Beauty Beat - Take a Break at Retallack Resort and Spa Cornwall
With a sticky mist tickling the morning air, I drove to Retallack Resort and Spa near St Columb Major, bleary-eyed and slightly weathered, with stubbed toes and de-hydrated skin; the result of a weekend spent on the beach.
Minutes after my arrival, I felt my posture instantly relax, having been greeted by smiling staff and a delicious coffee and muffin in the elegant bar. As I sank into a sofa, I was greeted by two barefoot youngsters and their dad making their way from their holiday lodge to the indoor swimming pool, having left their mum to enjoy a welldeserved lie-in.
An airy space with views over the rolling Cornish hills, the bar is flooded with daylight from patio doors that lead out onto a brand new sun-deck. Cross the gravel path and here, nestled amongst the hills, are 61 five-star selfcatering holiday lodges. These offer the perfect holiday home for friends and family, and are also freehold properties which owners can let out, with help from the resort's letting service if required.
Retallack is extremely family friendly - the kids' club is a wooden chalet with a funky tree-house feel, where kids can hang out, paint, play games and have fun in the outside adventure play area, complete with hair-raising zip wire and trampoline, meaning that their parents can escape for a few hours of uninterrupted bliss.
The kids' club supports the local community, organising frequent visits from Newquay Zoo and the Blue Reef Aquarium, who bring over crabs and lobsters to the obvious delight of the children. Then there are the five-a-side football tournaments to ensure that when bedtime comes, the kids are unusually placid.
There's a nine-hole, par three golf course, plus a spa, with sauna, fitness suite, classes, tennis courts, treatment rooms. A lake which skims the bottom of the resort; fishing permits can be purchased from the local post office.
From local members, including a sprightly 86-year-old, to loved-up couples wanting a special weekend away, Retallack caters for everyone. Groups of ladies are often found padding around the bar area in robes and slippers, sipping mouth-watering fruit juice and comparing the rainbow of colours from their OPI manicures.
Taking a turtle-paced walk from the bar to the spotless changing rooms, I went for a gentle swim, intrigued by a luscious smell which I later discovered was coming from the eucalyptus steam room. I then enjoyed an aqua aerobics session run by Retallack's trainer and leisure manager, Sarah Pendray.
It was then time for the hardest task of my visit: deciding which treatments to have from the overwhelming list on offer, from zesty butter body masks to the perfect leg treatment. Being a bit of a beach bum, I opted for the Marine Algae Wrap (£42.50), an intensive remineralisation and detoxification treatment which, according to Retallack's head therapist Danielle Preston, is one of the most popular treatments at the spa.
I was massaged with Thalgo's Descomask Body Scrub then, after a shower, coated in Plasmalg Gel, which ensures total absorption of nutrients from the Marine Algae treatment. The algae was applied & it was pleasantly warm and although slightly smelly, nothing too obtrusive. I was wrapped up and left to relax for 10 minutes, at which point I fell asleep.
The treatment ends with an intensive nutrition cream smoothed over your newly buffed up bod. I left feeling silky smooth and completely detoxed, and was still receiving compliments about my glowing skin days after the treatment.
Retallack also offers a treatment exclusive to the spa: the Ocean Memory treatment (£65), which combines algae extract with essential oils, sure to ease the tensest of bodies and slow down busy minds.
Retallack is very much a work in progress. More holiday lodges are being built, with exciting plans for a waterpark complete with cable water ski and wakeboard facility. An outdoor 'typhoon lagoon' with a major Disneyland standard surf wave is also on the cards, which would be a £5 million investment in Cornwall's leisure facilities.
There are plans to extend the fitness suite, and the new sun-deck is due to get an adults only area with live music, entertainment and pub-style quizzes on offer.
Resort directors Amy Tucker-Brown and Jason Keyter are perfectionists, and special details, from complimentary wicker hampers brimming with Cornish treats that welcome guests staying in the holiday lodges, to the pink gerberas delicately sprinkled around the bar, provide an experience that guests will remember long after their visit.
Just Coasting
MUM, THIS GOUJON IS not so nice "it tastes of fish!" My husband John and I burst out laughing. Having spent 20 minutes in a queue outside, we had finally been given a seat at Rick Stein's fish and chip shop in Padstow. I looked up, beyond George's cross face, and out through the window across the quayside at a column of grey clouds coming in from the sea, and juggled three thoughts.
Had years of telling the children: "It's chicken!" really come to this? Was £40 for fish and chips in takeaway boxes on a bench not a bit excessive for a family lunch? And how was I to persuade the two eldest to cycle five miles back to Wadebridge, now that the rain was coming down in thin sheets?
We were in Cornwall for a winter break, and given the appalling weather it could have gone down in the family holiday archives as another disaster. And yet our break on the coast, in temperatures that never rose above five degrees, was one of the happiest we have had.
Much credit must go the Retallack Resort and Spa, six miles inland from Padstow, atop the endearingly named Winnards Perch, which became our home for five days.
"Self-catering" and "holiday" were two words I always thought sounded like a forced marriage. I would never envy friends who'd take off at half-term, their cars laden with children and Tesco carrier bags, protesting at how much fun they were going to have cooking, cleaning and washing up in a home away from home. (The only time we'd booked a self-catering holiday was in August three years ago I spent virtually the whole time in a dingy kitchen and slept in my socks because the bedroom was so damp.)
But I get it now, or at least I get the five-star version. Our four-bedroom chalet, with its state-of-the-art kitchen, king-size beds, fluffy towels and dressing gowns, flat screen TVs, solid oak furniture, Danish sofas and sweeping views towards the coast somehow converted me. As the wild weather raged around us, it was so warm and cosy and clean.
When I think of it now, I have this picture in my mind of George and John sitting on the sofa together, John doing his sudoku and George his word puzzles. Let's say it's an image of harmony and intellectual endeavour that's not so common in our real life.
The resort is run by 29-year-old Amy Tucker Brown, a property developer's daughter from Cheltenham, and her fiance, ex-professional rugby player Jason Keyter. Amy's father owned the 52-acre site, Jason knew about building and in 18 months it has gone from rolling farmland to a resort of more than 40 landscaped properties.
In the mornings we'd watch dawn break over the eastern horizon through the huge picture windows, enjoy a relatively stress-free breakfast and then head over to the clubhouse for a swim in the heated 15-metre pool.
Enthusiastic and charming, Amy and Jason have huge plans for the resort and there remains much to be done, including another 40 or so chalets, a massive indoor children's play area and a separate £5 million artificial surfing centre, the first of its kind in the UK.
What is already there includes the pool, a small spa and the only steam room I've been in that doesn't smell of old socks. While the children played in the pool, we'd take it in turns to escape to this eucalyptus-smelling sanctuary with its twinkling ceiling lights and mosaic tiles costly additions demanded by Amy, who used to dabble in interior design. But then I get the feeling that what Amy wants, Amy gets. The result is a resort of fastidiously high standards that should worry the rest of the Cornish rental market.
It might not be on the coast but Retallack is perfectly placed for day trips to Cornwall's most famous beaches and fishing villages, which is how we came to be on our bikes in Padstow, having cycled down the Camel Trail on the south side of the estuary opposite Rock. And, yes, Alice and George did cycle five miles back in the rain, surprisingly without complaint. Sure, it would have been nicer in the sun but I felt I'd learned something new about the children.
In fact, there's a lot to be said for visiting Cornwall outside summer, when the roads are packed and the coast is heaving. On another day we returned to Padstow, this time avoiding Rick Stein's stranglehold on its food outlets (he has a seafood restaurant, bistro, patisserie, café, deli, and fish and chip shop), and had lunch in an unpretentious restaurant called Custard that served delicious warm granary bread and where the staff didn't mind the children spilling things.
But the Londonisation of Cornwall is happening so fast that I imagine such places will become harder to find. In 2006 Jamie Oliver opened up another of his Fifteen restaurants in Watergate Bay (the location for ITV's Echo Beach), just north of Newquay. The place was fully booked for lunch and supper, so we drove over for breakfast. Despite the jawdropping sea views, the food was disappointing. The big "Fifteen fry-up" was on the mean side and included a solitary egg and one pre-cooked sausage, the fresh orange juice was all ice and the lattes were in those annoyingly small Italian cups. The bill was £42 excluding a tip.
Much more of a success was the Eden Project, truly worthy of a day â€" the children loved it. But in truth there was enough fun at Retallack one afternoon Amy and Jason threw a kids' party with possibly the best face painter I've seen, and during the November half-term they kept 92 little ones occupied. With tennis courts and a mini golf course already up and running, in slightly warmer conditions I could have spent two weeks there.
If there was just one celebrity attraction that could have lured me away, it would have been a two-day cookery course at Stein's Padstow Seafood school. Apparently they also run some for children. I'm sure I know a small boy who would benefit from that.
Luxury Lodge a Real Delight
THE thought of a self-catering holiday in the UK has never really hit the spot. The idea of a cramped caravan on a windy piece of coastline or a family tent on an overcrowded campsite just doesn't appeal.
But self-catering in Cornwall is now a serious five-star proposition even with the family in tow.
Started in 2006, the resort owned by property developer Nick Tucker Brown was the brainchild of his daughter Amy Tucker Brown and her boyfriend, ex-professional rugby player Jason Keyter.
Retallack Resort and Spa, just outside St Columb Major, now offers year-round luxury whatever the weather.
The new two- and four-bedroom lodges are superb solid, roomy and light with floors of solid oak and work surfaces of granite marble. There is flat-screen satellite TV, broadband Internet access, a fridge-freezer, washing machine, dishwasher (essential if you're staying for any length of time with young children) and a full-size oven. A nice touch was the welcome hamper stacked with local produce.
In the detached, four-bedroom lodges the dining table seats eight in a top notch open-plan kitchen big enough to incorporate a spacious lounge area.
There is another upstairs and both have vast picture windows that let natural light in. Sliding glass doors lead on to equally spacious balconies top and bottom, with barbecue provided.
The timber-framed Padstow lodge we stayed in was, at 1,800sq ft, so big you could happily live there and I really think the kids would have, given the choice.
There are four large bedrooms each with huge, plump and luxurious beds and two luxury bathrooms which meant no-one got on top of each other or was kept waiting long for a strong, hot shower.
And should the Cornish weather become too wild, the centrally heated and well-insulated lodges are snug and warm despite their Tardis-sized rooms.
But there's more. There is a decent-sized, properly heated indoor swimming pool housed with sauna, a eucalyptus-scented steam room complete with twinkling ceiling lights and mosaic tiles and treatment rooms to the side, a small gym and a coffee and drinks bar above.
And if the weather is good, outside is a five-a-side football pitch, a small adventure playground, tennis courts, a fishing lake and a pitch-and-putt golf course. There is no extra charges for the sports fields.
The other great reason for staying at Retallack is its location it might not be on the coast but it is perfectly placed for day trips to Cornwall's most famous beaches and fishing villages.
If you have the children with you it's only just over a handful of miles to attractions such as the Blue Reef Aquarium at Newquay, the Camel Trail at Padstow, Watergate Bay and its Extreme Academy, Constantine Bay and, of course, the Eden Project. All of which means you don't have to go far for fun or relaxation. For the adults, the same goes for the foodie hotspots of Padstow and Watergate Bay.
If you are thinking of treating yourself to a Cornish break but can't bear the thought of an overcrowded holiday camp, try Retallack and be surprised and delighted.
Best for Family Breaks: Cornwall
"You know how much that went for last year?" I've just walked up from Polzeath beach after building sandcastles with my two-year-old daughter Lily as the temperature plunged to -6C, and an amateur property consultant is pointing to a Masters of the Universe villa overlooking the bay. "I don't," I reply, shuffling to keep warm. "£1.8m." I exhale appreciatively. "Lot of money round here." There's not much of it on show today but, with its near neighbour Rock, this rugged corner of north Cornwall is the Chelsea crowd's favourite summer-season hangout. And that's exactly why on a crystal clear January day, in England, it's the best place in the world to be. Yes, it was so cold that I had to break through the frozen crust of the sand with a plastic spade as the wind whipped off the Atlantic, but there were no braying hordes spoiling the views up the Camel estuary or jamming the single-track roads with their 4x4s. We had the place to ourselves, and you can't buy that.
Thanks to its exposed coastline, the swell on this stretch of coastline is the best in the country for surfing. And a few miles south in Watergate Bay the wet-suited loons weren't going to let something as trivial as the weather spoil their fun. We had the best seat in the house to watch the tiny black figures being sucked beneath the briny and occasionally even standing up on their boards: cosied up in the corner window seat of the glass box that runs the length of Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant, we were overlooking the bay (and the 10ft-high "Lily" we'd written in the sand below). The locally sourced Italian-themed food was a triumph: flavour-packed lentil and bacon soup, the sweetest crab rarebit, peppery olive oil. Though if you're a two-year-old, the ice-cream course and the balloon-shaped lights are the only things you really care about.
We were staying at Retallack Resort, about six miles inland from Padstow, incongruously next to the American theme park Spirit of the West ("Don't miss it, pardner"). The 52-acre site is owned by the husband-and-wife team of Amy Tucker Brown and Jason Keyter, she a property developer and he an ex-rugby union professional. Their passion for the place really shows through: the lodges are meticulously kitted out, so sparkly clean it feels as if you're the first visitor. There are vast sofas that you can lounge around on (or spend hours jumping on), king-size beds, even a hot tub. And their green credentials are good: an industrial estate 400 yards away fabricates the timber frames of the lodges, and they're superbly insulated, making the prospect of returning to a draughty Victorian terrace all the more uninviting. Glamour and self-catering don't usually feature in the same sentence but when the accommodation is this good it's the perfect family getaway.
There's an indoor swimming pool with a separate children's paddling pool (a big favourite), a sauna and steam room and all the usual spa treatments (the hot stone massage was otherworldly). In season there's a Kids Club. And, despite the economic gloom, they're expanding, and even have plans to build an indoor artificial surfing centre.
Retallack is just short drive away from the Eden Project, which Lily loved although trying to explain how you can be inside and outside at the same time proved a bridge too far. And, we kidded ourselves, it offers a brief taste of that tropical holiday. With a fraction of the carbon footprint.
All of which left a little time for a stroll around Padstow and more gastrotourism with a diner lunch at Custard deliciously light black pudding with poached eggs, and lovely child-friendly staff. And it's difficult to come to this fishing town and not part with money at one (or two) of Rick Stein's many emporia: I made a trip one evening for a takeaway from his Fish and Chip shop: battered sea bream and chips, scallops, tiger prawns and mushy peas, which we ate back at the lodge. Not a bad end to the day.
FlowRider® is Such Good Fun!
Having heard all about the brand new Flow Rider in Newquay, we decided to give it a go! So we arrived at the resort to see our instructor ripping on the Flow Rider making it look oh so easy! Flow riding is a totally different type of surfing, with 50 gallons of water flying at you and the daunting fact that there are two ways you can get off: gracefully to the side or face planting and getting shot up the slope, but all joking aside the Flow Rider is such good fun!
Personally, I'm not a very confident surfer, but this was such good fun and it doesn't matter if you fall off which I did quite a lot because once you get those couple of seconds when your actually riding it, its amazing! The good thing about the session is the Flow 101 because they give you a step-by-step tuition. So even if you are as scared as I was, you still get talked through everything really thoughroughly! If you are considering going, I would definately go for it!
It Doesn't get Much More Luxurious Than This
It doesn't get much more luxurious than this when you're self catering: five-star four-bedroom chalets with 200-thread cotton sheets, kingsize beds, plasma screen TVs and dressing gowns. The resort is set in the rolling hills of Winnards Perch, ten minutes' drive from Padstow and half an hour from the Eden Project. There's a kids' club for children aged 4-12, along with the chance to encounter birds from the Screech Owl Sanctuary and crabs from the Blue Reef Aquarium. There's also a spa on site, while individual chalets have hot tubs on the deck.
The Times, Saturday 17th April 2010
Spa Weekend at Retallack Resort - Hen Heaven
Arriving at Retallack Resort, a glade of luxurious escapism nestled amidst a sublime corner of Cornish countryside, I felt the chatter of the working week subside as a weekend of fun, indulgence and relaxation with my gal pals beckoned.
The cluster of lodges overlooks a lake, a stretch of fields and the heights of Bodmin Moor beyond. There was a chorus of "oohs", "aahhhs" and "OMG – Iook at the view/hot tub/bedroom!" as we explored our eight-berth lodge, marvelling at the delicious luxury of it all. Contemporary, stylish and endlessly comfortable, there were two large living rooms, a series of plush bathrooms, snug beds piled with crisp linen and huge windows flooding the rooms with natural light. Mod cons included flat screen TVs and DVD players, a kitchen diner (stocked with supplies) and a hot tub on the decking, making it the cosiest of boltholes for some downtime.
We had barely been there for ten minutes before the chink of wine glasses could be heard emanating from our balcony as we fired up the barbecue and toasted our arrival with a feast of beef burgers and hot dogs washed down with wine. As night fell and the stars punctuated the velvety darkness, we ran across the decking in our bikinis amidst a fair amount of shrieking – it was winter, after all – and slipped into the heavenly bubbles of the hot tub beneath a full moon. Perfect.
After a restful night's sleep and a cooked breakfast, we were ready and raring to go to Lusty Glaze Adventure Centre in Newquay the next morning. Well, perhaps raring to go might be an exaggeration. Despite partaking in a fair few adrenaline activities during my post-university travels – sky diving, glacier hiking, kayaking and the like – now, teetering on the edge of 30, I've found I'm somewhat less willing to throw myself from great heights or enter roaring rapids. But the team at Lusty Glaze brought a fun and light-hearted spirit to the morning's activities and we found ourselves abseiling down an 80 ft cliff (admittedly with a jitter or two on my part) and then, most exhilarating of all, zip wiring off the cliff and hurtling across the beach – a shot of fresh air, elation and adrenaline shooting through my veins, with awesome views across the spectacular coastline to boot.
With a varied programme of activities, such as coasteering, surfing, rock climbing and the 'I'm a Sea'lebrity' package, Lusty Glaze Adventure Centre has a challenge for anyone who wants to test their fear factor, while the hip new bar provides a chilled spot to sup on cocktails and ocean views for the less adventurous.
With heads and lungs coursing with fresh salty air and the cobwebs safely cleared, we returned to Retallack for the part of the weekend I was most looking forward to: the spa session. I opted for hot stone therapy and, as the therapist kneaded my muscles into delicious submission, my mind slipped into the mellow climes of pure relaxation. Followed by a dip in the resort's swimming pool and a recline in the sauna and steam room, an afternoon of shameless indulgence was had – and thoroughly enjoyed – by all.
Although each and every one of us would claim not to be a girlie girl, that evening we found ourselves indulging in an obligatory game of 'snog, marry, kill' after a few glasses of Pimm's, munching on pizza over dating game shows and Jake Gyllenhaal movies and a singsong of Take That and Les Misérables classics in the hot tub beneath a blanket of stars.
After a blissful weekend, a cloud lingered over my mind as we reluctantly packed up the next morning and made our way back to reality – and it wasn't just the alcohol. This heavenly hen package should come with a warning – cliché-ridden as it might be, you won't want to leave.
Sports Urban Bible - Bootcamp
Somehow, I had agreed to take part in a week long trip to a fitness 'Bootcamp', at Retallack Resort and Spa in Cornwall.
I didn't really know what to expect. I had visions of blood, sweat and tears, and all of this taking place on my birthday, which fell not so conveniently in the middle of the week.
Just approaching my 27th birthday, I was certainly not at the peak of my physical fitness. I was actually in the worst shape I've ever been. A flight of stairs would see me losing my breath and my clothes were pinching in all the wrong places. I hadn't exercised properly in years, and although I knew that this week was just what I needed, it was a very daunting prospect. Would I be too unfit to handle it? Would they just send me back home like damaged goods?
I couldn't have been further from the truth. Arriving at the beautiful rolling resort, nestled in the countryside just outside Newquay, we were greeted by the wonderful staff and given an introduction into what to expect from the week; comprising lots of different activities to get the heart pumping, life coaching, nutrition advice, and even spa treatments. We were then introduced to the jewel in Retallack's crown.
Imagine a skateboarding ramp. Then imagine it's bouncy and soft, with 40mph jets of water whizzing up it. Then imagine being on a surfboard, riding this artificial wave with the wind sailing through your hair. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the FlowRider. I couldn't wait to be let loose on it. We had a formal introduction from our instructor Karl, we slid into our wetsuits and we were ready to go.
There couldn't possibly be a better person to accompany the Flowrider than Karl. This was obvious from the very beginning. He oozes passion and enthusiasm for Flowriding and surfing in general. He told us we would be standing up on the board by the end of the day. I thought this was absolute rubbish at the time, but he was right.
The Flowrider is unbelievable fun. You don't have to have surf experience and you don't have to be particularly fit. You can actually pick it up fairly quickly, from body boarding (lay on your stomach on a small, foam board) to then attempting to stand and ride the wave. You can feel your body working hard to stay on the board and on the wave, so it is incredibly good for building core stability and generally improving fitness.
As the week went on, a daily session on the Flowrider was complimented with a whole host of other activities, including Yoga, Spinning, a beach workout and swimming. Karl even showed us how to forage for our own seafood, which we took back to the resort and prepared for lunch. The spinning session was probably one of my highlights of the week. I had always believed that I simply was not fit enough for spinning, which is a 45 minute workout on a stationary exercise bike. But I really surprised myself. I worked to my 'maximum' at the advice of the brilliant instructor, who created a wonderful focused atmosphere with music and words of encouragement. The whole group were completely 'in the zone' and by the end of the session, I was tired, but felt great. I had been wearing a Polar Heart Rate Monitor, which recorded how many calories I had burned. The results were very impressive; I had shifted 585! I bounced into the next session of exercise with a real sense of achievement.
The people involved in putting together the programme were what made the whole experience so valuable. The staff are dedicated and passionate about what they do. They help and support you every step of the way, and nothing is too much trouble. The accommodation at Retallack is nothing short of stunning. You'll find yourself in a plush twin or double room in one of their luxury holiday homes within the resort. A newly built facility, featuring balconies and a hot tub for relaxing in after a hard day's bootcamp.
Our very own chef would prepare beautiful fresh meals for us each day. The food is amazing, and after an energetic day, it was really something to look forward to! My aim was to lose a few pounds, improve my fitness and change my attitude towards exercising. I achieved those three goals and much more besides. After a session with Maria the 'Life coach' I had a whole new outlook on my future and life plan. Following a session with Karen the nutritionist, I had a much better idea of what I should be feeding my body, and what I should be avoiding.
A week at Retallack would be enough to kick start anyone's lifestyle. Two days after arriving home I joined my local gym. It gave me a thirst for looking after my body and achieving a real buzz from exercise. On the other hand, a fitness fanatic or keen surfer would also have a great time at Retallack, improving their fitness and skills on the board. This is definitely a VIP bootcamp, designed to challenge and treat yourself all in one stay. By the end of the week I was 27, refreshed and revitalised. I even got a massage and a slice of cake on my birthday!