In 'the most idyllic location', cascading down the cliffs at St Mawes with views to St Anthony's lighthouse, Olga Polizzi's seaside hotel continues to delight readers. Once home to a yacht club, it is spread across a cluster of houses.

The fun begins in the sculpture-studded subtropical garden at this dog-friendly clifftop hotel, and runs through everything, from the ambience to the decor.

'Hotel settings don't get much more spectacular than the Polurrian's, on the cliff edge overlooking its own beach,' writes a guide insider. The relaxed family and dog-friendly hotel makes the most of the coastal views.

Hidden in a back street of Padstow's old town, these sybaritic B&B suites, created by chef Paul Ainsworth and his wife, are an ideal retreat for foodies.

There are 'great views of the Camel Estuary' from this 1920s, family-friendly hotel that is 'virtually on the famous golf course'.

In 25 acres of mature grounds, this handsome stone manor house has seven chic bedrooms with emperor bed and home-made treats, a relaxing lounge, friendly staff who deliver a much-praised breakfast with a smile.

With a waterside terrace, coolly stylish interiors, well-equipped bedrooms and a chef who honed his craft in Raymond Blanc's kitchen, this Edwardian hotel in a fishing village on the Fal estuary is the place to idle away blissful days.

The Fowey estuary washes around the rear terrace at this white stucco Victorian hotel with boutique-chic bedrooms in restful shades, and restaurant serving classic dishes with a modern twist.

Avowedly family-friendly and fun yet stylish, this hotel with spa occupies a Baroque Victorian mansion in five acres above the Fowey estuary.

This coastal inn in a hillside village has smart contemporary interiors, bedrooms styled in marine shades, a menu of grills and classic fare, and guest use of spa, pool and salon at the Carbis Bay Hotel.

There are splendid views across the causeway to St Michael's Mount from some of the simple, chic bedrooms, styled in coastal colours, and the glass-walled restaurant at this beachfront hotel.

Life on the water's edge doesn't come much closer than at this large hotel, the oldest in the maritime town.

A landmark Victorian building above Fistral Bay, this hotel is a mix of the grand and contemporary, with pools and spa treatments, a golf course, surf school, bedrooms in coastal colours, refined and informal dining.

Chef-owner farmers Tom Adams and April Bloomfield draw inspiration from European agriturismo at their rustic-chic guest house and restaurant in an ancient farmhouse and outbuildings.