of Carne Beach it commands an unforgettable location on the Roseland, right on the South West coastal footpath and perfectly placed for exploring the rugged, spectacularly unspoilt, natural coastline of Cornwall. The Nare sponsors the annual Fal River walking festival in October with guided walking tours of some of Cornwall’s most famous coastline.
The Nare is well located to reach all of the best things to do in Cornwall. The world famous Eden Project and Lost Gardens of Heligan are a must see for any garden or nature enthusiasts. Cornwall’s capitol Truro is close by, the bustling seaside towns of Falmouth and St Mawes are only short trips away, with St Michael’s Mount and St Ives only a little further.
On your return from exploring the sights of Cornwall, the Nare kitchen will provide an exquisite meal using the freshest local meats, fish and vegetables, in either of its two restaurants. The Dining Room has a traditional table d’hôte menu, which changes every day, with The Quarterdeck a more relaxed á la carte option. Sampling the full breakfast buffet or having a light lunch on The Quarterdeck Terrace overlooking the sea is one of Cornwall’s great joys.

Tresco and the Isles of Scilly is a wonderful place for nature lovers to enjoy a holiday.

Tresco has beaches with sparkling sand and sub-tropical plants, the unique variety of vegetation and abundance of bird life in an environment unspoilt by cars, crowds and pollution.

The geographical location of the islands means that it is ideally suited for migrant birds from Britain and Europe. In March and April Spring migrants, such as White Wagtails, Warblers, Swallows and Pipits appear. In October birds from Asia and America pay their visit, this is the most popular month for bird watchers.

Agapanthus on Tresco

The islands are also a breeding site for rare seabirds such as the Puffin and Manx Shearwater. Boat trips are often available to see the Puffins.

Sea birds are evocative of Scilly, as well as all of the different types of Gull, there are Oyster catchers, Cormorants, Shags and Curlew, to name a few.

Boat trips also offer visitors to see Grey Seals in their natural habitats, on the uninhabited Eastern Isles. It is also possible to swim in the sea with the Seals or you may also be lucky enough to see passing Dolphins.

The flora of Scilly is a paradise for botanists. Flowers grow throughout the year as winter temperatures rarely drop below 5C. Wherever you walk on the islands you will be amazed at the variety and beauty of plants which grow everywhere.

The flower industry is also important to the islands with millions of Narcissi and Daffodils being sent to the markets on the mainland.

The Abbey Gardens on Tresco are today internationally famous, containing many thousands of species that are unable to be grown outdoors anywhere else in Britain.

Tresco is one of the 5 inhabited islands in the Isles of Scilly. Tresco is only 2 miles long and 1 mile wide, it is an island of extraordinary contrasts, beauty and tranquillity and offers today’s holidaymaker a unique and luxury holiday experience.

The history of the island dates back to prehistoric times, and on Tregarthen Hill is a megalithic burial chamber dating back 4000 years to the Bronze Age.

Cromwell’s Castle

The ruined archway in Abbey Gardens is a reminder of the Benedictine monks who made Tresco their home in the 10^th Century.

As well as the monks, Tresco was home to marauding pirates and smugglers who preyed on passing ships. Fine examples of figureheads salvaged from shipwrecks can be seen in Valhalla, in the Abbey Gardens.  During the Civil War Tresco saw battles between the Roundheads and Royalists.  Ruins of King Charles’s Castle and Cromwell’s Castle can be explored on the northern side on the island while the Old Blockhouse looks out towards the island of St Martin’s.

The history of the island was to change when in 1834 the Duchy of Cornwall leased Tresco to Augustus Smith. The island is still leased from the Duchy of Cornwall by his ancestors the Dorrien-Smith family who live in Tresco Abbey.

Augustus Smith spent the next 40 years until his death in 1872, transforming the island and laying the foundations for the prosperity which is still enjoyed on the island today, the most famous legacy is Tresco Abbey and its gardens.

The gardens are one of the most remarkable botanical gardens in the world. Famous for the variety and beauty of their sub-tropical fauna, unique in the British Isles and also because of their location on a tiny island in the Atlantic Ocean.

Walking on the South West Coast Path  or wandern in Cornwall as the Germans would say gives the perfect opportunity to explore some of Cornwall’s world famous mining heritage; this part of Cornwall has some of the most spectacular costal scenery the county has to offer.

Day1 St Ives to Zennor (11km)

Arriving in St Ives by train, close to Portminster Beach, is the ideal starting point for our walk with cafes and toilet facilities alongside the glorious sandy beach.

First spend time in St Ives with its step and winding streets lined with miners and fisherman’s cottages, a captivating town with a picturesque harbour. Easy to understand why by the beginning of the 20th Century it had a vibrant artist colony.

Pick up the coast path at Porthmeor where it weaves its way above the sea, the terrain can be rough and rocky with dramatic scenery. Reaching Zennor provides the ideal place to break your journey with a pub and a seasonal café. Alternatively there is a regular summer bus service between St Ives and Zennor.

Zeenor-Pendeen Watch (11km)

Back on the path it continues to climb up and down passing some beautiful coves until it reaches the distinctive headland of Gurnard’s Head. It’s well worth taking time to visit the Iron Age Fort and Carn Galver mine engine houses, in use until 1878 and partly restored by the National Trust.

Pendeen Watch-Sennen (14.5km)

From Pendeen Watch the path follows the cliff top and brings you walk close to a series of evocative ruins of the lead and tin mines. In Pendeen village there are pubs, cafes, and shops with a bus stop and public toilets. From here regular buses run to Sennen Cove, St Just allowing you to do some circular walks.

Soon you arrive at Geevor Tin Mine, one of the largest preserved tin mines in the county, one of the most important parts of Cornwall’s mining heritage. Visit the underground tunnels and learn the history of mining then take a break in the café.

A short distance away and perched spectacularly on the cliffs is Lelant Mine and Beam Engine. Here you can see the only beam engine being powered by steam on its original site.

Rejoining the footpath and heading towards Botallack you’ll see the famous Crown Mine engines houses once used for copper and tin mining and Botallack Court House was where the day to day running of the mine took place.

Onwards at Cape Cornwall you’ll enjoy spectacular views on past the village of St Just arriving at Sennen Cove with its golden sands popular with families and surfers.

Sennen-Porthcurno (9.5km)

From Sennen there’s an exhilarating walking past the hamlets of Porthgwarra and St Leven ends at the spectacularly located open-air Minack Theatre perched on the edge of the cliffs overlooking Porthcurno Bay. From the theatre steep steps lead down to the beach and the village. Porthcurno Bay is one of the most beautiful coves in Cornwall – golden sands backed by rugged cliffs face a wonderful bay where the sea varies in colour from deep purple to jade green and mediterranean blue.

Porthcurno-Penzance (18.5km)

The walk continues past Lamorna village and its Cove on to Newlyn, which was the centre of a community of artists in the late 19th Century, to the old port of Penzance.

This walk is graded hard and is 64m in total with 6 days of walking.

German Translation

Just a few hundred yards from the beach in a quiet and rural location, an ideal location for exploring all Cornwall has to offer whilst on holiday.

Talland Bay offers a contemporary elegance; the 20 en suite bedrooms are individually and tastefully furnished allowing guests to relax in style and comfort.

Some of the rooms have sea views whilst others have views of the countryside, there are also Garden Cottages which are ideal for families, the choice is yours.

Talland Bay is proud of the quality of the food which it serves, always locally produced and sourced where possible.  Freshly caught fish and seafood from the nearby harbour of Looe and West Country cheeses are always popular. The Terrace Restaurant offers guests the opportunity to sample fine dining from their chef who has been awarded 2AA Rosettes for culinary excellence. Another option is the Brasserie which serves a lighter menu in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Relax on the terrace with a Cornish Cream tea or an aperitif, and enjoy the tranquillity of this hotel.

After enjoying a delicious breakfast the surrounding area of Southern Cornwall offers something for everyone. Visit Lanhydrock a perfect English country house and glorious gardens, other National Trust properties nearby include Cotehele near Saltash and the beautiful house Anthony near Torpoint with its gardens famous for rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias.

Drive to the fishing village of Fowey and take the passenger ferry to Mevagissey, so much to do before returning to Talland Bay to enjoy your evening by the sea.

A walking tour starting in Padstow “The Food Capital of Cornwall” and finishing in St Ives “The artists capital”. Padstow is a great place to spend an extra day at the start of your holiday, hire a bicycle and ride the Camel Way then on your first night  you’ll have a chance to eat in one of Cornwall’s most famous restaurants like Rick Stein’s Seafood restaurant or maybe the 2 Michelin Star Nathan Outlaw Restaurant in nearby Rock at the St Enodoc Hotel.

The walk itself gives you the opportunity to see many of Cornwall’s most famous coastal landmarks. On your first day you’ll arrive at Trevose Head, which provides exceptional views stretching along the coast to St Ives, the path turns south and crosses the sands of Constantine Bay to the hamlet of Treyarnon. Views of the famous surfing coast of Cornwall including Watergate Bay, home to Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant.

The South west Coast Path starts with either a ferry across the Gannel River or a crossing via its small wooden footbridge.  The Gannel estuary is a quite magical place so close to lively Newquay. The path continues around Crantock Bay and Porth Joke to Holywell Bay, these are 3 beautiful gentle isolated bays that are great places for a morning drinks stop and a swim! From Holywell Bay the path goes around Ligga Head and then follows the golden sands of Perran Beach to the village of Perranporth.

The walking tour ends in St Ives was once the most important fishing port in Cornwall, a small fishing industry survives but it is now more famous for its artists, galleries and museums. The St Ives Tate Gallery and the Barbara Hepworth Museum are two of the best known examples.

The itinerary below is for 6 days of walking which we think would be ideal for most people.