Enjoying Cornish luxury as if to the manor born Jon Bennett, Evening Post 13th April 2007 (pdf file: Download )
Some types of holiday, in particular, short breaks, are less about what you do and more about where you stay.
It is, in some ways, odd that people are flying off the European cities for weekends away instead of making the most of what little time they have just a couple of hours down the M5.
In the time it takes to travel to the airport and embark, you could already be ensconced in the lap of luxury enjoying blissful tranquillity and the best of British.
Tucked away on the edge of the Cornish village of Tywardreath, Trenython Manor is one of the country's best kept secrets.
A manor house of Italian splendour, the hotel offers guests the ultimate in fine dining and relaxation.
Commissioned by the great Italian architect Giuseppe Garibaldi, the old manor house led a decidedly chequered life until its recent reincarnation as a haven of indulgence.
A magnificent oak staircase there are no lifts at Trenython leads you in style to one of the 24 luxurious bedrooms, many of which have breathtaking views over St. Austell bay. The high-ceilinged rooms are spacious, carefully styled to marry modern conveniences and high specification fittings with exquisite drapery and ornate bay windows.
Guests can wallow in the tranquillity of excellent facilities, which include an indoor heated pool, sauna, steam room and whirlpool bath, or enjoy one of the extensive Elemis spa treatments on offer. The stresses and strains of daily life melt away with a relaxing massage or facial from the highly trained beauty therapists.
For health and fitness addicts, there is even a well-equipped fitness suite, while for dedicated foodies, head chef Alan Ward prepares exquisite cuisine from the finest local produce to cater for every taste.
Enjoy light meals in Peard's bistro, or indulge in haute cuisine and fine wine amid the sybaritic surroundings of the heavily panelled walls in TM's dining room. During my stay, I enjoyed a fabulous three-course meal at TM's that sets you back about £40 a head.
For my starter, I chose the tossed warm salad of chicken livers with orange and hazelnuts, followed by roast rump of venison with roasted marinated figs, Puy lentils, port wine and chocolate sauce, and finally a stem ginger and cinnamon sponge pudding with crème anglaise.
Pure Masterchef.
The manor itself stands in 25 acres of immaculately maintained wooded parkland and despite the recent cold snap, it was still thoroughly pleasant to stroll through the picturesque seaside towns of southern Cornwall such as Fowey and St. Austell. This is largely because the region has its own micro-climate an average of three degrees warmer than elsewhere in the country, which also makes this area a Mecca for horticulturalists who come to appreciate the amazing gardens.
The Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan for which fast track tickets are available from reception are just a short drive from Trenython.
The new owners of Trenython Manor, Club La Costa, have the mission statement: "To deliver holiday experiences serviced to standards that consistently exceed customer expectations"
Any they certainly achieve that. Whatever the weather, Cornwall is a beautiful place to get away from it all.
Formerly independently run, Trenython now comes under the timeshare auspices of international firm, Club La Costa.
As well as the manor, there are a host of new chalets that offer truly sumptuous accommodation.
Trial membership gives you six weeks to try out the service, quality and freedom of 30 resorts in the UK and abroad.
Full membership is on a points-based system, giving you access to 4,000 destinations in 100 countries.
For reservations at Trenython Manor, call 01726 814 797, or email trenython@clublacosta.com
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