Budock Vean Hotel is an oasis of tranquillity but if you can prise yourself away from its cosy fireplace, outdoor hot tub and spacious, comfortable rooms, it’s a good base for exploring the coastal town of Falmouth and spectacular scenery along the Helford River.
With a high-quality restaurant and spa, this four-star hotel, which feels like it’s in the middle of nowhere, is ideal for people who want to “get away from it all” and unwind for a while – and it’s dog-friendly too. You can go for a stroll around the grounds, or just beyond, and hear nothing but birdsong.
But it’s only a 20-minute drive from Falmouth, which has lots to see and do including the National Maritime Museum, Pendennis Castle, Falmouth Art Gallery and several gardens and beaches. It’s a paradise for foodies, with options for all tastes and budgets.
Trebah Garden is an internationally-renowned attraction within walking distance of Budock Vean Hotel and it’s well worth a visit. It’s a 25-acre sub-tropical ravine garden with an impressive bamboo collection, plenty of colour and fragrance, a natural spring running through it, and its own private beach on the Helford River which is the perfect spot to enjoy an ice cream while admiring the views.
Most of Budock Vean Hotel’s guests are couples from the “mature” age brackets, which contributes to the peaceful atmosphere. It’s not aimed at families, though there were one or two staying there at the same time as us. Children would probably find it rather dull apart from the swimming pool. Dogs are welcome and are bound to enjoy the local walks. Unlike many similar hotels, having your dog with you needn’t mean you miss out on the dinners or the spa.
The long driveway helps to suck you from reality into your temporary bubble. However, the golf course is really close to the hotel rooms – something to bear in mind if you’re getting undressed near a window.
Our Signature Room is one of the nicest hotel rooms I’ve experienced. It’s reached via corridors displaying artwork that’s for sale. The room is very spacious, with plenty of space for shoes, coats and bags before entering the actual bedroom.
Being a double aspect bedroom, there are pleasant green views in two directions and it feels bright and airy. You can even watch the sunset from your bed. Being recently refurbished, it’s modern and nicely decorated. There are thoughtful touches such as a daffodil in a little vase on the dressing table, and a box of tissues.
There’s a bottle of water, facilities for making hot drinks, and a customised gift bag with Cornish goodies to enjoy once you’re back home. There’s plenty of wardrobe space, bathrobes and slippers, a full-length mirror, a hairdryer, and three chairs so there’s no need to move the one by the dressing table if you want to relax by the window.
There are several different lighting options, a television, phone, alarm clock, wifi, cushions, customised stationery, and in the bathroom are flannels, towels, a heated towel rack, shower caps and Elemis toiletries including body wash, lotion, shampoo and conditioner. There’s a washing line you can hang across the bath to dry your swimwear. There’s nothing you’re likely to need that isn’t provided, except perhaps a travel iron.
The beds are really comfy – softer than I’m used to, but I slept like a baby. We didn’t hear any other hotel guests once we were in our room, which is possibly a first, although it’s hardly a party hotel.
The toilet and wash basin are in a separate room to the shower/bath and another wash basin, which is brilliant and something more hotels should provide as it really helps speed up the process of two people getting ready for bed and for breakfast.
The staff are very friendly, and it seems that once you’ve checked in, you’re individuals and valued guests, not just room occupants or walking credit cards. The fact you keep the same table in the restaurant throughout your stay helps to make it feel like a home from home, that you have a place there and belong.
The restaurant tables are covered with crisp white tablecloths and fresh daffodils. The courses are brought out at a good pace by polite and efficient waiting staff. The food is well-presented, fresh, tasty and high-quality. Dinner is four courses followed by coffee, Cornish fudge and mints served in the lounges. At £49, it’s good value compared with the wine. The Chilean Merlot we had went down very easily, but is one of the cheapest bottles available at £24.
There’s a notice asking gentlemen to wear jackets for dinner, and most men choose to wear a tie. For me, it’s a bit too formal to feel totally comfortable, and the guitarist there to provide background music on the Saturday evening is so quiet, he’s barely noticeable.
The hotel has a snooker room, and if you want to be more active, there are also tennis courts. There’s also a swimming pool, sauna and an outdoor hot tub which has a great view towards the golf course and trees, aiding relaxation.
There’s a cosy fireplace in the lounge which, if you’re lucky enough to bag it, is a perfect spot to enjoy one of the hotel’s cream teas. You can have a scone and a slice of cake, or two scones, and it’s a great way to extend your self-indulgence if you’re visiting the hotel’s spa.
If you fancy going for a walk, either around the hotel’s 65 acres of woodland, garden and golf course, or beyond, the reception staff will happily provide you with a map and some recommendations. It’s a pleasant walk past the golf course, along the river, to the small, shingle beach by the Ferry Boat Inn, past some fields and back to the hotel.
The hotel plans to develop its riverside area, which is a good idea as it’s a wonderful spot to sit and relax with a book, and it would be great to be able to get refreshments without having to walk all the way back up to the hotel. It’s also investing in a couple more holiday cottages and refurbishing the rooms which haven’t been upgraded yet, which is good to hear as parts of the hotel look quite dated.
At the spa, I had my first facial. Although the therapist said I’d need a course of treatments before noticing results, I was convinced there was a noticeable reduction in my fine lines and wrinkles. Regardless, I felt more relaxed than I had in a really long time. There were more massage elements to the experience than I had expected, and I unwound so much I lost all sense of time and place. It was the highlight of a very enjoyable stay.
Room: 5/5
Restaurant: 4/5
Spa: 5/5
Value for money: 4/5
To make a booking for this hotel via Expedia, click here or Booking.com here.
