‘Old-fashioned in all the best ways’, ‘a Cornish jewel’, ‘a real joy – almost a privilege – to stay there’; compliments rain down from trusted readers after recent visits to Toby Ashworth’s hotel on the Roseland peninsula. Perched high above Carne Beach in ‘stunning gardens’, its ‘spacious, warm-hued, traditional rooms’ – many with balcony and ‘divine’ views of Gerrans Bay – have fresh flowers, antiques; ‘wonderful beds, good linen and expensive toiletries’. Further gold stars: ‘sherry by the bedside’, shoe cleaning, fresh milk with turn-down, and, ‘oh joy, Horlicks’. The ‘young but experienced smiling staff’ are uniformly praised. ‘Many remembered our names. They seem to know instinctively how to look after their guests.’ New chef Brett Camborne-Paynter’s ‘scrumptious dinners’, including daily Portloe lobster, are served in a formal silver-service dining room with dress code and dessert trolley. The more casual Quarterdeck offers the likes of Cornish seafood linguine. Breakfast ‘keeps the bar high’, as does afternoon tea: ‘feather-light scones and blackcurrant jam, home-made cakes, proper loose-leaf teas’. ‘I wish we could visit more often.’ (Tessa Stuart, Peter Govier, IB, and others)