Travellers' Tales

Visitors and guests tell us how they have been moved and inspired by our glittering collection of unique home stays by putting pen to paper to recall what was most magical about their stays.

Travellers' Tales

Our first family holiday: a week of escapism at The Cotton Tree

10th November 2020 by Rachael

From the moment we set foot inside The Cotton Tree we felt at home; the heating and mood lighting was on and the Sonos system was playing music throughout. After a six-hour journey with a baby, it couldn’t have been a nicer welcome.

The Cotton Tree is a truly magical property, somehow making you feel like you’ve been transported to another world. It was our first holiday as a family of three and after the year we’ve had it was amazing to be able to disconnect from reality and to focus on making memories with our nine-month-old daughter, Nancy. As it was our first trip away from home we weren’t sure how Nancy would settle into her new surroundings but she adapted straight away. We set up the travel cot in the single room which sits just off the hallway and master bedroom. It was a cosy space and she slept well in there for the duration of our stay.

I have a real passion for interiors and The Cotton Tree’s decor blew me away. The photos really don’t do it justice as you can’t quite grasp the scale and the height of the ceilings; it is absolutely stunning. The use of rustic wood, warm tones and delicate linen give that holiday vibe. I loved the subtle use of decorative items related to the coast and the sea which added to that beach hut feel. The inside was to die for and the outside did not disappoint either! The hot tub was a lovely touch and my husband Tom and I enjoyed time together there in the evenings whilst Nancy was asleep.

The location was perfect; situated in a small hamlet consisting of a handful of houses and was only a couple of miles away from Holywell and Crantock which have the most stunning beaches. The Cotton Tree is also close to Newquay and popular attractions such as The Eden Project are within easy reach. It was the perfect location for us to be able to explore all that beautiful North Cornwall has to offer. We have stayed at several Unique Homestays' properties over the last few years and The Cotton Tree is one of our favourites. We would love to return there one day but for now, we can’t wait to decide which Unique Homestays property to book next!