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Happiness and a hot tub at Fingers Point

Happiness and a hot tub at Fingers Point

They say a change is as good as a rest, and boy did I need one. Not having had a proper holiday this year, I was frazzled at the edges to say the least. When the opportunity to stay at Fingers Point near Penzance came up, I jumped at the chance to unwind for a few days at this stunning property.

Driving along the pretty country lanes close to Penzance, the views were just beautiful , with the hedgerows filled with autumnal berries and glimpses of the glittering sea every now and then.  We found Finger’s Point easily enough. Getting out of the car, the view of rolling fields down to the sea beyond, with St Michael’s Mount in the distance, made us stop in our tracks and soak it all in. The silence was astonishing; set high up with nothing between us and the sea other than fields, we took deep breaths of the fresh air, tangy with salt, and immediately began to relax.

Opening the door to Finger’s Point (after gawping at the gorgeous garden – designed by a Chelsea gold winner no less - and very inviting hot tub), we were greeted with a warm welcome. On the table a host of goodies awaited us; Prosecco, tasty sourdough bread and scones from a local artisan bakery, clotted cream, jam, butter, milk, Cornish biscuits, fresh flowers, eggs, fudge and a handy local paper (to check out what was on in the area). This was a lovely surprise, and we really appreciated after a day on the road.

Dumping our bags (and nibbling on a biscuit) we scooted around the retreat to check everything out.

Small but perfectly-formed, Finger’s Point has heated limestone tiled flooring throughout, making it cosy in winter and cool in the summer. The living/dining/kitchen area has been artfully designed; the impressive egg-shaped wood burning stove, sumptuous grey sofa, fab television system, iPad and Naim sound system offers laid-back luxury, whilst the bespoke fully-equipped handmade kitchen has everything you would need to rustle up a romantic meal or two. To the back of the retreat lies the bedroom with floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of the sea views, a huge king sized bed with Hypnos mattress, plus a gorgeous Liberty bed head with matching chair and stool. The oh-so-cool wet room has a rainfall shower, fab carved sink and tucked-away loo, all with under floor heating to keep toes toasty warm.

We were pleased when Karen and Mike, the lovely, friendly owners, briefly popped in to check we were okay and to show us how things work – especially the hot tub. It was reassuring to know they were on hand if need be.

Once settled, we made use of the hot tub – by now it was dark, so we spent the evening watching the glittering lights of the coast in the distance before heading to bed.

The next day, after a blissful nights’ sleep, we ate breakfast listening to music on the brilliant Naim sound system and enjoying the view. Contemplating whether to hunker down for the day (storm Ophelia was due) or brave the weather, we decided to head out mid morning down to Newlyn and Mousehole, just beyond Penzance.

It was a lovely ride past Marazion, with St Michael’s Mount close up, then driving along the water front through Penzance. The swell was definitely up, with huge waves building up out at sea. We stopped briefly in Newlyn and popped into a fishmonger to pick up some fresh fish for dinner. Set just across the road from the harbour where the fishing boats come in, it’s as fresh as can be and the selection is huge – I ended up getting monkfish, king prawns and samphire – and it was delicious.

Back in the car, we headed off along the coastline to Mousehole. This pretty village is super picturesque with a lovely harbour, sandy beach and old cottages huddled together along the front and back up to the hill behind, with narrow paths and roads connecting them. We headed to the Hole Food Deli for lunch – this busy little spot is right on the water front and has great views. The coffee is strong and the food tasty; just what we needed on this blustery, chilly day.

Later, we took a stroll around the village, poking our noses in the various galleries and gift shops. The harbour was busy with people storm watching; the swell was growing and the waves getting bigger and wilder, so we grabbed an ice cream (well, when in Rome and all that), and stood for a while, in awe of the ferocity of the sea.

Heading home, the weather really set in with waves now crashing over the Promenade in Penzance, and we saw many a spectator get absolutely soaked. We felt pretty smug back at Finger’s Point where we lit the fire, enjoyed our seafood supper and cosied up with a good film (after another lovely but blustery stint in the hot tub!).
Mel-an-Tol
The next day, the weather had calmed down so we headed out towards West Penwith to explore some of the ancient sites such as Madron Well, Lanyon Quoit (an ancient megalithic tomb) and the iconic Men-an-Tol – a bronze-age site with a stone like a huge polo. It’s said to have curative powers if you crawl through it (which we did of course) – back in the day babies were passed through it as it was said to cure rickets. It’s set high on heather-strewn moorland and takes about half an hour to reach on foot along a country path, passing an old derelict farm. It’s a beautiful and remote place - during the winter months it must have been a very hard, bleak life in the past living in such a spot.

We drove to the north coast and took the winding, ever-so-scenic road towards St Ives. This scenic stretch – the B3306 – is beautiful and has breathtaking views across the wild coastline. Once in bustling St Ives, we headed to the harbour front and had lunch watching the tide roll in, before pottering around the shops and picking up a few goodies to take back with us.

Once home, we made the most of our last night at Fingers Point. The wind had dropped and the skies had cleared, and we spent time in the hot tub admiring the night sky and listening for the occasional owl in the distance, before rustling up dinner in the fab kitchen.

The next morning, after a leisurely wake up, we reluctantly said farewell to Finger’s Point. It had been everything we needed for an autumnal break; peaceful, totally luxurious, warm and cosy and in an ideal location.

Fingers Point is perfect for couples wanting a complete break; if you want to do nothing, it’s easy to stock up on goodies and just while away a week in the house and hot tub. For those who like to explore, there’s plenty to do right on your doorstep. Finger’s Point is ideally located close to the south coast, far west of Cornwall and just ten minutes or so from the north coast and St Ives.

Romantic and luxurious, with incredible views and everything you need just a short drive away, you couldn’t ask for a better retreat for couples.

Feeling tempted? Learn all about Fingers Point and book your own break here.

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