A Day of Relaxation at The Scarlet

During the madness of the week before Christmas, and in the midst of the Cornwall Creatives Crowdfunder campaign, being invited to one of the most renowned hotels in Cornwall for a day to enjoy their equally famous spa was very welcome indeed.

The Scarlet is a luxury, adults only, eco hotel perched on the cliff at Mawgan Porth on the North Coast, overlooking the breathtaking beach. It’s well known by locals and visitors alike as the go to luxury spot in Cornwall and I’m always asked if it’s as amazing as it looks so I’ve been desperate to visit for a long time to give my verdict. 

When we arrived a member of The Scarlet team directed us to the spa, we were given a tour and talked through our bookings for the day and told to forget about the time as we’d be collected for our lunch and clifftop hot tub booking; perfect!

We started with a refreshing dip in the pool, taking in the stunning view through the floor to ceiling windows and then headed to the steam room. We then embraced the Cornish mizzle, donned our cosy robes and walked barefoot to the outdoor barrel sauna, a sauna with possibly the best view e.v.e.r through the perfectly framed barrel windows. Views are so dramatic in Cornwall, the scenery is truly unique and ever changing with the seasons and the weather, it’s like you’re visiting a new place each time.

It was definitely not easy to leave our toasty barrel watching the world go by outside but a drink of water and a lie down in the relaxation space was calling. We were enticed into trying the floating relaxation pods so we both grabbed a book and hopped in (in the most inelegant manner possible it turned out!). We snuggled into the blankets, enjoyed a bit of reading and watched the world go by before lunch; something we don’t often get chance to do. It was amazing just to switch off from external stresses and to do lists, turn off our phones and be completely present. I discovered a new book too, A Pukka Life, based on the principals of Ayurveda which is what The Scarlet is inspired by. I’ve been reading it ever since as I luckily got a copy for Christmas (Andy was clearly listening whilst I was telling him all about it during our visit!).

Lunch was a two course healthy spa lunch teamed with a delicious juice of the day. Anybody that knows me knows I love healthy drinks/juices/smoothies (possibly a bit too much) so this was a big hit, it was also really in keeping with the health/wellness focus of this beautiful space with a bit of a Balinese/Sri Lankan feel. Every step has been taken to ensure a stress free relaxing experience with a dedicated spa restaurant area where robes and slippers (made from recycled tyres may I add!) are welcomed and of course complimented with a beautiful view of the cliff top, ocean and perfectly landscaped outdoor spa area too.

After our delicious lunch we’d mustered up enough energy to retreat back to the relaxation area, lie down on one of the loungers looking out at the view and enjoy a bit more reading. We were then collected for our cliff top hot tub experience, something we were really looking forward to, so again ventured outside to find our private hot tub fully immersed in the landscape with the most spectacular views of the beach and ocean. The sound of the waves crashing was so relaxing whilst we sat back with our peppermint tea in our lovely warm hot tub. It’s quite an amazing feeling being outside in the elements on a drizzly winter’s day in your swimsuit whilst keeping warm and cosy in your own secluded haven.

Following some time watching the spectacular sunset (the most incredible views and colours could be seen from the spa!) Andy had to pull me away to make our way home. The changing rooms were amazing, with showers in each cubicle and the hotel’s own Oula beauty products.

My verdict of The Scarlet spa: It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re after a luxury adults only getaway with plenty of relaxation and a venue with an eco focus in an incredible location. I especially love to work with (and visit) businesses with a sustainability focus due to my own desire to reduce my impact on the environment and to help those I work with do the same, and, if I was really looking for things The Scarlet could do to become more sustainable I think I could only find a couple of things at a push; they really are making a continued positive effort to reduce their environmental impact and that is brilliant. The hotel has a unique atmosphere with a luxurious but casual feel that is achieved through the contemporary vibe teamed with the ocean inspired slow Cornish living.

Would I visit again? Absolutely! I’d love to discover more of the hotel; the rooms, the restaurants and I’d definitely like to try some of the spa treatments, I have a feeling they’d be amazing!

So, tell me, have you visited The Scarlet or is it on your to do list?

You can visit The Scarlet online here
or look at their beautiful photos on Instagram here but be careful, you could lose hours!