Devon vs Cornwall

[Yucca]

Hi all

Please put me out of my misery, help me choose my staycation location. Spent hours comparing and im stressed out! So im turned to my fellow members to help me decide.

2 nights in a sea view room for me and wife, either in Devon (Sidmouth Harbour Hotel) or Cornwall (Fowey Harbour Hotel).

Driving down from the Midlands so Sidmouth is closer and has an outdoor pool (which MAY be open). But the Fowey Hotel/Cornwall has caught my eye, not even sure why!

If you had won a weekend away to either, which would you choose and why?

Dont know either area at all so have no idea what there is to do near by. So any local advice would be appreciated. We really like walking.

 

[Yucca]

You realise you put Devon twice but locations in both counties, right?

Anyway, that aside I'd suggest Fowey over Sidmouth really, nicer and more stuff to do in relatively easy proximity.

Fixed, thanks for the heads up. If you dont mind elaborating, why is Fowey nicer than Sidmouth and what things can you do nearby? Sorry iv not been anywhere near either location so relying on others advice and google!

 

[Yucca]

There is plenty to do in either area (beach/cliff walks etc.) I just find that the Cornish coasts are generally nicer to spend time on than the Devon ones. It is kind of a much of a muchness though, both would be nice get aways although I would wait until things have properly calmed down in the country before doing holidays.

We have a Mr & Mrs Smith voucher which is expiring. As there could be a 'second wave' I figure going as soon as they open up may be the safest time. Seen as most of the staff have been sitting at home for months now. Plus if we do lots of walking, which we love, its easy to socially distance.

 

[Yucca]

There is plenty to do in either area (beach/cliff walks etc.) I just find that the Cornish coasts are generally nicer to spend time on than the Devon ones. It is kind of a much of a muchness though, both would be nice get aways although I would wait until things have properly calmed down in the country before doing holidays.

It seems to me that it would be easlier to walk around in Sidmouth as your on a long stretch of beach front rather than in Cornwall where the hotel seems to be situated on a cliff side. But I guess till I get to either its hard to know which will have the nicer walks...

 

[Yucca]

If you took photo's in Cornwall and photo's in Devon and asked people to decide which was from which I doubt anybody would be able to tell the difference, both are pretty much the same in terms of scenery the only real difference is an arbitrary line drawn on a map

If you can't decide just flip a coin

I guess im asking you all to help me choose more so between the two hotels rather than the two areas. Though obvioulsy in doing so, you have to take area into consideration.

One is near the Eden Project. Has anyone been?

 

[Yucca]

Choose Fowey, that way you can drive through Devon and judge if driving the extra distance was worth it

Lol thanks for that!

 

[Yucca]

One of the hotels is on a beach front and one is in a harbour. As iv never stayed in either before in the UK im unsure which one will be visually prettier. Sidmouth beach doesnt look the best.

Ahhh, tell a lie, iv been to Lulworth Cove... Which looks better than both of these options!!

 

[Yucca]

Oh and Sidmouth also has rooms with balconies available.... Whereas Fowey does not

 

[Yucca]

I’d choose Fowey because of its location. It’s near St Austell and Polperro, which are both amazing places to while away a summers day.

it’s also pretty close to Mevagissey, which is a nice tourist seaside town.

I google image'd those... They are tiny little villages. What does one do there, just wonder about?

 

[Yucca]

IOW.

?

 

[Yucca]

Amazing as long as you stay around the coast and don't visit the smack head infested town. Having said that, if you need cheap shoes or a pasty, the town's got everything you'll ever need. Just watch out for those pesky smack heads.

By 'stay round the coast' do you mean wonder around Porthpean Beach and Duporth beach rather than the actual down centre?

 

[Yucca]

Sidmouth/Devon:

+ 1h less driving (results in more time at location plus less tired)
+ Outdoor pool
+ Indoor pool/Gym may open by end of July
+ Room has a balcony
+ Close to town - more amenities
+ Bigger hotel, therefore more spacious and bigger bedroom
+ Nice long walk near by without needing car (across the front of the beach - 'SW Coast Path')


Fowey/Cornwall

+ You guys have all said its better!
+ Maybe better views from room as its on a cliff edge
+ Near the edan project and a bunch of other nice villages you have all mentioned
+ Its on a harbour/end of a river so all the boats may look really nice on the water
+ Nice coves near by to visit

- Further by 1 hour
- boutique hotel - smaller bedroom ect
- Not close to town - less amenities
- May have to use the car every time to visit the coves/other beaches/villages ie not much near the hotel itself
- No pool or gym
- No balcony room option
- £20 more due to parking charges

 

[Yucca]

Heart is telling me Fowey (especially as you have all been talking about it!), brain says Sidmouth

 

[Yucca]

Ok so I have taken everyones advice and am going Fowley/Cornwall. Next question:

https://www.mrandmrssmith.com/luxur...nation:europe.united-kingdom.england.cornwall

1) Partial seaview double room (the cheapest one on the list) for 2 nights

vs

2) Superior Seaview double room (the 3rd one down with floor to ceiling windows) for 3 nights


So many first world problems.

 

[Yucca]

If the weather's nice, how long would you realistically spend in your room looking out to sea? I'd save the money.

No money to be saved here.... Its 2 nights, great room. Or 3 nights, cheapest room and pay a bit more.

 

[Yucca]

My ex lives in Polruan ,get down that way quite a bit ,i would say a sea veiw is essential in Fowey and its such a nice place to mooch about in ,,have a walk right to the top where Dawn french lives ,also ferry across ,to Polruan ,maybe on to Polperro and Looe ,
did this walk afew months back

Thank you for this. Is the vid you yes? We long walking so will defo follow this.

Cant have the sea view room AND stay 3 nights. So is a toss up between more time to explore or a nicer hotel room. Naturally the more we explore the less time we will be in the room.

Is 2 days enough for the area or can 3+ days easily be filled round here?

Once you have done one long walk your done unless each walk had a different feeling/scenes.

 

[Yucca]

Closer drive too which gives you more time away.

Wow that looks beautiful. My poor mum has broken her foot and is walking with a cast/wheelchair. Want to take her for a day out. Looks like I could go here, park the car in that car park and wheel her down to the shore on a wheelchair right?

I live in Wolverhampton so Wales is not to far from me.

Edit: its still almost 4 hours!

 

[Yucca]

If the weather's nice, how long would you realistically spend in your room looking out to sea? I'd save the money.

Cheapest room and 3 nights deffo.

Thanks to both of you. We had initially booked the more expensive room for 2 nights. But have now changed it to 3 nights and the cheaper room. I guess if its nice weather we can always sit in the beer garden or in the bar looking out rather than the bedroom. Thats assuming you dont have to 'book a seat' everywhere in the hotel which seems likely with all this covid measures in place.

I’m from Fowey! (waves).

The Harbour Hotel was recently bought out and renovated. No idea what the rooms are like but it’s meant to have been well done.

It’s a lovely little town. Let me know if you have any specific questions and I’ll do my best to answer.

The original Sam’s restaurant is in Fowey, then the Sam’s empire had grown over time. The burgers are incredible — definitely worth having dinner in Sam‘a one evening but beware you can’t book.

Hotel told me parking is £10 per day. Or the next closest car park is an 11 min walk and more expensive! Apparently the hotel is in the middle of no where with hardly any parkin. Which seems about right looking on google maps. Any local knowlidge or free/cheap car park near by would be helpful. Not sure how well you know those specific roads.

When its closer to my trip date I will message you on here for more tips on walks, food, best locations etc if you dont mind

nah not me its a couple i subscribe to ,i could easily spend 3 days ,Polperro and Looe ,nice long walk but you could do all these in one day and one day just chilling in fowey so personal choice really

You mean you follow them on youtube? Why? For ideas on walks? The route that your suggeting, is it a common one? I tend to get lost quickly so hopefully some of these walks that everyone is recommening are popular local trails and the hotel has some maps for me!

 

[Yucca]

The Hall Walk is great.

I’d also look at doing the coastal path the other way (south) towards Polkerris, then Par and beyond. There’s some decent sea views across St. Austell bay, some lovely secluded beaches and Polkerris has ‘Sam’s on the Beach’ and a decent pub.

You can do Fowey town in half a day if you don’t hang about. Then you could do the Hall Walk in the afternoon. Day 2 could be the coastal path as above. Then day 3 you have options:

• The Eden Project is great if you’ve never been. A lot of it is outside so don’t go if it’s raining.
• You could get the ferry to Mevagissey if you like being on the water (although Meva is just like a small Fowey).
• There’s the Lost Gardens of Heligan (also good).
• Lostwithiel, Looe and Polperro could be done in a day by car.

Loads of choices!

Is this a popular walk? Think the hotel may have a map for me?

I assume Fowey town itself is just, well, a town!? Nothing in particular to see, just a place to wonder around and grab groceries?

We now have a late afternoon, two full days and a morning and afternoon timing wise. Will be pretty tired after the 4.5-5 hour drive up and back so on day 1 and 4 we will have to stick to the local stuff near the hotel that does not require driving and on day 2 and 3 drive out and do the rest.

Eden Project - Have to book in advance now as per website so cant avoid rain. I thought it was mostly inside hence the big domes?! Do they have air con? Surly on a hot day it will be like a greenhouse?!!!

Ferry would be fun - Just for the sake of it

Lost Gardens of Heligan looks like the same kind of thing as Eden project? Would you do both?

 

[Yucca]

Each of the biomes are climate controlled for the plants within them, it's fairly warm inside but the outdoor weather won't make a difference to how it feels going around the interior.

Worth noting that Eden might get booked quite fast as the biomes are opening for the first time since March next month.

The Lost Gardens and Eden are same in the sense that you walk around looking at plants... other than the Lost Gardens not having the biomes, the main difference will be in the types of plants they have no show.
Glendurgan is another good garden to explore if you enjoy looking at plants, plus it has a small private beach at the end where you can chill and watch the sea for a bit.

Thanks for the info. I think one garden/plant attraction will be enough! So based on what you have said and if I can get the tickets.... Maybe Eden is my best bet seen as its so famous and iv driven so far down there.

Assuming you have been, how long does it need? A full day or 3-4 hours?