Love Travelling Blog

Location

The Kilbirnie Hotel sits in a prime elevated position overlooking the coastline of Newquay, giving guests sweeping Atlantic views and easy access to beaches and the town centre. The hotel offers a lovely British seaside experience with fresh sea air, coastal walks and acts as an ideal base for exploring further afield.

Getting there

Reaching Newquay is quite easy whether you are driving through Devon or flying in for a coastal break. We boarded a Loganair flight from Manchester to Cornwall Airport Newquay, taking approximately one hour. From there, it was a short taxi ride into town costing £20 to the hotel. There is also a convenient bus stop right outside the hotel with regular services linking the airport and town centre for around £3 offering a budget-friendly alternative if you are not in a rush. For rail travellers, Newquay is connected via mainline services into Cornwall with a change at Par onto the branch line to Newquay.

Arrival and check-in

Our arrival at the Kilbirnie felt very welcoming. The lobby was contemporary styled and Lisa, the receptionist on duty was both friendly and efficient, explaining facilities and handing us a copy of the evening’s restaurant menu before showing us to our room.

The room

We were booked into a newly refurbished sea view room which boasted large bay windows overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The room felt fresh and modern with tasteful décor, quality bedding and a bright airy layout that made the most of the natural light. The king size bed was very comfortable and came equipped with bedside tables, reading lamps and USB charging points on each side. There was also an armchair, dressing table and ample storage facilities.

Facing the bed was a large screen television and on the table the hospitality tray comprised a wide range of teas, coffee, water and hot chocolate. It was pleasing to find a hand written postcard welcoming us to the hotel – personal touches like this make all the difference to a stay.

Dining

We enjoyed both dinner and breakfast in the hotel’s Sunset View restaurant overlooking the sea. Guests can take advantage of a Dinner,, Bed and Breakfast rate which offers excellent value for a coastal stay. Dinner was relaxed with a good selection of choices suitable for all tastes and dietary requirements. Fabio, our Italian waiter was charming, making us feel very welcome, taking a genuine interest in our stay.

For starters I opted for falafel with chutney jam whilst across the table, my son savoured the liver pâté. Moving on to mains I couldn’t resist the baked cod served on a bed of mashed potato in a creamy white wine jus. For desserts, the chocolate and orange steamed pudding with vanilla sauce was irresistible as was the mango cheesecake which I managed to get a spoonful of as well. Wines were reasonably priced and available both by the glass and bottle.

Breakfast the next morning was a relaxed affair with a buffet selection of cereals, fresh fruit, yoghurt etc. followed by traditional cooked options, all perfectly cooked with my eggs nice and runny just as I prefer them.

Facilities

The hotel offers a wide range of leisure facilities that makes it easy to relax on-site. There is a comfortable bar area ideal for pre-dinner drinks along with lounge spaces where guests can sit and enjoy the sea views.

The indoor and outdoor swimming pools provide flexibility depending on the weather, and the sauna offers a warm retreat after a day exploring the coast. For those wishing to exercise, gym facilities are also available.

The sun terrace is particularly enjoyable on clear days, providing opportunities to take in the coastal scenery.

Evening Entertainment

During our stay there was evening entertainment in the bar and lounge area featuring a vocal singer. The performer was talented, creating a relaxed, lively atmosphere that encouraged guests to gather and enjoy the music, some even taking to the dance floor which was nice to see.

Out and about

One of the main advantages of staying at the Kilbirnie was how easy it was to explore on foot and by taking short journeys. A short walk took us into the centre of Newquay with its surf shops, cafés and bars all combining to create a classic seaside town atmosphere. Newquay’s beaches are a major highlight with golden sand and consistent Atlantic waves that attract surfers throughout the year.

We enjoyed a particularly enjoyable walk along the coastal path towards Fistral Beach which is one of the UK’s most famous surf beaches. Our walk offered dramatic cliff-top views along the way.

For day trips, Newquay works well for exploring wider Cornwall including St Austell and the Eden Project, the cathedral city of Truro, the art and harbour town of St Ives, and the food-focussed harbour town of Padstow.

Overall

The Kilbirnie Hotel exceeded our expectations offering a classic seaside hotel experience with its attractively furnished sea view rooms, good food, excellent leisure facilities and convenient access to both the town centre and beaches. With on-site parking and good access to public transport the hotel makes for a comfortable base for exploring Cornwall.

Details:

Kilbirnie Hotel, Narrowcliff, Newquay, Cornwall

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A Day Trip to Fowey and Lanhydrock Estate in Cornwall

Our stay was supported by the Kilbirnie Hotel and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.