All posts filed under: Travel

Cowshed Hot Stone Massage, St Moritz Hotel

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Time stresses me out. I hate being late and nearly always arrive early. So imagine my stress levels when I realised that I had completely missed my hot stone massage at Cowshed at the St. Moritz Hotel in Cornwall. I’d booked it for the wrong day. Big whoops. Luckily the lovely manager understood and booked me in for the same time the next day. I arrived slightly early (of course), filled in a form and was taken into one of the six candle lit treatment rooms at the back. I undressed and lay a towel over myself before the masseuse reentered the room, turned the lights down and explained the treatment to me. A hot stone massage uses volcanic basalt stones, which are bathed in warm water and anointed with spicy, sensual aromas. They are placed on key energy points of the body and are used to massage using traditional techniques easing pain and tension and enhancing relaxation. I sat up while my masseuse placed hot stones on the bed, which touched certain energy points …

The Nare Hotel afternoon tea

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Ding Ding. The bell rings and the receptionist immediately comes bounding through the door, all smiles. “Can I take your coat madam”, I am asked before being shown to an armchair situated by a soft glowing fire. I am surrounded by traditional furniture and an old grandfather clock ticks tocks in the background. The last guests of a wedding reception slowely filter out from the bar and I am left sitting in near silence with another couple that read the newspapers in peace. I wish I could see what was beyond the patio doors but it is mid winter and pitch black. I pick up a brochure for the hotel in which I am sitting and gaze longigly at images, taken in the summer, which show the beautiful serene surroundings that I know are there but just not visible. I am at The Nare Hotel to sample one of the hotels famous cream teas. The Nare, in case you weren’t aware, is the highest rated four star hotel in Cornwall and has been so for …

First Great Western Pullman Carriage review

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It’s Friday evening and London Paddington is buzzing with tired commuters awaiting their ride to freedom for the next couple of days. Sushi and sandwiches are munched, cans are cracked open and the aroma of (bad) coffee fills the air. I find myself sitting in a quiet and brightly lit waiting room, filled with complimentary refreshments. I grab two packs of biscuits, a couple of clementines, a plateful of nuts and sandwiches and a cappuccino from the self serve machine. I watch in distain as the coffee machine pours hot milk out of the nozzle into the cup before spurting out a small amount of coffee on top. As I take my first sip, I wince and place it on the coffee table not to be touched again. I sometimes wish I wasn’t such a coffee snob. The platform number of my train emerges on the screen and I wind through the tables with my suitcase onto the platform and onto the train, which is almost full after only a few minutes of opening its …

Eden Project

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Last week I walked around a rainforest. In England. Really, I did. I also took a stroll past olive trees, lemon trees and fragrant herbs in the Mediterranean. Don’t believe me? Then you obviously haven’t heard of the Eden Project in Cornwall. Situated in a former China clay quarry, the Eden Project opened in 2001 and has fast become a world wide tourist attraction. And I can see why. We were lucky with the weather on our visit – it’s mid December and there were no gloves, hats or scarves needed. The sun was shining over the whole site and as a result each and every part looked stunning. During the winter months, the main stage area is turned into a magical ice skating rink. Guests can hire skates and take to the rink for a mere £5 for 40 minutes. But if you have forgotten your knee pads and prefer to watch, you have the option to sit and watch on a viewing deck whilst eating a Cornish pasty and drinking a steaming cup …

The Lugger, Cornwall

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“Ohhh, you’re so lucky”, exclaimed my workmate when I told her that I was going to be spending my birthday weekend at The Lugger in Cornwall. Being from Cornwall herself, she had once treated herself to a night a couple of years ago and loved it. Driving down the narrow country roads in pitch black, I only had the memories of images I’d seen on The Lugger website. Upon arrival I had to imagine the beautiful view that I would be waking up to in the morning. And when I woke at 8am, I wasn’t disappointed. Having not closed the shutters intentionally, I opened my eyes and watched the sea lolling, causing small waves to lap the shore. The room that we stayed in for two nights was quaint with low ceilings, white walls and New England style furnishings. A large desk / dressing table stood by the window and was surrounded by windowsills furnished with cushions, two bedside tables, an old alarm clock (which I had to hide under a large pillow due to …