Rooms

There are 6 rooms at Trevose, all with a unifying colour scheme of bright whites and seaside blues. Angela and Olivier spent months sourcing vintage furniture from auctions, then upcycling them with modern fabrics - the blend of old and new is beautiful. The longer you stay, the more you notice: antique mirrors, industrial lights, contemporary striped and floral fabrics. Everything is incredibly clean and well cared for.

Since our visit, 2 self-contained apartments have been added to the repertoire. Sands Studio and Samphire Studio sit in the ‘Downalong’ area of St Ives. A contemporary take on mid-century design, they are styled in fresh white with splashes of golden yellow or emerald green. Each has a bespoke kitchen, welcoming double bedroom and a chic shower bathroom. Sands has a gorgeous glass-fronted terrace that gazes out over St Ives Bay, while Samphire has a bright conservatory overlooking the garden.

Back at the hotel, just being in our room was a spoiling experience. We stayed in the Harbour View Deluxe, which has panoramic views of the bay; we loved sitting in the bay window and listening to the seagulls wheeling overhead. We also saw the luxe open-plan Harbour View Roof Suite, which covers the entire top floor of the house; this is made for honeymooners.

The Terrace Deluxe overlooks a communal terrace, so although it has a spacious sitting area, we felt it lacked privacy; if other guests were sat out, you'd probably want your blinds drawn. The Superior rooms are good value - they are fairly small, but if you plan to be out and about during the day, you'll be happy.

What really surprised - and delighted us - though, was the peace. We thought the rooms overlooking the street might experience noise, but double glazing made it blissfully quiet. That combined with excellent Hypnos beds and organic bedlinens gave us a deep night's sleep.

And then there are all the extras: Neal's Yard toiletries, fluffy robes, tea trays with fresh milk and artisan biscuits. While out at dinner, our bed was turned down, our room spritzed with a sleep-inducing fragrance, and mini brownies left on our dressing table. Heavenly.

Features include:

• Bathrobes
• Hairdryer
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

You'll remember your breakfast at Trevose. In keeping with the eco ethos, everything is sourced locally, and is organic where possible. A fully loaded buffet greets you: local apple juice, trays of fruit decorated with fresh mint, mini pastries and organic bread from the baker.

On your perfectly laid table, you'll find a shot of the smoothie-of-the-day (ours was strawberry, pineapple and papaya, yummy), and menu cards with all the options Olivier can prepare for you. We tried his homemade Bircher muesli, and as you'd hope from someone half-Swiss, it was beautiful, with fresh apple and crunchy walnuts. The smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on a potato scone was a triumph, and we liked sampling the local honeys on toast. Note there are only 5 breakfast tables to 6 rooms, so if all are full when you come downstairs, you'll be invited to relax in the reception-cum-lounge with a coffee.

Guests staying in the apartments have their own kitchen to whip up breakfast and other meals in. A thoughtfully compiled welcome hamper awaits your arrival, stocked with Cornish goodies. If you so wish, the Trevose team can also help arrange picnic hampers, stocking the fridge and local restaurant reservations.

In fact, there are lots of excellent restaurants a short walk away. Angela recommended The Porthmeor Beach Café for tapas and local ales - we loved it. We arrived as the sun was setting, and watched the surfers as we enjoyed a selection of asparagus and pea salad with pine nuts, harissa mackerel, chorizo meatballs and chilli monkfish with pineapple and caramel. Closer to Trevose, Blas Burgerworks is famed for imaginative combinations and live music.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Honesty bar
• Organic produce
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Stroll up to beautiful Porthminster beach for a day in the sun. There are loungers for hire, but it's flat and sandy so you'd be fine with a blanket too. The sea is aquamarine and flat; perfect for swimming. Get fish'n'chips from The Porthminster Café for your lunch
  
• If you're feeling more energetic, walk over to Porthmeor Beach for a surf lesson. Or just sit and watch the surfers and enjoy the sun
  
• The Tate St Ives is here too, with constantly rotating exhibitions. After you've had a look, head up to the rooftop café for amazing views
  
• We loved walking through St Ives' cobbled streets and popping into all the independent artist studios. Art lovers will also enjoy the Barbara Hepworth Sculpture Garden
  
• Walk on Porthkidney or Carbis Bay beach and keep your eyes peeled for wild dolphins out at sea
  
• Hike along the South West Coastal Path or take a day trip to the Lizard Peninsula and hike to Kynance Cove

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Golf
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Kitesurfing
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Private guided tours
• Shopping / markets
• Surfing
• Swimming
• Windsurfing

Kids

Children aged 12+ are accepted in the rooms and studios - but in truth it's more of a grown-up hotel.

Best for:

Teens (over 12)

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Trevose Harbour House is set on 'The Warren' in central St Ives, in Cornwall, southwest England. Sands Studio is a 10-minute walk away at Beach Court (also central St Ives).

By Air:
The nearest airport is Newquay. The 52km/35-mile journey is 1 hour’s drive on a good day, but allow for heavy traffic in the summer months. It is 160km (115 miles) from Exeter and a 4-hour drive from London's airports. Click on the links below for a list of airlines.

By Car
Most come by car, although it's easy to get here by train. St Ives is a long drive from the rest of the country, and in the summer months you'll need to allow extra journey time as the roads are much busier. If you want to hire a car, see our car rental recommendations. Trevose Harbour House has a couple of allocated parking spaces in the railway car park; extra cost, request one when you book your room.

By Train
There is a station at St Ives. From here you can walk. See Seat 61 for more details.

Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.com.

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