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The Idle Rocks Hotel
St Mawes, Cornwall
A comfy, small hotel right on the waterfront in lovely St Mawes.
The Idle Rocks Hotel in St Mawes is definitely one of our all-time-favourite places to stay.
The hotel is perched on the harbour wall - there's nothing between the hotel and the sea - so there's nothing nicer than waking to the sound of the waves as they splash against the front of the hotel.
Inside the hotel is all peace and calm. A snug lounge with board games, papers and an open fire. A more contemporary cocktail bar, with direct access to the waterfront terrace outside. And a sea-view restaurant with fine hotel dining and an accent on local fish and seafood.
The bedrooms vary in size, style and outlook. The standard doubles come in a choice of land-facing or sea-facing. There are also some contemporary "balconette" rooms. It depends on your personal preference, but for us the standard sea-view doubles are perfect - snug and cottagey, with lovely sash windows fronting straight onto the sea.
St Mawes itself is a delightful Cornish harbour town. You'll find narrow streets, a few interesting shops, a couple of nice pubs, and the harbour itself with fishing boats, pleasurecraft and a handy (and fun) ferry across to Falmouth on the other side of the estuary. There are plenty of walks from the hotel around the nearby coast paths (and St Mawes Castle is worth a look).
Visit in Summer and you'll find St Mawest full of colour and life (but never too busy). But in winter the place takes on a whole new feel as the dark nights and wild seas bring a sense of delightful remoteness.
