I’ve never been a fan of rain or drizzle. But after a long weekend spent watching the clouds roll off the sea over the cliffs from one of Highcliffe’s stylish first-floor kitchens, it turns out I don’t mind rain. I just mind it in London.
The luxe set of North Cornwall holiday homes sit in a prime location just up the hill from Polzeath beach and there’s no better spot in all of Cornwall: you can see the sea from your window; Daymer Bay, Rock and Padstow are all within walking distance; and there’s an on-site pilates instructor on-hand to iron out all your post-walk, surf and golfing niggles. Oh, and there’s also a gym, tennis courts and yoga classes on-site. Not bad when you’re signing up for a self-catered holiday.
There are 46 homes in total, ranging from cosy three-bedroom cottages to magnificent five-bedroom properties with their own private terraces looking out over the sea. The vibe is minimalist modern luxury but refreshingly relaxed. It’s still run by the same family that have run the land (previously a farm) for three generations.
From seaside sundowners to post-surf sound-healing sessions, here’s what to expect.
Where is it?
Right in the heart of Trebetherick in North Cornwall, just a 10-minute walk (downhill) from Polzeath beach.
Greenaway beach is a 15-minute walk away, Daymer Bay is 20 minutes, and Rock is a slightly longer walk across the golf course. You can catch the ferry from there to Padstow.
Style
Cosy cottages with wood-burners for curling up after a surf. Stylish, light-filled properties with south-facing gardens looking out over the sea. Magnificent, Grand Designs-style homes overlooking the Camel Estuary and Stepper Point.
The vibe at Highcliffe is relaxed but high-end, with something for everyone whether you’re a couple keen for a romantic weekend by the sea or a group of families on a half-term break. The newest properties are sleek, modern and designed to maximise on natural light, with giant open kitchen-living rooms and long sweeping windows with impressive far-reaching views. Even on a dull day, it’s transfixing.
There’s a relaxed, family-run feel. Owner Rob built Highcliffe on his old family farm (it was a pick-your-own strawberry farm with a small farm shop before becoming Highcliffe in 1997), and today he manages the place with his daughter Becca, a former music manager to stars like Robbie Williams and keen runner who can often be spotted out on the coastal paths. There’s a family feel among the guests, too. Many return year-after-year.
Which property?
Set in eight acres of landscaped gardens, Highcliffe has a whole range of properties to choose from (there are 46 in total), from cosy cottages to modern architectural homes. Just search by three-bed, four-bed, five-bed on the Highcliffe site to pick your property: several of the older homes have recently been refurbished by Becca; several of the newest are still being built.
Each home has at least one bedroom with twin beds, a gaming snug and board games for kids, and several are dog-friendly if you’re bringing your pet. Many of the homes have bedrooms downstairs if you need accessibility.
We stayed in Botallack, one of Highcliffe’s newest four-bedroom, dog-friendly properties with polished concrete floors, a double-height entrance and a beautiful handmade oak staircase to the first-floor living room that looked like something straight out of an interiors brochure. Think soft tones and quality linens, a hot outdoor shower for washing off after a day at the beach, and a giant kitchen with a large island and even larger dining table - perfect for big family gatherings and games nights watching the sun go down over the sea.
Speaking over sundowners, the real highlight is the first-floor balcony accessed by large sliding doors out from the kitchen. Pick a summer’s evening, take some drinks out onto the outdoor sofas and watch the sky fill with colour as the sun goes behind the clouds. I could’ve stayed there all day.
Food & drink
It’s self-catered but in a luxury way, with each house kitted out with an American fridge-freezer, Nespresso machine, dishwasher and oven and an on-site café opening in the reception and yoga studio building very soon.
Highcliffe sits in the heart of Cornwall’s so-called ‘culinary triangle’ so there’s plenty of good food to be had off-site. Popular family restaurant The Mowhay and popular local pub The Oystercatcher are both a short walk away and Polzeath is packed with cool eateries from Surfside on the beach to The Atlantic Kitchen up on the cliff.
Nearby Padstow is worth a walk for the food alone. Eco British-Middle Eastern deli Sabzi does the best coffee in town (make sure you try owner Kate’s famous homemade love cake), while other highlights include Rick Stein’s The Seafood Restaurant, Stein’s Fish and Chips, and Paul Ainsworth’s Michelin-star restaurant No. 6. The Pig at Harlyn Bay is just a 35-minute drive away.
Facilities
There are two tennis courts on-site, one overlooking the sea and both free for guests to use. But the real highlight of Highcliffe is its recently-opened, state-of-the-art gym, yoga and pilates studio, which hosts retreats as well as daily yoga, pilates, meditation and sound-healing classes, including one-on-one pilates sessions.
Walking into the reformer room feels like entering a luxe London studio, with luxe Chapter Organics amenities, sleek wooden interiors and the most chic reformer machine I’ve seen. Instructor Anna Clagett, a keen golfer as well as pilates guru, lives locally and offers everything from mat pilates to personal training on the reformer machine for those looking to dip their toe into the UK’s hottest new workout or keep up their regular practice while on holiday. She’ll tailor the workout to you and is happy to share local walking, running and golfing tips for your day out afterwards.
Local surfing instructor George Stoy loves taking Highcliffe’s guests out onto the water, as does Wavehunters Surf School down on Polzeath beach. Cornish Rock Tors offerings sea kayaking, coasteering and wild swimming, Camel Ski School offers waterskiing and wakeboarding on the River Camel and Padstow Cycle Hire is a favourite among cyclists.
The world-class St Endoc Golf Course is just around the corner, with views over the Camel estuary, and nearby hotel St Moritz has a Cowshed spa. Saunas By The Sea down at New Polzeath is another must for spa-lovers, with bookable 10-person wood-fired saunas right next to the beach.
Check out Highcliffe’s Instagram page, a curated mosaic of fun local facts and luxe interiors shots for a glimpse inside the various properties.
What to Instagram
The view from your own private balcony at sunset.
Best for?
Outdoorsy families looking for a luxury but relaxed seaside break within walking-distance from Polzeath.
How to get there
Take the train to Bodmin Parkway. It’s just under four hours from Paddington then a 40-minute drive from there. It’s just over five hours in the car from central London.
