Our work in St Mawes, a Cornish gem!
This year we have been lucky enough to work in St Mawes in Cornwall. For me it was a first ever visit to the area and what a special place it is. My first trip was by train and the second by car and as long as both options are, it is worth it!
Working with the wonderful St Mawes Retreats and Waterside Gallery, I was able to discover the local area, shops, food and activities that make the Rosalind Peninsula so special to so many people. The coastal town of St Mawes and its rural extension the Roseland Peninsula. With glorious beaches and countryside stretching for miles and miles, there is so much to do in and around St Mawes. You can head back in time to St Mawes Castle, explore the wonderful lush beaches of Roseland or hike into the hills and so much more…
Charming winding streets adorned with an array of pastel cottages and colourful potted plants, invite you to wander and ponder. As you meander in and around the village, as well as the friendly, relaxed and tranquil atmosphere, there’s a palpable sense of days gone by. A 16th-century castle, a fortress built by Henry VIII to safeguard the Fal Estuary and Carrick Roads, stands sentinel to ancient tales. Fishermen catch and supply the surrounding restaurants, just as the generations before them did. The smugglers’ coves and holy well, should they be able to speak, would have lively stories to tell.
The heartbeat of St Mawes resonates with the rhythm of the sea. The St Mawes ferry, a gorgeous blue and cream old wooden boat, glides along every 15 minutes, revealing playful seals and dolphins along its course. Steeped in tradition, this ebb and flow as the ferry transports passengers to and from St Mawes and Falmouth is one of the most enchanting ferry rides. Should you wish to explore further asea, the King Harry Ferry connects St Mawes and The Roseland with Falmouth, Feock and Truro and departs every 20 minutes each side.
Some of my favourite spots are -
Set in the South Cornish village of St Mawes, Tresanton is a collection of whitewashed buildings. Formerly a yacht club, they create a very relaxed, almost Mediterranean getaway. The Independent’s review of the hotel said ‘If there is any more elegant hotel in Britain than Olga Polizzi’s Tresanton on the Cornish Coast, then I have never been there’
The hotel restaurant, led by Head Chef Matt Haggath, focuses on locally sourced produce with flavour, texture and presentation being integral to all dishes. Matt and his team have designed a menu around stories brought to fruition through carefully developed relationships with local suppliers, fishermen and farmers. It’s a true celebration of Cornwall and offers an unforgettable culinary journey, with strong emphasis on seasonal flavours, keeping true to our sustainability ethos.
The Watch House is a harbour side restaurant in St Mawes, on the beautiful Roseland Peninsula in Cornwall. There is a comfortable and cosy ground floor dining area and bar with family friendly booths and a light and open upstairs dining room with sea views out across the harbour to St Anthony’s head.
“Hands down the best cinnamon buns in the UK.” There’s nothing more to it than using ingredients the bakers love and experimenting with them to create the best recipes that bring out their flavours – so they naturally end up with better baking.
Found tucked away along the coast path near Portscatho on the remote Roseland Peninsula, the Hidden Hut is a special spot to enjoy freshly cooked food out in the sea air…
Curgurrell Farm and Farm Shop are situated overlooking Gerrans Bay on the beautiful Roseland Peninsula, near Portscatho in South Cornwall.
The Farm and Shop have been owned and run by the Taffinder family since 1996. As well as farming South Devon cattle and Dorset sheep, the family operate four inshore fishing boats.
In the early days, crabs and lobsters were sold from the house, but this became so popular that the Shop was established in the old farm buildings and has developed into the unique food outlet it is today.
For a spot of shopping then look no further than …
Fudge and More for delightful sweet treats and gifts all made in St Mawes. Fudge & More have everything to feed that naughty need for a bit of scrummy sweetness. Be tempted by our devilishly divine Cornish fudge made with the very best ingredients including top quality Belgium chocolate.
Grace & Favour’s mission is to offer unique items at an affordable price whilst not skimping on materials or quality. Their customers have been coming to the tiny little haven in Cornwall for many years to find new treasures to add to their collection.
As a trained Fashion Designer, Pamela travels frequently to Indonesia and designs unique clothing for the shop. They know having something unique is often rare these days and they like to focus on sustainable fashion that will last year after year.
While in Grace and Favour and Tresanton we stumbled across a lovely product by the St Mawes Scent Room and we love a good story so we thought we could share that of Lucinda, the Scent Room Founder.
“Growing up in Cornwall, the coast and the seaside was a part of life, one that I never knew would become such an important inspiration in the St Mawes Scent Room. After twenty years in the beauty and fragrance industry, as a therapist with leading beauty brands, including Aveda, Clarins and Decleor, followed by seven years with Jo Malone London, I returned to my beloved Cornwall, settling in the beautiful sailing resort of St Mawes. Some time managing events at Hotel Tresanton followed, and in the property market finding dream homes and holiday retreats, which furthered my understanding of what makes an ambient and welcoming environment.
Creating fragrances began as a hobby, for local clients, hotels and private homes. Blending a unique scent is a journey that begins almost at the end. I know how I want the key notes or type of scent to be; perhaps a crisp, fresh citrus, rich spice or clean and aromatic. Then tweaking and testing until the scent works, both alone and within the collection, until finally it can join the family. The Coastal Living Collection is now joined by the Country Home Collection along with Seasonal Limited Editions. I also love collaborating with local artists and makers, such as Amy Cooper Ceramics, sculptor Melanie Legge, and St Mawes Gin with Mr Scorse Deli. Bespoke blending for hotels and private clients and special events remains a joy and has led to the creation of the new personalised Wedding Candle Collection.
I hand blend and pour every product from my home in St Mawes and look forward to introducing new scents and expanding the product range, and please do get in touch if I can help create a bespoke scent for you.”
Aspiga for your fashion needs, from the sustainable brand Aspiga has one of its many fashion shops in the town.