Travel with me
By Ella Parkes
Cannes and Les Roches Rouges
Cannes wouldn't typically be an obvious choice for me as I am usually drawn to quiet sleepy villages on a Greek island or in Italy. Fancy beach clubs are something I would usually avoid, but I wanted to mix it up this time and experience all the glamour and glory that the French Riviera had to offer, and it didn't disappoint.
Cannes has such a timeless feel to it. From the beautifully dressed locals in their tailored suits, silks and oversized sunglasses to the incredible buildings which hold such a history that you feel instantly transported to the 1950s French Rivera in all its splendour. Yes, there are the boutique designer shops, flash cars, expensive beach clubs and sushi restaurants, but the charm is there in bucket loads and I really enjoyed my few days wandering around the streets of Cannes soaking up everything it has to offer.
Belle Plage
We stayed at Belle Plage for our time in Cannes. It was a good location for all the restaurants and the beach, among other things. Belle Plage has exceptional views of the sea and has been beautifully designed by architect Raphaël Navot. The views and carefully considered design are the things that drew me to Belle Plage. The restaurant and bar sit on the 8th floor with stunning views of the Boulevard de la Croisette, serving local and traditional dishes and the bar has a very large selection of drinks from organic wines to local craft beers.
Places to eat
Salama Cannes - delicious tagines
La Môme - Mediterranean
Bella by Eyal Shani ( Belle Plage )
The old town was a good option for more casual and affordable dinners - we just picked one on the night.
Other restaurants - yet to try
La Petite Maison
La Guérite
Le Maschou - The old town
Beach Clubs
Carlton Beach club - our favourite
La Môme Plage
La Guérite - yet to try
The Little Beachfront - yet to try
Places to see
Musée Matisse - Nice
Picasso Museum - Antibes
Market in Antibes
Cannes Yachting Festival
La Colombe d’Or - Saint-Paul de Vence - For lunch and a impressive collection of art
(Picasso, Matisse, Miró, Fernand Léger and co )
The Matisse Chapel (The Chapelle du Rosaire ) - Vence
Marc Chagall National Museum - Nice
Carlton Beach Club
.
Carlton Beach Club .
Carlton Cannes - Beach Club
Les Roches Rouges
During the second half of our trip, we travelled further up the coast to Les Roches Rouges. Les Roches Rouges is an understated, luxury, mid-century building nestled on the edge of L'Esterel National Park in Saint-Raphaël in between Nice and Saint-Tropez.
The hotel has stunning vistas overlooking the Mediterranean, and most rooms have sea views with private balconies. I was hesitant to book Les Roches Rouges as I was worried it might just be an Instagram destination, but I was completely blown away by the hotel. It combines a wonderfully casual vibe with incredible, top-notch service. The hotel has an elegant, private and understated outlook and the real show stopper is that it's perched on the water's edge. Families are welcome, including canine family members. The hotel is certainly a photographer's dream with glorious views of the ocean, vintage pieces, a wonderful selection of art books and considered interiors.
The hotel boasts a spa, outdoor gym, pétanque court, table tennis, access to a public beach and two pools: one lap pool and one saltwater pool that sits along the sea allowing the waves to slosh and overflow.
The hotel has a list of free activities from live music, to yoga, and an open-air cinema. My personal favourite, however, was the access to paddle boards, two-person kayaks, snorkels and flippers.
We didn't manage to sample both restaurants at the hotel but the all-day eatery 'La Plage ' was brilliant. All the food is fresh, traditional and locally sourced. Our trip was short and so we did not have the opportunity to sample any restaurants in the local villages, but we found the hotel restaurant food delicious.
Mallorca and Es Racó d'Artà
Beautifully restored and designed to sit with nature by local architect Antoni Esteva and designer Jaume Danus, Es Racó d’Artà is a wellness retreat nestled in the protected Parc Natural de la Peninsula de Llevent on Mallorca’s wild north-east coast.
Es Racó d’Artà is an idyllic place to unwind and connect with nature. It is also a working farm with 220 hectares of vineyards and forest land. The driveway is surrounded by wild flowers and views of the valleys, making it the perfect spot for sunset walks and local hikes to explore some of Mallorca’s wildest corners.
With nature being at the heart of Es Racó d’Artà, it has taken deep consideration in using eco-friendly materials and made a conscious effort to support local artisans. This thinking is evident in the furnishings, materials and food (if this has not been gathered from its own working farm).
Es Racó d’Artà offers daily activities such as basket weaving, and free yoga and meditation classes. It also has a breathtaking infinity pool with views over valleys and orchards.
As if it couldn’t tick any more boxes, Es Racó d’Artà allows dogs under 7kg.
Places to eat
Arta - El Camino
Deia – Nama, De Monio
Palma - El Camino Palma
Places to see
Arquinesia - beautiful perfume shop in Palma
Fundació Miró Mallorca - is a museum dedicated to the work of the artist Joan Miró
Nama
Deià
Sa Foradada
Palma
Tinos and Xinara House
Formerly the residence of local bishops, Xinara House is a lovingly restored villa on the unspoilt, quintessentially Greek island of Tinos. Inside, the rooms are bursting with art – both vintage and contemporary pieces – while outside you’ll find beautifully curated terraced gardens, a pool and a vineyard.
Tinos itself is full of picturesque villages, empty sandy beaches and a thriving gastronomic scene that embraces the slow-food movement and local organic produce. Known for traditional craftsmanship and marble sculptures, Tinos has lots of charm and not a hint of pretension unlike some of its neighbouring islands.
Tinos is the perfect place for those wishing to disconnect and relax without breaking the bank account. We found the best beaches (not so windy and fewer jellyfish ) were on the south of the island.
Most beaches have a taverna and beach beds. They all bring in a diverse mix of people, but generally the energy is very laid back and casual. If you are looking for a beach which offers comfy beds and table service we found ‘Dear John’ was one of the best on the island. The sea was amazing and it is within walking distance to Ormos Kardianis, where you can enjoy locally caught fish whilst watching the sunset.
Places to see
Kolimbythra beach
Lavada beach
The marble town of Pyrgos - antique and artisan shops
Volax - known for its few remaining basket shops selling traditional baskets
Dear John - beach club
Volax
Panormos
Places to eat
Marathia Tavern
Ktikados
Svoura - our favourite
Ormos Kardianis
Krokos - breakfast
Thalassaki
Sunset at Ormos Kardianis
Cornwall and Unique Homestays
Cornwall is a nostalgic place for me. Having family dotted around the south west corner of the country, it was often the go to place for a holiday when I was growing up.
I love Cornwall for its wild and dramatic coastline, and it is always worth the long car journey even if you're not treated to sunshine. In low-season you can often find yourself alone on some of the most stunning beaches in the UK.
This year we saved up to stay at Ukiyo, booked through Unique Homestays. I was desperate to go, inexorably drawn to the sea views from its Japanese style bathtub. The house was a perfect spot to relax, ideally located to visit some of the best restaurants on the Cornish coastline and take the dog on beautiful local walks.
Ukiyo is an eco-friendly home on the untamed east coast of Cornwall’s Lizard Peninsula. The house is designed to suit all weathers; I could easily spend a winter’s day by the fire watching the sea bashing against the rocks, or a beautiful summer’s day, watching the sunsets whilst cooking locally caught fish over the bbq. The house has been carefully designed to feel homely whilst having quite extraordinary panoramic sea views, making it the perfect escape from the city.
Places to see
Lizard point - the most southernly point in the UK, with amazing views
St Mawes - beautiful village and idyllic houses
Beach - Kynance Cove
Porthleven - some great restaurants
Falmouth - artisan shops
Kynance Cove
Food
Cornwall is fast becoming a foodie hotspot and the county’s gastronomic scene prides itself on using local and homegrown produce wherever possible. It is always worth planning your trip to Cornwall to see if you can tick off visiting at least one of the great restaurant’s Cornwall has to offer. This time we visited Coombeshead Farm, a guest house nestled within acres of meadow and woodland where the food is homegrown and you find a farm to table approach. The restaurant offers a set menu using seasonal ingredients set in one of their tastefully decorated barns. If you can’t get a reservation it is worth popping in to visit the café for a bite to eat – they offer freshly baked pastries, pies, cakes and breads. You could also stock up your larder with items produced on the farm.
Places to eat
Hidden Hut
Coombeshead Farm
New Yard Restaurant
North Street Kitchen - on the list to visit
Nancarrow Farm - on the list to visit
Tatams - coffee & cakes - on the list to visit
-
Hidden Hut
Hidden Hut is a rustic beach hut serving delicious seasonal dishes on the beautiful coastline of the Roseland Peninsula.
-
