The Lugger Hotel

Tucked away in a hidden cove on the Cornish coast, the Lugger won’t be mistaken for one of England’s new crop of splashy, fashin-conscious country boutiques. This is no criticism, either. The Lugger, once a seventeenth-century smugglers’ inn, is the kind of quiet and remote hotel where you go to make a getaway, rather than an entrance.

That’s not to say it isn’t charming and comfortable — it certainly is. It’s just to say that the Lugger does just what a good down-to-earth seaside escape should do, and does it exceedingly well. The interiors are warm and inviting, contemporary but not modernist, luxurious but not precious, and the service is attentively old-fashioned.

Bedrooms are neither frilly nor stark, but stylish, simple and plush, with overstuffed beds and plentiful pillows, and a soothing palette of muted creams and greys. Bathrooms are just right, no marble or gold plating, just deep oversized tubs and separate (and torrential) showers. All the rooms are different: some larger than others, and some with better views.

The Lugger experience wouldn’t be complete without a meal in the hotel restaurant overlooking the harbor. Dinner is an elegant three-course affair accompanied by a wide selection of wines, with an emphasis on seafood, especially Portloe lobster and locally harvested crab.

Please note: The Lugger Hotel is unable to accommodate children under 12 years old.