Bedruthan Steps Hotel Review

Typical price:

£67

We like:

The view -- sitting out on the hotel's terrace looking out over the sea

We don't like:

The view in -- the huge hotel complex is an eyesore on the coastline

SmartPlanet judgement:

The large building looks ugly from the outside; inside it's smart yet spacious and great for kids. There is a comprehensive environmental policy -- though we can't see how something this large can be truly green.

Score:

Contact:

Nice Car Company at http://www.bedruthan.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1637 860 555

Judging by the number of green tourism awards this hotel lists on its website, we were expecting something extraordinarily green, so when we arrived we were shocked to discover that the hotel is a vast concrete complex that dominates a spectacular stretch of Cornish coastline.

Inside it has all the hallmarks of a professionally run large hotel. There's a smart lounge with a terrace that has fantastic views of the coast, and likewise, there are wonderful sea views from the spacious, bright restaurant. We stayed in the annex to the main hotel building in an apartment that was modern and minimalistic with a king-size bed, brightly coloured cushions, huge wardrobes, a small bathroom and a lounge with more sea-views -- great for drinks at sundown.

There are lots of facilities at the hotel -- an outside tennis court, gymnasium, table football, table tennis and several swimming pools (the main outdoor one is solar heated), and a new spa opens this winter, complete with steam room, sauna and whirlpool. There are also excellent childcare facilities -- a nursery and children's 'holiday clubs', and it's just a few minutes walk down to Mawgan Porth Beach -- a gorgeous, wide, sandy beach where we spent the morning swimming in the sea before going for a walk along the coastal footpath that leads straight from the hotel.

We were impressed by the 'green information board' for guests, with advice on recycling and suggestions for green activities for the kids, like nature walks. Elsewhere in the hotel, there are lots of environmental initiatives, such as an energy key card reader for our room, low-energy lightbulbs and local food in the restaurant.

Spas are potentially an environmental disaster, but we were told that Bedruthan's new spa has triple-glazed windows, an energy recovery ventilation system, low-energy lighting, movement sensors -- and that the spa will be recycling its grey water. That said, we can't see how such a large hotel with these kinds of facilities can be truly green. But Bedruthan is, at least, a few steps higher up the green ladder than most large hotels.

[box]Essentials: Rooms cost from £67 per person per night, including breakfast and dinner. Prices vary seasonally. Bodmin Parkway Station is a short taxi ride from the hotel. Mawgan Porth, Cornwall, TR8 4BU, England.
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Score breakdown:

 

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