Honeymoons in Cornwall: Hotels & Activities!

With achingly beautiful beaches and a huge range of activities, honeymoons in Cornwall are an experience like no other.

From soaring cliffs you can look down onto gorgeous white-sand beaches, and if you fancy hiding away just the two of you, there are plenty of luxury cottages and cabins where you can do just that. 

However, if you’re a more adventurous newlywed couple, there are so many activities in Cornwall too. From surfing to skydiving, you can check off some serious bucket list activities here!

We’ve put together everything that you need to know about having a Cornwall honeymoon in this blog post. You’ll enjoy the most romantic hotels and explore places with the best mesmerizing views.

Take a look at this Cornwall minimoon/ honeymoon guide and get planning your holiday of a lifetime!  

Why have a honeymoon in Cornwall? 

For most people, honeymoon staples include a beach, a romantic hotel and some unique activities.

Cornwall has all of those things – and it does them very well.

In fact, there are plenty of areas in Cornwall that’ll make you feel like you aren’t in the UK at all!

So, if you want a honeymoon without the hassle of going abroad, I definitely recommend Cornwall. 

Why have a minimoon in Cornwall?

If you’re planning a honeymoon elsewhere in the world, you could still have a Cornwall minimoon!

Minimoons are short holidays straight after your wedding, especially common when you aren’t having a honeymoon until later.

All of the hotels and activities in this guide are also applicable to having a mini-moon in Cornwall. 

Cornwall honeymoon hotels to stay in

Here’s a list of the best Cornwall honeymoon hotels to stay in: 

The Carbis Bay Hotel, Carbis Bay

The Carbis Bay Hotel is potentially the most luxurious hotel in Cornwall. It made headlines in 2021 as it was the site of the G7 summit. 

With gorgeous rooms, villas and cottages, there’s plenty of choice in the Carbis Bay Hotel. Conveniently placed right by the Carbis Bay railway station, it’s also just a few steps to Carbis Bay beach. 

Unusually for Cornwall, there’s an outdoor pool, so if you’re lucky enough to visit during a heatwave you can enjoy the sun here! There’s also a sea view terrace. 

The on-site Sands Restaurant is one of the most popular places to eat in Carbis Bay, with fresh Cornish seafood and dinners made with other local ingredients.

Plus, there’s another conservatory which has tapas, cocktails and afternoon tea!

The gorgeous rooms of this Cornish hotel have sumptuous bed linen and extremely comfy mattresses.

You’ve also got flat-screen TVs, features like complimentary toiletries and bathrobes and tea and coffee making facilities.

The Carlyon Bay Hotel and Spa

Known as Cornwall’s finest luxury hotel, the Carlyon Bay Hotel and Spa won the Gold Award for Large Hotel of the Year at both the Cornwall Tourism Awards in 2021 and 2022 and the South West Tourism Awards in 2021. 

Sitting atop a dramatic cliff, this hotel offers panoramic views over the gorgeous Cornish coastline. 

The spa is one of the best in Cornwall. It has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a spa bath, sauna, heated loungers and a steam room.

Of course, you can also get treatments like massages and facials – perfect for your honeymoon!

When you’re staying here, you can use the facilities as much as you’d like. 

The hotel has 86 luxury rooms, with stylish decorations, en suite luxury toilet facilities, fast free WiFi and flat-scren TVs. Guests are also offered a complimentary round of golf! 

St Michael’s Resort, Falmouth

Choose from rooms, studios or apartments at St Michael’s Resort in Falmouth.

Their finest rooms are the luxury large king-sized rooms with a sundeck, which is the perfect place to hang out with your beau and enjoy your honeymoon! 

The rooms feature dressing tables, huge windows with tonnes of natural sunlight, a Lavazza espresso machine and opulent bathrooms. 

There’s a wonderful spa at this hotel, with a range of delightful treatments and facilities, including the largest hydrotherapy pool in the South West (which sits at 35 degrees celsius!).

Or, you could even try the Rhassoul Mud Experience which is in a private treatment room with room for up to four people, located in a Moroccan steam chamber. 

It’s a gorgeous hotel to stay at, and you can also enjoy all of the restaurants and attractions in Falmouth while you’re here!

Bedruthan Hotel & Spa

Bask in the wild cliffs of North Cornwall and enjoy spectacular views as you stay at the Bedruthan Hotel & Spa, one of the most romantic hotels in Britain.

Located in Mawgan Porth, this is an incredible place to stay in Cornwall.

With breathtaking views over the Cornish cliffs and brilliantly blue waters, this is the epitome of a gorgeous Cornish honeymoon destination. 

Choose from a king-size sea view double or, for even more luxury, a villa with its own patio terrace, so you’ve got your own space as soon as you come outdoors! It’s the ideal romantic getaway.

Wyndham Trenython Manor Cornwall

Located close to Fowey, Wyndham Trenython Manor Hotel is a lovely spa hotel with fairly cheap prices. It’s perfect if you’re looking for a honeymoon hotel but don’t want to spend too much money. 

The rooms are kitted out marvellously, with stylish decorations, including beautiful blue furnishings and duvet covers. In the luxury bathroom, you’ll have a bath and power shower. 

Downstairs, there’s a restaurant that serves delicious breakfast (included in the room rate) and delectable coffees. You can also order plenty of drinks in the evening, including Cornish Gin (try a Tarquin’s while you’re here!). 

The spa at Trenython is lovely. There’s a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi and indoor pool.

There are bigger spas in Cornwall and when we visited, we were a bit disappointed that we could only stay for 90 minutes. However, this was a covid restriction so it may have been lifted since then. 

Overall, we had a great time here and I really recommend it! 

Merchants Manor Spa

Also located in Falmouth, Merchants Manor Hotel is Cornish hotel like no other. It’s a boutique hotel and spa. It’s the perfect setting for a lovely relaxing honeymoon or mini moon.

Their most luxury residences are “a holiday home with a hotel attached” and market themselves as luxury self-catering residences.

You’ll have a private jacuzzi, a beautiful sub-tropical garden, luxury bathroom and kitchen facilities and you can even order an in-room massage! 

Of course, you can stay in the hotel itself and enjoy its spacious luxury rooms and facilities like its spa and swimming pool. 

Jamaica Inn

If you’re a couple who are fans of the weird and wonderful, there’s nowhere eerier than Jamaica Inn in Cornwall!

Jamaica Inn is set right in the middle of Bodmin Moor, and it has a fascinating history spanning from its origins as a coaching house until it became a smuggling inn.

Contraband was taken from both coasts and hidden here, due to its desolate and difficult-to-access location in the middle of Bodmin Moor!

This history was commemorated in the novel Jamaica Inn by Daphne Du Maurier. This is a fictional story, but it’s based on the eerie history of the place. 

Nowadays, the hotel has been sympathetically refurbished, with a range of different bedrooms. Some have four-poster beds, and there’s even the Daphne Du Maurier Suite, which is commonly used for honeymoons! 

Things to do on a Cornwall honeymoon or mini moon

Here are some of the best things to do in Cornwall during your honeymoon or mini moon!

Relaxing activities

I won’t blame you at all if you just want to spend your Cornwall honeymoon relaxing!

If you fancy spending most of the time at your hotel, just pulling yourself away to enjoy a select few activities, here are some chilled-out tours and attractions that you could fit into your schedule. 

See Cornwall’s best beaches

if there’s one thing that Cornwall’s most known for, it’s probably its sandy beaches. Seeing the best beaches in Cornwall is definitely a bucket list check for your mini moon or honeymoon!

• Kynance Cove: This is one of the most popular beaches in all of Cornwall, situated on the dramatic Lizard Peninsula. Enjoy mesmerising views over the rocky cove, perhaps drinking a Cornish cider from the on-site cafe. 
• Fistral Beach: Another popular Cornish beach, this is one of the most popular destinations for surfing in North Cornwall. Climb up the South West Coast Path from the end of Fistral Beach and take in amazing views. 
• Sennen Cove: This popular beach sits close to Land’s End, and is a great place for surfing or hiking along the coastal path. Or just chill out at its beach bar and relax!
• Widemouth Bay: Situated in the north east of Cornwall, this surfer hub is a wonderful place to take in Cornwall’s natural beauty, with plenty of places to stretch out on the sand.
• Porthcurno Beach: This is one of my favourite Cornwall beaches, located by the village of Porthcurno in West Cornwall. It has beautiful cliffs and white sand, and to me it looks like it should be in Spain or another Mediterranean country rather than the UK!
• Pedn Vounder Beach: This is another tropical-feeling beach in West Cornwall. You will need to climb down steep steps to reach this beach, so bear that in mind if you have mobility difficulties.
• Lantic Bay: Another beautiful lesser-visited beach in Cornwall is Lantic Bay. This sits near Fowey and Polruan (you can hike from Polruan) and requires anotehr descent down steep steps.

Fine Dining in Padstow

One thing that Padstow’s most famous for its its fine dining scene. Chefs like Rick Stein and Paul Ainsworth have flocked to the Cornish harbour town in the last few years, opening incredible restaurants. Here are some of the best restaurants to try in Padstow: 

• Rick Stein’s Seafood Restaurant
• Prawn on the Lawn, which serves delectable fish and other seafood
• Paul Ainsworth’s Italian, which does a great pizza
• Cherry Tree Cafe, the perfect place to go for coffee and/ or dessert!

See more things to do in Padstow here.

The TATE St Ives

There are a few art galleries in Cornwall, the most famous of which is the TATE St Ives.

This popular gallery is situated right in the middle of St Ives in West Cornwall and has intriguing exhibitions from Cornish and international artists. 

The Eden Project

Featuring two biomes, one with rainforest plants and one with Mediterranean fauna, the Eden Project is a lesson in conservation and reservation. 

Although it’s known as a more kid-friendly attraction, I think that the Eden Project is a must-visit on any trip to Cornwall! 

It’s also a really cool experience to walk through the jungle in Cornwall! 

St Michael’s Mount

St Michael’s Mount is one of the most popular destinations in West Cornwall.

Run by the National Trust, it sits on a rocky outcrop just out to sea from Marazion. It’s a beautiful place to explore inside and out, with stunning views across Mount’s Bay and fascinating history inside. 

Tintagel Castle 

Another must-visit place in Cornwall is Tintagel Castle. Also sitting on a rocky outcrop, this one in North Cornwall, this castle is run by the English Heritage and steeped in history and legend. 

Learn about King Arthur, who was allegedly born here, 

Minack Theatre

The Minack Theatre is one of the most popular attractions in Cornwall. Built by Rowena Cade in the 1930s, the theatre was dug out of surrounding cliffs. It looks like it should be somewhere in ancient Greece, but it actually sits perfectly on the coast of Cornwall, with staggeringly beautiful blue waters in the background. 

You can visit here independently, or if one is on, book tickets for a play. We saw 39 steps here, which was really enjoyable!

Sunset Tour

What’s more relaxing than a beautiful sunset?

You can find these all over Cornwall, but it’s always best to go with a local who knows the area like the back of their hand. 

This private sunset tour is fully flexible; your guide will pick you up from wherever you’re staying in the afternoon or evening and show you around some parts of the local area.

Because they know this area so well, they’ll already have an idea of where exactly to take you for sunset, and you’ll get to enjoy one of Cornwall’s best spectacles as the sun dips below the horizon. 

As this is a private tour, you have some say in where you go!

You’ll be able to speak to the guide before your tour and make arrangements. Some of the places that the tour guides frequent are the beautiful but non-touristy Cape Cornwall and Perranporth.

Cookery School

There are, of course, countless other things to do in Cornwall.

Whether you want to do them on your honeymoon or not depends on the type of traveller you are – you may just want to spend the time relaxing!

However, you can take a look at my things to do in Cornwall and places to visit in Cornwall travel guides to read more about the region’s best attractions. 

Adrenalin-pumping activities

Hot air balloon tour

Going in a hot air balloon is one of the most popular honeymoon ideas – and we can understand why, as it’s a bucket-list activity! 

So check out this hot air balloon tour that you can take in Cornwall.

Leaving from Launceston, you’ll see the rugged coastline of Cornwall along with the gentle rolling coastline hills. Your pilot will provide you with a running commentary on everything that you see.

You can choose from a sunset or sunrise hot air balloon tour, and of course, there’s a glass of champagne to enjoy in the end.

Hike the South West Coast Path

The coastal path that spans around Cornwall is a smaller segment of the 630 mile long South West Coast Path. If you’re an adventurous couple, it’s a great idea to take to the trail on your honeymoon! Here are some of the most beautiful parts of the South West Coast Path. 

• St Ives to Zennor is one of the most beautiful hikes in West Cornwall. Leave the charming beaches of St Ives behind and approach the dramatic rocky landscape of Zennor, which is totally unique on the path. This is one of the harder sections of the coastal path, but if you want even more of a challenge, you can hike to the beautiful coastal village of Pendeen. 
• Porthcothan to Newquay is quite a busy, but moderately easy, section of the path, but this is for good reason. You’ll pass by the charming Bedruthan Steps and look down onto the beautiful Watergate Bay and Porth Beach. 
• Bude to Boscastle is one of the most difficult sections of the South West Coast Path – although it’s a bit easier than the previous section that leads from the Devon border to Bude! However, if you’re up for the challenge, this hike is mesmerising. Pass by the lovely surf community of Widemouth Bay and take in the spectacular views from the clifftop. 
• Rame Peninsula if you want somewhere non-touristy, the Rame Peninsula is the perfect place for a honeymoon hike. Known as “forgotten Cornwall”, it’s a stunning spot that spans through villages like Cawsand and Kingsand. Start in Rame Head and follow the South West Coast Path, then return once you’ve reached one of the villages. 

Coasteering

Coasteering is a very popular adrenaline-boosting activity in Cornwall. It involves exploring the cliffs around Cornwall from sea level, as you’ll swim, clamber along rocks around the coastline and even do some cliff jumping.

The water in Cornwall can be dangerous, so don’t try coasteering on your own, but if you have a licensed guide it’s a safe and enjoyable activity to try! 

You can read more about coasteering in Cornwall here.

Diving

Diving in Britain?!

Cornwall does actually have a few diving schools (based mainly in Falmouth), and going on a fun dive or even learning to dive here could be a totally unique way to spend your honeymoon!

It seems a bit crazy to say, but South Cornwall has actually been designated as ‘subtropical’. In the UK, we’re still far away from the tropics, but that doesn’t matter, because the ‘subtropical’ label is due to the plants and landscape of the region.

You can see this underwater as well! It’s not a coral reef, but there are lots of fish that you wouldn’t expect around the shores of Britain.

Surfing 

Of course, if you like surfing, you can’t come to Cornwall and not try it! 

The surfing on the beaches here is amongst the best in Europe, with dramatic Atlantic waves crashing into the likes of Bude, St Ives, Newquay and Sennen.

There are plenty of surf schools in Cornwall, which offer lessons for everyone from novices to experienced surfers. Take a look at the listing here to see what I mean!

The best lessons can be found in the north of the county.

Rock climbing

Rock climbing in Cornwall is a very popular activity.

Imagine climbing to the dizzying heights of one of the region’s best cliffs, with spectacular views of the coastline beneath you?

Kernow Coasteering also offer rock climbing opportunities around Cornwall, visiting a range of different sites.

You can see their full listings here.

I hope that this guide has helped you plan your honeymoon in Cornwall!

If you’d like to stay updated with my latest Cornwall travel tips, feel free to join my mailing list.