December in Cornwall

Best Things Nearby:
The town of Fowey is about two miles away. Very charming with friendly shops and very good restaurants. A lovely harbor as well. The Eden project is only four miles away (unless you get lost like we did). If you like plants, this is a must see. The largest greenhouses in the world. The guides were very knowledgeable and the grounds and greenhouses were magnificent.

Best Things About the Resort:
The cottages are very well equipped. First time I have had a chrome wine bucket on a pedestal and four different types of wine glasses in a timeshare kitchen. Lots of small appliances, too, although there is no dishwasher or garbage disposal. We had a two bedroom unit and the second bedroom is small; two twin beds arranged perpendicularly.

The grounds are lovely, flowers still blooming in December, and there is a wonderful restaurant at the Manor hotel. You can use all the facilities at the hotel. They have a nice pool, sauna, steamroom, exercise room and spa. If you want a massage, make your reservations early.

Resort Experience:
Cornwall is an area of England consisting of dozens of small towns. We were only able to visit a few, but enjoyed all of them. England gets dark early in the winter; by 4pm, it is nighttime. This limited where we could go because the driving at night can be confusing and treacherous. There are no lights, very narrow roads, and local drivers who are in a hurry and don't care. Most everything in Cornwall can be reached within an hour or two by car, but get an early start.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Very Good
• Family Friendliness: Very Good
• Service: Very Good

The restaurant is small, so reservations are probably a good idea, especially during high season. It is owned by the same people who own Sam's across the street. This restaurant is more upscale, although the prices were reasonable for the quality of food and ambience.

I had the baked cod. It was served over a bed of celery. Cod can be bland but this was outstanding. My husband ordered the sea bass, which was also excellent. For dessert we shared a lemon creme brulee with clotted cream ice cream. Need I say more?

Although the resort and restaurant were not very busy in mid December, they still require that you make reservations. I believe that is so they are adequately staffed, because you do get a lot of personal attention.

We we perplexed because they do not seat you right away, even though it is obvious the table is ready. When we arrived for our reservation, there was only one other couple in the dining room. They have you relax in the lobby, where they take your food order and bring a complementary appetizer. When you do enter the dining room, your wine is ready and decanting.

Don't order too much because, in addition to the first appetizer, they bring an additional complementary starter - often soup. The entrees are tastefully presented and the portions are large. The menu varies monthly. Very good fish and meat selections. At first we thought the prices were on the high side, but actually they are quite reasonable for the amount and quality of the food.

The service is excellent and the setting lovely. The Trenython Manor hotel was once a large estate with Italian influence. The dining room is large and paneled in mahogony; but each panel is different and has a history. Most were "imported" from various churches. If you are fortunate, your wait person will be knowlegable and give you the background.

This is a seafood restaurant. If you don't like fish or seafood, don't bother coming here. However, in case there is someone in the group that just doesn't like fish and you still go to Sam's, burgers are also on the menu. (I have to admit that they did look pretty good.)

If you do like fish and seafood, you won't find better anywhere. Naturally, we were limited in our research, but we talked to several locals who said Sam's had the best seafood in all of Cornwall. They have another restaurant, The Other Place, which was also fabulous, although a little more formal.

The portions are very generous. Most meals come in starter sizes, and unless you are very hungry, they serve well as main courses. We visited twice. For lunch we had the seafood feast for one, and it was more than enough for two people. A few days later, we returned for dinner and had the bouillabaisse for two. WOW!