In search of a place to find our feet, St Michaels Resort offers a tranquil world in which to find ways to feel good again, whatever that may look like.
Words by Rosie Cattrell
The perfect break, naturally, looks different to every one of us; some look to escape the noise of every day in peace and quiet tranquillity, delving inwards in a space that allows for total relaxation and pampering of the body and mind, while others might take delight in fine dining, exploring flavours and experiences both familiar and unnavigated. It may be active days of testing boundaries and pushing limits, physically and mentally, in pursuit of a pulse-quickening challenge that brings a satisfying calm and completeness, or an immersion in breath-taking natural surroundings to quiet that inner chaos. However you seek a route back to your best self, it is certainly a rare occasion to find all of these possibilities brought together in one place.
Set on the edge of Gyllyngvase beach in the Cornish town of Falmouth, St Michaels Resort is a cornucopia of wellness, famed locally and across the country for a unique experience that has people returning again and again. In conversation with Stuart Beveridge, Head of Marketing for the resort, we dig a little deeper into exactly what it is about St Michaels that brings wellness, tranquillity and a renowned feel-good feeling to all who visit.
“We strive to give our guests a little dose of Cornish wellness by the coast, however wellness looks for them,” explains Stuart. “We’re not the stereotypical ‘wellness’ resort, which brings visions of yoga in a tipi, because wellness is in the eye of the beholder. We’re all about providing a calm refuge from the day-to-day and the chance to feel good again, however you might choose. It might well be joining one of our Active Cornish Breaks, but it’s also often indulging in a three-course dinner and saying yes to that naughty pud or spending time bubbling away in the largest hydrotherapy pool in the south west. We’re inspired by our stunning surroundings, so guests will feel that Cornish coastal influence and our Falmouth heritage shine through.”
For those looking to indulge in a spot of self-care, St Michaels is home to an award-winning spa, featuring an impressive hydrotherapy pool, as well as the UK’s first Cornish sea salt steam room. While it is not unusual for hotels to offer a spa experience these days, not many are able to boast such luxurious and spacious facilities, which Stuart kindly elaborates on: “We are proud to be able to share our stunning spa with guests and day-visitors alike. As with all aspects of the resort, the spa reflects our Cornish location which extends to the product ranges the spa offers, including Living Sea Therapy – whose products are made from kelp and sea salt harvested from the resort coastline. Aside from the obvious hydrotherapy pool, it has more strings to its bow on the spa deck which takes in views across Falmouth Bay, including an outdoor barrel sauna and a cedar wood hot tub.”
With a team of expert therapists and hydrothermal experiences working in synergy to create the ultimate sanctuary in which to immerse yourself in restorative bliss, St Michaels is a place to still the mind and contemplate the healing power of warmth and water, a practise so old that the ancient Greeks knew it was worth pursuing. Another passion that has taken a leap from ancient Greece to Cornish shores is a deep and adoring love for food, which St Michaels harbours endlessly. “We’ve got a bit of a thing for Cornwall,” explains Stuart. “The kitchen brigade, led by our Cornish Executive Head Chef Darren, are ludicrously in love with the farms, fields and waters of their home. We offer guests a choice of two restaurants; the ocean-facing, two AA Rosette Brasserie on the Bay is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, where we take guests on a journey showcasing fresh, honest and local Cornish produce. Freshly caught shellfish and seafood star on the menu – scallops, crab arancini and hake are all highlights, with food that’s low in miles and big on flavour. The Garden Kitchen, on the other hand, is the ultimate laid-back dining experience; we’re talking the Med meets Cornwall, overlooking our sub-tropical gardens. Guests can nibble on lighter bites inspired by sunny climates such as Padron peppers and polenta fries with black garlic aioli, or even order a takeaway wood-fired pizza for a stroll down to Gylly beach.”
Gyllyngvase (or as it’s known locally, Gylly) beach sits right on the doorstep of the hotel. It’s the sandy jewel in Falmouth’s crown – a sheltered, safe Blue Flag beach with crystal clear turquoise waters which are, on the whole, calm and flat year-round, a perfect setting for an exciting new venture for St Michaels. For anyone looking to push their boundaries and see what they can achieve, their Cornish Active Breaks for 2023 sees a diverse collection of expert-led barefoot luxury breaks spanning every month of the year. “These active stays blended with luxurious relaxation enable guests to experience something new, improve technique, deepen understanding or just have a blast doing something they love,” says Stuart. “The collection includes Paddle Boarding, Wild Swimming, Pilates, Wim Hof, Coastal Walking, Triathlon and our Blue Wellness break among others.” From January through to November, these three-night breaks offer something rather special to those looking for total immersion in a unique Cornish experience, spending your days making the most of the outdoors before winding down and drifting into luxury in the award-winning coastal spa and ocean-facing restaurants.
Boasting such a beautiful backdrop, I wondered what Stuart considered as his favourite time of year in this charming corner of the world: “Cornwall has beauty in all seasons, but for different reasons. Summer, of course, offers the bigger likelihood of sunny days spent by the sea. However, my personal favourite is autumn. September, and particularly October, when the leaves start to change their colour, is slightly quieter and you get to witness those golden hours before pink and orange hues fill the skies at sunset.”
While it may sound cliché, St Michaels is more than unique. With an all-round combination of an unbelievably stunning location, first-class facilities and a renowned personal guest experience, here is a home away from home for many, and it’s easy to see why. “We pride ourselves on taking the time to get to know our guests,” Stuart remarks with a gleam of pride. “Our Front of House hosts are quietly becoming famous amongst our many returning visitors, who often mention them by name, such is the relationship we build.”
With a sterling reputation behind them, and a year of exciting activity ahead, St Michaels Resort is a wonderful world of tranquillity, ready and waiting to welcome you to your home away from home and help you find your way to feeling good again.
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