Whilst meandering around the country lanes, or maybe hiking along the South West Coastal path, The Gurnard's Head is a perfect stop off when you're out and about in this part of Cornwall – which is precisely what we did. With magnificent views, excellent food and a vast array of local brews and tasty wines, this is a must for the weary (and hungry) soul.
From the outside The Gurnard’s Head might appear to be a rustic country inn, but inside it’s a seriously sophisticated place, serving beautifully presented, seasonal produce plucked from the Cornish larder, alongside excellent local ales, wines and spirits.
I’d heard such good things about The Gurnard so wanted to try it for myself, and it being my sister’s birthday, thought it an excellent excuse to try it out. Hunkering down in this ends-of-the-earth location, with cows grazing outside the window and the wild Atlantic lashing the coastline on the doorstep, along with the unexpected horizontal rain, it’s a delight.
The décor in the dining room is cosy, sophisticated and warm; think original stone floors, rich blue and terracotta orange paintwork, gorgeous oil paintings and a welcoming open fire. It’s dark and cavernous, so the twinkling candles are a must as well as looking pretty on a grey day.
The friendly waitress hands us the menu alongside freshly made bread which disappear quickly. For starters I have the crispy brawn, spiced pig ears and smoked tomato ketchup – astonishing, and a first for me. My sister has the goat’s curd, za’atar and other wonderous things – equally delicious.
For mains, I have red gurnard (well, when in Rome), whilst my sister tucks into the red onion, Jerusalem artichoke, stilton and walnut tart. Both are beautiful works of art on a plate and taste amazing. I can never resist dessert, so have the coconut rice pudding with mango ice cream to finish – super creamy, fruity and oh-so-delicious.
Tummies full, we lounge at the table, not feeling rushed to move on. We watch others come and go; German walkers seeking respite from the weather, locals popping in for a quick pint and more than a few couples having an intimate lunch. There’s something surprisingly romantic about this atmospheric place – a perfect spot for wooing.
Want to visit The Gurnard’s Head? Look at their website here for more information.
Take a look at our lovely luxury cottages in West Cornwall here.
The Gurnards Head, Nr Zennor, St. Ives, TR26 3DE | 01736 796 928 |
