“It’s really all about the beach at this laid-back bolthole on the North Cornwall coast, set overlooking the broad bay from which the hotel takes its name.” – The Independent
Sand, waves, dunes, cliffs. Surf, walk, rockpool, swim. Eat, unwind, hang out, dive in. Welcome to Watergate Bay Hotel, the latest stop on our Take Me To tour of naturally inspiring places to stay in the British Isles – where you’ll also find land&water products.
Embracing the elemental playground on its doorstep for over 25 years, Watergate Bay Hotel puts an invigorating spin on the seaside holiday. Set on a sublime two-mile surfing bay on the North Cornwall coast, its unique “ski resort on a beach” ethos sees it championing lungs full of fresh Atlantic air and active days outdoors – balanced with good food and drink, inviting spaces, and a warm ‘après surf’ atmosphere.
Whether paddling out into the white water or wave-watching from the sauna, all eyes – and windows – at Watergate Bay are on the ocean and the eponymous stretch of golden sand at its edge.
Stop by Wavehunters, Watergate’s legendary surf school, to get (wet)suited and booted, book a lesson, or hire a board. From the year-round consistency of the waves to the wind-sheltering high cliffs and the comforting presence of the RNLI on the beach when it’s busy, Watergate Bay is an ideal spot to learn the surfing ropes.
You might also recognise its shores as the birthplace of land&water. After years spent watching the joyful “warm glow” radiating from guests of her family hotel, land&water founder Pix Ashworth set about capturing it in a range of botanical recipes for bath & body, face and home.
Watergate Bay’s salt-swept mood spills into its interiors, with natural textures and tones inspired by the surrounding landscape. Reclaimed wood floors, rattan furnishings, woven textiles and vintage finds create a relaxed, lived-in feel.
Pops of playful colour pay homage to the Bay’s famous sunsets and wildflower-strewn cliffs. Each room’s design is unique: some have striking sea views or warming fires for stormy nights, while others have roll-top baths or a children’s bunk room.
If you feel like splashing out, the beach lofts offer private beach access, vast windows straight onto the waves, a pantry for breakfast and afternoon tea, and a ski chalet-style host to help you get the most out of your time there.
If all that sea air has stirred your appetite, then three enticing eateries await. Will you drink in the views while sinking into sharing plates, satisfying salads and cocktails in The Living Space? Sit down to a laidback lunch of fresh seafood, pasta or hearty burgers at The Beach Hut? Or recount the day’s adventures over a three-course dinner of world-class, seasonal dishes with Cornish spirit in Zacry’s?
And when it’s time to wind down, saunter over to Swim Club, Watergate Bay’s refreshing take on a spa. Seamlessly blurring the boundaries between beach and hotel, Swim Club channels the power of the elements to deliver post-shoreline radiance. Framed by floor-to-ceiling windows, sweeping Atlantic views stretch as far as the eye can see from the infinity-edged swimming pool.
A cedarwood Finnish sauna, clifftop terrace hot tub and Bay-facing ocean room invite further immersion in the wild. And the new land&water treatments menu – spanning facials, massages, reflexology, wraps, scrubs and soaks – uses natural land&water products to stir a warm glow and elevated sense of wellbeing, bottling the energy of the Bay long after you’ve left the beach.
“I love seeing the change in people from when they arrive to when they leave,” says Swim Club manager Morwenna White. “It’s transformative.”
OUR PICK FROM THE LAND&WATER TREATMENT MENU:
hydrate & restore
Unearth an elevated sense of wellbeing with this immersive treatment. Including a detoxifying full body scrub to invigorate, cleanse and exfoliate, a deeply hydrating body wrap and a calming face and scalp massage, this treatment will relieve stress, restore your glow and reveal renewed, petal-soft skin.
all elements facial
Harnessing botanical actives to restore your skin's natural radiance and awaken the senses. This bespoke treatment includes a refreshing cleanse, renewing scrub, softening toner, relaxing massage, balancing, soothing or hydrating face mask, and finishes with nourishing moisture – all tailored to your skin type and needs. Lifting and detoxifying massage techniques relieve stress and recreate that fresh-faced glow from time spent outside.
full body massage
Unwind with a deeply relaxing natural embrace to restore inside and out. This head-to-toe massage is tailored to your needs using a range of techniques to ease tension, nourish skin and restore energy. Choose between two carefully blended botanical body oils - lively lemongrass, mint & eucalyptus, or warming orange, ginger & geranium.
