The Cornish village of Coverack sits on a spur of rock on the eastern side of the quirkily named Lizard Peninsula. Its location puts Coverack in one of England's Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, separated from the much larger town of Helford by a day's walking on the magnificent South West Coast Path. The trail provides clear views of The Manacles, a stretch of forbidding rocks that has spelled doom for many a passing ship. Coverack's hotels are ideal launching points for peninsula exploration.
Named for a ship once stranded on The Manacles, The Paris Hotel dates to 1907. Perched directly above Coverack's harbor, the hotel welcomes guests with four snug twin or double rooms. Each has ocean views, en suite bath facilities and televisions. Room rates include a full English breakfast. The hotel's Oceanview Restaurant, with a chef well-skilled in both Oriental and English cuisine, specializes in fresh seafood and meat entrées.
The South West Coast Path runs directly past the hotel. Non-hiking guests can fish for mackerel and bass off the harbor walls, or charter an off-shore excursion with one of the locals. Swimming in the current-free cove safe. Surfers need to head seven miles west to Kennack Sands Beach for decent swells.
The Paris Hotel
The Cove
Coverack
Helston, Cornwall TR12 6SX
United Kingdom
011-44-013-2628-0258
pariscoverack.com/
A ten-minute walk north of the Paris Hotel, the Bay Hotel shares ocean vistas. The hotel is so dedicated to creating a vacation escape that its guest accommodations have no telephones and no cell phone reception. Wi-Fi is available. Fourteen guest rooms and suites also have televisions -- the majority of them flat-screen -- and en suite baths or showers. The Harbor Suite has bedroom and bathroom televisions, a sitting area and private balcony with harbor and bay views. The Bay View Room has a private terrace.
Guests sleeping on Egyptian cotton bed linens awaken to made-to-order Cornish breakfasts with free-range eggs, cereals and fresh fruits and juices. The hotel's Bay Restaurant serves freshly caught fish and Cornish-produced meats, produce and cheese in seasonal dinner menus. Coverack Bay lobster with garlic butter or mayonnaise and poached pears in praline ice cream in butterscotch sauce are typical offerings.
The Bay Hotel
N. Corner
Coverack
Helston, Cornwall TR12 6TF
United Kingdom
011-44-013-2628-0464
thebayhotel.co.uk/
Fresh coffee and tea served in the ocean-view conservatory await arriving guests at the Fernleigh Bed and Breakfast. A family-operated hotel less that 200 yards from the ocean, the Fernleigh stands on a bluff overlooking Coverack Harbor and Bay. Two en suite guest rooms, the dining room and guest lounge also have views of the sea. The third guest room, a double room with separate bath, looks out on the hotel garden. All accommodations have televisions and comfortable furnishings. The child- and dog-friendly hotel is Wi-Fi equipped.
Added conveniences include packed lunches and laundry service for hikers and bicycle storage for cyclists. Guests choose cold breakfasts of yogurt, fresh fruit and juices or full English breakfast with local ingredients, including free range eggs. Evening meals are available with advance notice. A dinner highlight is fish fresh from the owners' fishing boat.
Fernleigh
Chymbloth Way
Coverack
Helston, Cornwall TR12 6TB
011-44-013-2628-0620
fernleighcoverack.co.uk
