Review: Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate
England | June 25, 2024 | Hollie-Rae Brader
This UK favourite lies on an impressive Blue Flag beach, a few bays from St Ives
Location: Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate lies on an impressive Blue Flag beach, a few bays from St Ives. The town is a 30-minute walk away along the pretty South West Coast Path, or minutes by train – tiny Carbis Bay station is on the property’s doorstep.
First impressions: The estate attracts locals for its epic cuisine, as well as travellers from all over – it’s internationally known after hosting the G7 Summit in 2021.
After we checked in, staff whisked us to the restaurant for a glass of something refreshing, before we were taken to our accommodation – a large, private beachfront lodge. It was a dreamy setting for our best-ever UK-based holiday! Freshly baked bread and goodies from local providers were waiting for us to enjoy.
The facts: Carbis Bay’s main house has 38 individually designed rooms and suites. There are also eight timber-clad, three-bedroom, three-storey Beach Lodges, all with direct beach access and views of the bay. The wider estate has a small selection of Beach Houses that sleep up to four and a smattering of luxury cottages hidden in the valley.
The hotel’s culinary offering is divine, with a perfect balance of relaxed beach venues and more formal options. The Beach Club and The Deli are firmly in the former camp, while The Orangery, Walter’s on The Beach and Ugly Butterfly by Adam Handling are more refined.
Nearby inn The Hungry Gannet is part of the estate’s collection of eateries. Breakfast and dinner hampers can be brought to your lodge for those who would like a partially self-made meal (the chefs do most of the work) instead of a visit to the restaurant.
The property’s pool is only open to children at certain times of the day, striking a great balance for those wanting peaceful adult-only visits and families wishing to splash about. And with the beach so close by, you always have another option. The C Bay Spa, complete with Bamford products, is a must.
Ideal for: Families will adore the lodges. Those with smaller dogs will also be made to feel incredibly welcome.
Explore: Make the most of Carbis Bay beach. It’s often very quiet and is picture-perfect. Stroll along the coastal pathway and visit beautiful St Ives, full of boutiques, cafes and arty shops. We went on a sunny September weekend and it felt like there was nowhere better on the planet in that moment.
Wow: The Beach Lodges are a triumph, and guests wanting to feel like VIPs should book them in an instant. With floor-to[1]ceiling windows, these four or five-bed (all en suite) lodges are truly impressive.
High-spec kitchens, open-plan living rooms, copper bathtubs and a private hot tub with views over the bay – this would be anyone’s happy place!
Book it: A night in the main hotel leads in at £250, while the three-bed lodges start from £1,000 – both for bed and breakfast.carbisbayhotel.co.uk
Hollie-Rae Brader
Hollie is editor of Aspire’s print and online products. She is responsible for the running of the club and ensuring the content produced and the events organised are relevant to the Aspire audience. She was previously deputy news editor and cruise writer for sister title Travel Weekly. She loves exploring new destinations and is gradually ticking new countries off her list. She most enjoys writing about cruise, South America and Japan. Before working in the travel industry she held news reporting roles at the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star.