Watergate Bay Hotel

Watergate Bay is one of those places that is difficult to describe without mentioning the sea. The hotel sits directly above the beach on Cornwall’s north coast, with Atlantic waves rolling in below and two miles of sand stretching out when the tide is low. Once you’re at the Bay, there’s very little reason to go anywhere unless you want to.

It’s a hotel built around the location rather than simply sitting beside it. You can wake up, look out towards the surf, wander down to the beach with the dog, come back for breakfast and still have the whole day ahead of you. The South West Coast Path runs right past the Bay too, so there are coastal walks in both directions when you fancy something more ambitious than a stroll along the sand.

And this is a particularly good place to bring the dog. Watergate Bay’s two-mile beach is dog friendly throughout the year, with no seasonal restriction, which makes a huge difference if you’re looking for a proper beach holiday rather than somewhere that merely allows dogs to stay. The hotel has dog-friendly rooms across the property, with up to two well-behaved, house-trained dogs allowed in a room. The first dog costs £15 per night and a second is £5 per night.

There are thoughtful touches for canine guests too. Joules dog beds are available on request, and there is plenty of opportunity to get out onto the coast and burn off some energy. The hotel’s dog rules ask owners to keep dogs on leads in public areas, but the reward is having an enormous sandy playground right outside.

Perhaps best of all, you don’t have to leave your dog behind every time you want to eat. Dogs are welcome in The Living Space and The Beach Hut, giving you two genuinely useful dining options. The Beach Hut is right by the sand and has a relaxed, beachy atmosphere, while The Living Space is a little more polished, with views across the beach and food served throughout the day. Zacry’s, the hotel’s more refined restaurant, isn’t dog friendly because of its open kitchen, although assistance dogs are welcome.

For humans, there’s plenty to keep you occupied between walks. Swim Club has a 25-metre infinity pool overlooking the Atlantic, along with a cliff-top Canadian hot tub, Finnish sauna, treatment rooms, a panoramic Ocean Room and a café bar. There’s also a cardio room and fitness studio for anyone who wants to stay active rather than spend the entire weekend eating and watching the waves.

The accommodation is varied enough to suit different kinds of stays. There are contemporary double rooms, suites, family suites, seven beach lofts and Village apartments. The beach lofts are particularly appealing if you’re after something a little special, with private access towards the beach, while the Village apartments give families and groups more space, with two en-suite bedrooms, a kitchenette, living area and decked veranda. All of the Village apartments are dog friendly. Not all the hotel rooms are dog-friendly – please check with the hotel’s reservations team or front desk team for details.

For families, Watergate Bay is just as well thought out. Family suites have separate bunk rooms, the Kids’ Zone offers supervised sessions for children from six months to 12 years, and there are surf lessons for children aged seven and over. The 25-metre pool also has a shallow section for younger swimmers and dedicated family swim times.

Surfing is naturally a big part of life here. Wavehunters runs surf and stand-up paddleboard lessons from the Bay, with equipment and tuition for different ages and abilities. You can spend the morning learning to catch a wave, walk the dog along the beach afterwards and then settle down for something cold to drink while the sun goes down.

Food is another reason to stay rather than simply visit for the day. There are three different places to eat: Zacry’s, The Living Space and The Beach Hut. Menus range from seasonal three-course dining and Cornish produce at Zacry’s to relaxed beach food, breakfasts, pizzas, sharing dishes and post-surf favourites elsewhere. The setting means that even a fairly ordinary coffee can come with a pretty spectacular view.

And that’s really the appeal of Watergate Bay. It isn’t trying to be a secluded country house where you disappear from the world. It’s lively, outdoorsy and unapologetically coastal. You can surf, swim, walk, eat, sit on the beach, explore the coast path or simply watch the Atlantic doing its thing.

For dog owners, the year-round beach access is the standout feature. You can actually build your holiday around your dog rather than fitting a few walks around everything else. Early morning beach walks, sandy paws, lunch overlooking the Atlantic and a comfortable room waiting upstairs afterwards. That’s a pretty good recipe for a Cornish break.