The Port William Inn is a hidden gem in north Cornwall. It's situated in Trebarwith Strand, about…read more2-1/2 miles south of Tintagel. Finding it was a challenge, since my GPS did not seem to understand my instructions, and it's at the end of a series of very narrow "B" roads that mostly only accommodate one car a time. But once you're there, it's well worth the hassle of finding it.
With only 8 rooms, each guest is recognized by name by the staff and treated like family. Nothing is a problem for Richard (the manager) and his friendly crew. For example, we had some car problems and realized we would be arriving around midnight on the day we were due to check in, and the staff usually leaves by 10:30pm. I phoned the hotel, and Sam, the night manager arranged to leave a back door open, with our room key easily findable. He also gave me detailed directions to find the hotel and where to park.
The room was relatively spacious, compared to some of the shoeboxes we've stayed in before. It was clean, well-appointed, and featured a modern bathroom with a bath, shower, and plenty of hot water. The floor was newly-carpeted and had a slight camber to it, no doubt the result of decades of damp sea air distorting the floorboards. Although it made walking around the room a little disconcerting, it seemed to add to the rustic charm. The window opened onto a gorgeous vista overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with a rocky cove below where the waves crashed ceaselessly, soothing us to sleep each night.
Breakfast was included in the room rate, consisting of fresh juice, fruit, cereal, pastries, and a full selection of traditional English cooked items. We were well-fed each morning. The lunch and dinner menus featured a wide variety of delicacies that were worthy of any 5-star restaurant. Very satisfying.
Seating options for dining (or just relaxing) included comfy lounge chairs arrayed near fireplaces, chairs and tables in a glassed-in conservatory, or trestle-benches outdoors on a patio. In all cases, there's a view of the cove and crashing waves.
A coastal path affords a way to get closer to the sea, down a slippery set of stone steps that require careful navigation. Once down below, the full majesty of the waves can be enjoyed close-up.
Some caveats -- parking at the hotel requires some automotive gymnastics to negotiate a tight bend from the roadway into the parking area. The smaller the car you're driving, the better off you'll be! Also, there's no cellphone signal to be found, but luckily the hotel provides free wifi. If you're travelling with others, consider equipping everyone with a compact walkie-talkie if you plan to explore separately.
For us, the best part of staying at The Port William Hotel was the cheerful helpfulness of the staff. Due to the car issues we were having, we had to delay our checkout past the usual 10:30am. However, Richard said "Don't worry about it" and allowed us to stay until 1:30pm with no extra charge. Very accommodating!
Bottom line -- The Port William Inn represents great value for money and is a wonderful example of high-quality hospitality. We will definitely stay there again.
