Join us for a wonderful weekend in Wadebridge, at the charmingly elegant Hillcote, a beautiful Edwardian period house located on a leafy lane in the historic market town.
We arrived at Hillcote on a sunny Friday afternoon, and were immediately wowed by the stunning décor, traditional features, and thoughtful hamper of Cornish treats! The whole house has the feel of a boutique hotel and lends itself to holidaying with family or friends.
With plenty planned for the weekend ahead, we spent our first afternoon relaxing on the decking, which is a peaceful suntrap, admiring the view of the beautiful blossoming magnolia tree.
After sunning ourselves in the garden, we headed to out for the evening. Plonk’d is a little oasis behind the main high street where owners Jess and Jonny serve up an array of wines and house cocktails. Spanish inspired sharing plates are also on the menu, with fresh and simple ingredients all packed with flavour. We tried their signature margarita, blood orange daiquiri and the lemon, thyme and elderflower fizz, alongside Gildas, freshly baked sourdough with whipped butter, meatballs, delicate asparagus and deep-fried Manchego cheese!! Delicious!
On Saturday morning we headed into town on foot, as it is only a few minutes walk away, to Baker Tom’s, an iconic Cornish bakery. The pretty shop is bursting with fresh bakes, from sliced loaves to hearty sourdoughs, fragrant focaccia, mouthwatering pastries, classic and fruit scones, and much more! We decided on pastries and a sourdough for breakfast and a rosemary focaccia for dinner, and we couldn’t resist some scones for an afternoon treat. A must when in Cornwall!
First up on Saturday morning was a visit to Camel Trail Cycle Hire, again a short walk from Hillcote and located opposite the iconic trail that runs alongside the stunning Camel Estuary. You can cycle or walk the picturesque trail, which is 18 miles in total! About 20 minutes into our cycle we stopped off at the Atlantic Coast Express café for a refreshing smoothie, they also serve coffee, ice creams, shakes and more. The perfect pit stop before heading on towards Padstow!
We cycled back, returned our bikes, and meandered through the town looking for lunch! After working up an appetite we stumbled upon Fat Pepper, serving up fresh salads and subs, and homemade pizzas. The ham and cheese sub was a hit, as was the pickled watermelon, feta, and radish salad. We all agreed we would definitely be back, keen to try one of their evening specials; the Taco takeover, Wing Wednesday or Ramen Night!
Wadebridge is a bustling hub of boutique and independent shops and eateries; the main high street is lined with an eclectic mix of antique shops, artisan gift shops, vintage, and antique shops. There are quaint courtyards, home to tea rooms, delis, bakeries, and more. There’s plenty to explore, and it’s all mere moments away.
We checked out the antique and homewares shops and found a very cool vintage store, stocking everything from an abundance of Levis to retro vinyls! Next stop was Ernie’s Ices, a artisan gelato with a mouthwatering menu! Flavours included sticky toffee, to Kinder Bueno, eton mess, Oreo, Biscoff, candy floss, mint choc chip, and a vegan raspberry ripple… it was a tough decision!
We headed back to Hillcote, where we relaxed on the decking in the sunshine before cooking dinner in the stylish kitchen… well equipped with all we needed and more, it made preparing an Italian feast a breeze! If there’s a foodie in your family, they’ll love cooking in this kitchen!
After dinner, we packed our swimwear and headed to the nearby beach of Polzeath for a sunset dip in the Atlantic! Just a 15-minute drive away, Polzeath is a sheltered sandy bay, with lots of places to eat and plenty of beachside bars and restaurants. You could easily spend the day here, and lots of families were still on the sand playing beach games and riding the gentle waves! After a refreshing sea swim, we headed to the roof terrace for a hot chocolate as the sun set casting a golden glow.
We spent a slow Sunday morning enjoying coffee and poached eggs with our tasty Baker Tom's bread, around the dining table, sharing our favourite things about the weekend. The dining table is the perfect setting for family mealtimes, where you can gather together, planning the days ahead or debriefing your holiday adventures.
We reluctantly packed our bags and left Hillcote with lots of lovely memories, vowing to return!
Hillcote sleeps eight guests, with two large zip and link bedrooms on the first floor alongside a vast family bathroom. There’s also a twin room with bunk beds. On the third floor is the beautiful master bedroom boasting an en suite shower room with his and hers sinks and juliet balcony. Two sitting rooms on the ground floor offer plenty of space for family and friends to spend time together, and the open plan kitchen and dining space is a elegant hub! Outside the decking has comfortable outdoor sofa-style seating, a few steps take you down to the lawn where there is a garden table and chairs for al fresco dining. You'll also find a barbecue, outdoor shower and gorgeous wendy house that will delight the little ones!
Thoughtfully designed with lots of lovely touches, Hillcote is an exquisite house that offers a truly memorable stay, check availability and see more details here.
Tags: Wadebridge