11 minute read
Serenity on the Shoreline
Trevone feels like a well-kept secret, but a hop, skip, and jump and you're on one of the finest stretches of North Cornwall's coast. With Seven Bays beaches and gourmet Padstow just a few miles away, you’re never too far from the local food and culture. We make ourselves at home at the sumptuous new coastal bolthole Atlanta Trevone...
When you look at photos of Atlanta Trevone perched on a rugged clifftop with the deep ocean swells below, you might assume that this Victorian terrace and rocky beach are remote and isolated. But what you can’t see from the pictures is the beautiful village and sandy beach of Porthmissen Bay nestled behind it, just a stone’s throw from the front door.
Trevone is truly a picturesque destination with a welcoming holiday atmosphere. The village is dotted with luxury holiday homes, a post office, farm shop, pub, surf school and cafe. Atlantic Terrace, built in 1899, holds a special place in the bay as one of the oldest properties. It’s so close to the shore that you can effortlessly step out in your swimsuit, fall asleep to the soothing sound of the sea and enjoy watching the waves over breakfast.
Atlanta Trevone’s unrivalled location and uninterrupted sea views meant that when it came to redeveloping the property, owners Jessica and Ash Alken-Theasby knew the inside needed to impress in equal measure. They have rebuilt and designed their Cornwall Collection to perfection.
Atlanta Trevone launched last year (2022) and gained widespread journalist coverage, resulting in a flurry of bookings as lively as the Atlantic in a storm. The team, led by Jess and Ash, continued developing their properties, including their fifth one, The Net Loft, which opened just a few months ago. Given the tight deadline, they worked tirelessly to complete the project, still painting and decorating and even receiving mattress deliveries with just one week to go before their first guests were due to arrive. Meanwhile, we were putting our feet up and making ourselves at home in One Atlanta.
From Atlanta Trevone’s doorstep, the South West Coast Path is your gateway to a stunning stretch of coastline home to the Seven Bays, a collection of sandy coves. Lacing up your walking boots and going outside for a coastal hike is a must.
It’s easy to imagine that even the most discerning guests will appreciate the apartments' no expensespared amenities as an upgrade from the norm. I’m talking Neptune kitchens with Lacanche cookers (electric agas), Le Creuset cookware, Soho House crockery, an instant-hot-water tap and beautiful roll-top baths by Drummonds. Not to mention the mattresses, which cost £10,000 each (we slept well).
And while all properties exceed the lavishly designed benchmark of a spacious five-star London hotel, they come in various shapes and sizes – the smallest of the properties, The Net Loft, can accommodate up to four guests, while The Penthouse, formerly the old attic rooms of the townhouse, sleeps up to eight comfortably. Each property has unique features, such as the hand-painted Captain’s bed, outdoor bath and cinema room in The Net Loft; the private courtyard and original Victorian tiles in Atlanta House; and the inset balcony area of The Penthouse. Whichever property you choose, you won't be disappointed, and with Atlanta Trevone facing west, the sunsets framed by Trevose head in the distance are sensational all year round.
Jess’s deep connection to Trevone is evident in the design of this stunning property, which reflects the area’s rich history and sense of place. Her family has lived in Trevone for generations, and they have owned these grand Victorian terraces for as long as she can remember. Fulfilling her father’s dream of renovating the building and replacing its roof (with reclaimed Cornish slate tiles) was a special tribute to the legacy of this property.
Inside, little treasures, from old photographs and rare bottles to luxurious fabrics and throws, have been artfully placed to create a stylish and welcoming home – and fireplaces with log burners provide cosiness during winter evenings. Guests arrive to a fridge stocked with fresh Cornish milk, butter, and bacon and a hamper with yet more of Cornwall’s finest delicacies, such as elderflower cake, apple juice, homemade granola, and rhubarb jam. To top it all off, there’s a delightful bottle of Classic Cuvée Knightor, produced at the local vineyard in Portscatho, ready to be enjoyed while taking in the spectacular picture-perfect vista.
If you need to replenish your milk supply or prepare for an in-house feast, the Trevone Farm Shop is a great option. They are open seven days a week and offer a variety of fresh produce, including pastries, pasties and bread, as well as fruit and veg boxes. You can also find a range of beverages, from wine and beer to sweet treats.
Each morning of our stay we braved a refreshing dip in Trevone’s natural tidal pool, known by locals as Tinker Bunny’s Bathing Pool. It is one of the largest natural sea pools of the Cornwall coast. It feels wonderful to be able to simply wrap on your fluffy robe and saunter down there (and back) within minutes – and the water is crystal clear as, thanks to Mother Nature, the pool is filled and emptied at least twice daily. Check the tide times, as it can get a bit choppy when the waves begin to wash over the seawall.
From Atlanta Trevone’s doorstep, the South West Coast Path is your gateway to a stunning stretch of coastline, home to the Seven Bays, a collection of sandy coves. Lacing up your walking boots and going outside for a coastal hike is a must.
On our first day, we walked from Trevone to Harlyn Bay and then ventured inland for an incredible Sunday Roast at THE PIG. Interestingly enough, the 15th-century Harlyn House was actually Jess’s family home and a working farmhouse before her father sold it to Robin Hutson to transform into one of his signature PIG hotels with kitchen garden (and highly acclaimed 25-mile menus) four years ago. Jess helped with the THE PIG-at Harlyn Bay prior to its opening, and today the celebrated interior designer Judy Hutson (responsible for THE PIG hotel designs and married to Robin) is returning the camaraderie, contributing invaluable design and guidance to Jess. For a more relaxed setting, The Lobster Shed here offers all-day dining on benches alfresco-style or under canvas.
We continued our scenic Sunday stroll, passing the Trevose Golf & Country Club, which looked like a great place to play a round, before arriving at Treyarnon Bay. As we arrived, ready for a swim, the coastguards were just leaving and issued a warning that the currents were very strong and it was unsafe to swim in the sea. However, here there is another natural sea pool nestled within the rocks, and with the tide on our side it was perfect for a safe swim.
Having ticked Trevone, Harlyn and Treyarnon off the list of Seven Bays, we were delighted that our picturesque coastal loop around Trevose Head took us past another three of these wonderful beaches: Mother Ivey’s, Booby’s and Constantine, a stretch where you are often lucky enough to see dolphins and seals.
As we continued our stroll, we were treated to breathtaking views of Trevose Head Lighthouse and the stunning setting of the RNLI Padstow Lifeboat Station, both iconic landmarks in the area. It was incredible to see the diverse range of birds, including corn buntings, fulmars, and skylarks.
It’s no wonder that Jessica’s great-grandfather JHC Millar was inspired by this beautiful location to become a waterscape artist. His oil paintings of stormy seascapes are truly stunning, and one of his works is even owned by the royal family and hangs in Osborne House.
Back in One Atlanta, we couldn’t help but admire some of Millar’s most famous works adorning the freshly painted walls, and pointing out some of the landscapes we had seen earlier that day.
That evening we enjoyed freshly grilled and battered fish at The Cornish Arms in St Merryn – and following our deliciously cooked food the general manager kindly gave us a tour of their six new shepherd’s huts. Set in a picturesque spot sheltered by woodlands behind the pub, their innovative ‘Heat, Sleep, Retreat’ staycation is a collaboration with Saunas by The Sea – part of a new craze of wood-fired pop-up saunas, now on the beaches of Harlyn Bay and Polzeath.
If you feel like staying in for dinner (and who would blame you!), ordering from the Stein's at Home online shop is another option for a taste of Rick Stein's famous fresh seafood caught from around the Cornish coast. If the weather is good, you can’t go wrong with an ultimate seafood spread delivered to your door for you to barbecue and enjoy alfresco on Atlanta Trevone’s terrace.
On our final day in Atlanta Trevone we walked to Padstow. The coastal path leads you from Porthmissen beach up past the 80ft-deep giant Trevone Round Hole –this dramatic tourist attraction was the result of a cave-top collapse. You pass the lovely sheltered sandy beaches of Hawker’s Cove, Harbour Cove and St George’s Cove, and the panoramic views from Stepper Point are breathtaking. In the historic fishing village of Padstow there are plenty of shops (don't miss Tidings the year-round Christmas shop!), cafes, galleries, stylish lunchrooms and swanky foodie establishments.
For Michelin-star quality there's Paul Ainsworth’s No6, for 3–5 course lunches served in a cosy polytunnel. There's Padstow Kitchen Garden, one of Jess’s family ‘favorito’s’; Caffè Rojano, serving legendary Whoopsy Splunker puddings; or catch a ferry over to Rock (ferries run every 20 minutes) to Paul Ainsworth's pub, The Mariners.
The Seafood Restaurant, Rick Stein’s flagship venue (where his culinary empire began) together with his more informal St Petroc’s Bistro and three further Rick Stein establishments can also be found in Padstow, so it’s really no surprise the town has been dubbed Padstein.
Activities are no less plentiful – you can take a tour inside the Padstow Lobster Hatchery, try to catch your own under the guidance of experts on a fishing trip, or look out for basking sharks on a sealife safari.
We chose to hire bikes and cycle the Camel Trail. This 17.5 mile out-and-back flat bike ride takes you along the estuary, with lovely views from Padstow to Bodmin.
Halfway along in Wadebridge we stopped in at Tim’s Place in Foundry Court for a scrumptious Full Cornish with St Ewe eggs followed by a slice of homemade cake. We were lucky enough to be served by Tim himself, a friend of
Ash’s, who opened his restaurant – recently celebrating its 10th year – when he was aged just 18.
If you make it to the Bodmin end of the trail, you’ll find Camel Valley Vineyard, where you could take a tour or simply enjoy a glass of wine on the terrace.
Cycling back, we couldn’t resist a hot-chocolate stop at the Atlantic Coast Express – a beautifully converted vintage train carriage, conveniently located at the halfway point of the trail serving ‘ACE’ alfresco food and drinks.
Just one night in Atlanta Trevone and it becomes a second home. In fact, you feel so relaxed here that during an evening spent cooking up a storm in your lavish kitchen, playing board games and gazing out to sea, you need to remind yourself you are not in an endless Cornish dream. It might be easy to forget your emails and daily life pressures, but acknowledging your time here is almost up is a much greater challenge. It’s time to check out – but not before one last quick dip in Tinker Bunny’s Bathing Pool? OK, count me in, I’m plunging in first...
It might be easy to forget your emails and daily life pressures, but acknowledging that your time here is almost up is a much greater challenge...
Atlanta Trevone is a set of five luxury self-catered holiday homes, prices from £1,400 per week.
→ For more information: atlantatrevonebay.com
Text by Jessica Way
