The Scarlet is the most romantic hotel on Cornwall's north coast and an easy honeymoon pick for couples who want the sea, a spa and no children. It is a kid-free eco hotel set on the clifftops above Mawgan Porth, a sandy cove between Newquay and Padstow, with rooms that look straight out to the Atlantic.
The hotel's signature images are its clifftop hot tubs and its natural swimming pool, filtered through reed beds rather than chemicals. Add a restaurant with sea views and a menu that changes with the seasons and you have a place where a rainy day is no hardship. The design is contemporary and calm, built into the slope so the building does not dominate the cliff.
It suits couples who want a restorative few days on the coast, with long walks, good food and spa time. It is not a traditional country house. The clifftop setting can be windy. Couples who want to walk out to lots of pubs and shops should look at St Ives or Padstow instead.
Highlights at a glance
- Kid-free eco hotel on the clifftops
- Clifftop hot tubs facing the Atlantic
- Reed-filtered natural swimming pool
- Seasonal restaurant with sea views
- South West Coast Path at the door
Why Couples Love The Scarlet
The view does a lot. Almost everything at The Scarlet faces the sea, from the rooms to the restaurant to the hot tubs. Watching an Atlantic sunset from warm water on the edge of the cliff is the moment most guests remember.
The kid-free policy shapes the mood. Public spaces are quiet, the pool is calm and evenings are relaxed. Couples make up most of the guests.
The eco ethos is woven in rather than preached. The natural pool, local sourcing and careful design give the hotel a sense of belonging to the landscape. The staff are friendly and informal, more Cornish surf town than formal luxury. The hotel's sister property, Bedruthan, sits nearby and is aimed at families, which helps keep The Scarlet couples-focused.
Rooms to Book
Rooms are grouped by size with playful names: Just Right, Generous, Unique, Spacious and Indulgent, plus Dog Friendly rooms if you travel with a dog.
- Just Right rooms are the entry level, comfortable and fine for a short stay.
- Generous and Spacious rooms add more room to spread out, worth it for three nights or more.
- Unique rooms have unusual layouts or features.
- Indulgent rooms are the largest and the honeymoon choice, with the most space and the best sea views.
Ask for a room with an outdoor terrace or balcony facing the sea. On calm evenings, sitting outside with a drink is the best show in Cornwall. Note that the dog-friendly rooms mean you may meet a well-behaved dog in the corridors.
Food, Drink and the Spa
The restaurant has sea views and a menu that changes each season, built around local, sustainably sourced and slow-grown produce. Expect Cornish fish and shellfish, vegetables from nearby farms and creative dishes rather than pub classics. Book a window table for sunset.
The spa is the heart of the hotel. The clifftop hot tubs face the ocean. The reed-filtered natural pool is chilly but invigorating. Treatments, spa days and wellness sessions are offered; book couples treatments in advance.
For a drink, the bar and lounge spaces have big windows and comfortable sofas. Cornwall's gin and cider makers are well represented.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
The South West Coast Path runs right past the hotel. Walk north to Bedruthan Steps, dramatic rock stacks on a wide beach, or south toward Watergate Bay. Mawgan Porth beach is below the hotel and good for surfing lessons.
Padstow is about 20 to 25 minutes by car, with harbor restaurants, seafood and the Camel Trail, a flat cycling path along the estuary. Newquay is close for surf culture and Fistral Beach.
One partner can take a surf lesson while the other walks the cliffs, then meet in a hot tub. The Eden Project is under an hour away for a rainy day. St Ives, with its galleries and harbor, makes a good day trip farther west.
Getting There
Newquay Cornwall Airport (NQY) is about 10 minutes from the hotel, with domestic flights from London and other UK cities. From the United States, most couples fly to London, then take a short domestic flight or the train.
Trains from London Paddington run to Cornwall, with connections to Newquay or a taxi from Bodmin Parkway or St Austell. The journey takes around five hours.
Driving from London takes five to six hours, longer on summer weekends. Once you are here, a car is useful for exploring the coast, though you can walk the coast path from the hotel. Cornish lanes are narrow and high-hedged, so take them slowly.
Is It Worth It?
For a kid-free coastal honeymoon in England, yes. The Scarlet is not cheap, with the hotel's own offers starting at roughly £240 to £480 a night for two depending on day and package, approximate. You get clifftop views, the hot tubs and pool, a strong restaurant and the quiet of a kid-free hotel.
Three nights is a good length for walking, surfing and spa time.
Pick elsewhere if you want a classic harbor village setting; The Idle Rocks and Hotel Tresanton in St Mawes suit that taste. Couples who want a beach right outside the door might prefer Watergate Bay Hotel. Budget-minded couples could look at self-catering cottages.
Weather and Seasons
Cornwall has a mild, changeable climate. Summer brings the warmest weather and the busiest roads, especially during school holidays in late July and August. May, June and September offer a better balance of weather and quiet.
Winter is dramatic, with big Atlantic swells and storms, which can be romantic from a hot tub. Pack layers, a waterproof jacket and good walking shoes.
The Atlantic is cold year round. Rip currents are a real risk at north Cornwall beaches, so swim between the red-and-yellow flags where lifeguards patrol. The coast path has steep drops; stay on the trail in wind.
Insider tips
- Book an Indulgent room for the most space and best sea views.
- Reserve the clifftop hot tubs for sunset as soon as you arrive.
- Visit outside the August school holidays for quieter roads and lower prices.
- Walk the coast path north to Bedruthan Steps at low tide.
