THE FIVE-STAR multi-award winning Pendragon County House is a gem of a small hotel and an ideal base to explore Cornwall’s many charms, as IWAN DAVIES discovered on a recent visit.

The Pendragon Country House is fast building itself a reputation as an outstanding hotel – and after spending a fantastic weekend there, it’s not too difficult to see what all the fuss is all about.

This lovely converted rectory in north Cornwall is an intimate, cosy and friendly small hotel, run by couple Sharon and Nigel Reed, that also boasts sumptuous food.

The affordable luxury is another huge selling point with bed and breakfast room rates starting from just £60 for a single and £90 for a double or twin until May 31.

All seven rooms are beautifully furnished with en suite facilities and are named – in keeping with the hotel’s name and the area’s Arthurian links – named after the more obscurer of the knights of the round table.

I was at the hotel just before Christmas with my ten-year-old daughter Lowri where we stayed in the Percivale room.

As well as being child and pet friendly, the hotel is also a great getaway for couples.

There’s an honesty bar the relaxing ‘Green Room’ lounge where you can put on a CD from a huge collection – it was great to listen to Frank Sinatra again after neglecting Ol’ Blue Eyes for years – play a wide selection of board games while relaxing on a soft leather couch.

Alternatively you can snuggle down with a book and put your feet up in front of a roaring fire in the ‘Red Room’.

The food is a real treat and guests can expect superb cuisine from the freshest of produce.

Over the course of the weekend we were treated to wonderful mains like slow roasted blade of Camelford beef, crushed potato, steamed carrot and roasted parsnip and baked fillet of Cornish bream seasoned with coriander.

Breakfast is also something to really look forward to with some tempting choices, including the fine full Cornish breakfast and Pendragon Rarebit.

 

Fact file

• Pendragon Country House, Davidstow, Camelford, Cornwall PL32 9XR,Telephone, 01840 261 131, Mobile 07719 647 648, www.pendragoncountryhouse.com

Things to do:

• Tintagel Castle – Steeped in myth and legend and said to be the birthplace of King Arthur, the atmospheric Tintagel Castle on the rugged North Cornwall coast offers dramatic.

You can still visit the nearby Merlin’s Cave and this fantastic monument features in the tale of Tristan and Isolde, immortalised by the German composer Richard Wagner. www.tintagelcastle.co.uk

• Boscastle – This pretty village and fishing port is within a conservation area that has some of the most beautiful countryside in the UK.

One of the few remaining unspoilt harbour villages in Cornwall and hosts a number of little fishing boats, it was a former hive of activity with trade once taking place between here and Wales. See www.visitboscastleandtintagel.com

• St Kew Inn – Just a few miles down the road from the Pendragon Country House is the charming and highly regarded St Kew Inn in the village of St Kew.

If you love good food, fine wine and real ale, you won’t go wrong at this traditional and friendly pub where my daughter and I spent a very enjoyable afternoon. St Kew Inn, St Kew, PL30 3HB, 01208 841259. See www.stkewinn.co.uk