We've seen a lot of hotels. Been there, peeled the lids off countless fiddly cartons of UHT. We've seen a lot of spas, too. (And there are only so many 'fusion' treatments combining aromatherapy, thalassotherapy and Ayurveda that a beauty editor can take.) But we are about to order to you to do something. If you can possibly manage it, book a break at The Scarlet, Cornwall's newest hotel, before it becomes the hottest ticket in travel. It's an 'eco-hotel'. What that means is blissfully silky Luma gazillion thread-count sheets, scrumptious local food, a wood-fired outdoor hot tub where you can enjoy your seaweed soak while watching the surfers, and a very clever no-waste policy, not to mention a 'swimming pond', which feels like you're in a lake, not a pool.
And an absolutely gorgeous spa, with treatments by Tri-Dosha (truly Ayurvedic-inspired beauty) and seaweed-inspired Voya from Ireland. In the utter, picturesque silence of Mawgan Porth on the North coast, it's a place not just to unwind but almost to unravel. (OK, so children under 12 are banned. But for many a frazzled woman, that's just the ticket. And the lack of phone signal can be a blessing, once you get over your 21st Century panic.) A truly fabulous destination place for a girly spa getaway with friends (just remember to book your treatments well in advance), or an oh-I-remember-why-I-married-him trip with your partner. We're trying to work out how quickly we can justify going back. Like, next week...?The Scarlet, Tredragon Road, Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, TR8 4DG/01637-861800
www.scarlethotel.co.uk
