We're not usually ones to escape in winter, the wind and rain makes it significantly less appealing to step a foot out the door, let alone leave the comfort and safety of our home for a whole night away. It has to take a certain kind of 'holiday' to encourage us away...
Cue The Pengelly Retreat...
Hidden within the rural lanes of Hayle and St Erth, this is well and truly an escape from everyday life and a chance to completely switch off to the stresses of work, bills, cost of living etc!
The accommodation varies in size and style but is all located within the same grounds, hidden at opposite ends of the Secret Gardens and lake, feeling private and fully submersed within the nature that surrounds. We had the choice of log cabin or yurt, both overlooking the boating lake and both set away from anything and anyone else, providing absolute privacy and peace.
We wanted to be somewhere dog friendly, yet cosy and simple, and were recommended the Sail House for our stay.
What we were imagining and what we discovered were two very different things, this was no ordinary 'glamping experience'.
The Sail House is a luxury yurt with underfloor heating, log burner, film projector and ensuite mini-yurt with freestanding tub.
Yep, we were SERIOUSLY impressed.
Our experience looked a little like this...
Winding our way through the Secret Garden, along the boating lake to discover our rather magical home for the night 🌱
Hidden away and not another soul in sight.
The tour! Small but mighty, this place was just full of twinkling fairy lights, natural colours and special touches to make us feel comfortable ✨
The main tent with kitchenette and separate bathroom with tub!
Making the house a home! Fire lit, cup of tea and a little book reading in bed... Heaven 🔥
Followed swiftly by supper time! Ok, so we're lazy and I'd come straight from work so this is my excuse for going down the Dominoes pizza route. To be fair it was perfect 👌
Oh, and did I mention the projector?!
Disney film on, fire burning and a belly full of stuffed crust! 🍕
Bedtime! We kept the fire burning overnight and started with the electric blankets on but I ended up too toasty!!
Coupled with sound of rain falling on the yurt roof was a recipe for a rather wonderful night's sleep 😴
Owl alarm anyone? That's right, instead of being forced awake by the horrendous sound of my iphone, we were treated to a pair of Tawny Owls calling each other just outside the yurt! 🦉🦉
The best kind of alarm to force you out of bed for that morning coffee before work.
Morning routine was a little different at Pengelly!
Initially I *genuinely* considered going for a dip from the private pontoon but completely chickened out the moment my toe hit the water... Instead I did a swift u-turn and headed for a bubble bath... 🥶
Try as I might, I'm just not brave enough for the cold-water swim life just yet!
We enjoyed coffee in the swing seat, wrapped in fluffy socks and hat and it really was the perfect start to the day. Sadly, it was only work that could spoil our fun 😅
The Story behind Pengelly...
Pengelly Retreat has been created by Ruth & Jim, who envisioned a beautiful holiday escape from reality, while immersed within ornamental gardens, lantern-lit paths, glassy waters of the lake and the local Cornish wildlife putting on a show.
While we stayed in the Sail House luxury yurt, there is also the Boat House log cabin and even the option to rent the whole Pengelly Retreat in its entirety to include the Mill House too.
A testament to their hard work this year, the retreat won both the Gold Award at the Cornwall Tourism Awards and Bronze Award at the SW Tourism Awards for 'Best Glamping business of the Year'.
Currently they are offering a WINTER 3FOR2 OFFER until end of February 2023 so be sure to visit their page if you're looking for one of the most authentic Cornish escapes around.
insta: @pengelly_retreat
**We were very kindly invited to experience the tranquillity of this very special place and we honestly loved it. Thank you to Ruth and Jim for a one-of-a-kind night in nature, we'll be back!