Once you choose Hope Cove, anything's possible...

I was looking for a place to have a child-free couple of days in South West England. We needed accommodation, great restaurants and places to eat and above all else a place to chill out and relax in  either Devon or Cornwall.

 This would mean that the boys could enjoy a bit of time with Grandma and Grandad - without Mum and Dad cramping their style and impeding the number of treats they could have!

A few Google searches later and I discovered the St. Austell Brewery website and their estate of inns offering accommodation. There were lots in Cornwall but fully booked for the days that we had available. Then I found one in Hope Cove. 

I hadn't heard of the place, but it sounded idyllic. A few Google image searches later and I was ready to book a room at the Hope & Anchor, luckily for us, there was one remaining, a deluxe room with sea views, and including breakfast was £115 per night. 

However, if you book online and use the promotional code you receive a 10% discount.

So after a few weeks, it was time to travel to Hope Cove. And Hope Cove did not disappoint. Turquoise sea, craggy coves, and sandy bays awaited us - it felt like we were in the Mediterranean, not the UK.

The food was also amazing. For lunch, at the Hope & Anchor, we shared a Fritto Misto seafood platter (£18.50), washed down with Rattler cider and a beer. 

We walked this off by following the south west coastal path westwards up and over the hill to get clear views across to Plymouth, Burgh Island and South Milton Sands.

That night we watched the sunset with a beer before eating at The Cove Inn - the pizza was amazing – one topped with spinach, ricotta, and wild mushrooms – and the other with – tuna, olives and sundried tomatoes - all enjoyed with a pint of Otter Amber – apparently Devon’s finest cask ale and just £3.00 a pint - and a gluten free Belgian bottled beer – Mongezo Premium Pilsner (just to give it a try) – the first Fairtrade organic lager in the world.

I woke to hear the waves of the sea lapping up the beach. I sat in the window seat and just stared out at the great view, enjoying the peace and quiet for about an hour. 

Then it was time for breakfast. I chose smoked haddock with poached egg and hubby had a Full English (vegetarian version). Simply delicious and we really didn't need anything else to eat for the rest of the day.

After chilling out and reading a book back in the window seat (fast becoming my favourite seat of all time) we headed eastwards along the south west coastal path and this time got views right back across Inner Hope and Outer Hope.

That evening we were entertained by singers outside The Cove Inn and country dancing outside the Hope & Anchor before we ate there. It was ultra-busy but the very efficient staff found us a table and we were served quickly and once again enjoyed great food - this time fish pie and fish and chips.

The following day we started with breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs before we checked out. Again we couldn't fault it. The weather was still so amazing, that we headed to the beach to lie in the sun for a few hours before heading home to the grandparents via the coastal route. 

I even got to read some more of Caitlin Moran's 'How To Build A Girl' book that I'd been wanting to read for a while (well worth the read too!).

To make the most of the sunshine and child-free time we drove home via Salcombe. A place I remember as having great beaches as a child, but have not been too for many years. 

We spotted a National Trust property using their app and headed to Overbecks - the seaside home of inventor Otto Overbeck, which has panoramic views across Salcombe harbour. A lovely volunteer told us all about the areas own micro climate which allows the subtropical garden to bloom.

Searching for local food recommendations on Twitter I discovered a restaurant called The Winking Prawn - and with a name like that how could you resist not seeking it out.

Actually, it was less than a mile from Overbecks and right next to the beach, which by this time was quiet as the tide had come in. 

We were in luck it was BBQ time and they suggested sharing if we weren't too hungry as they were generous portions. So, more fish was on the menu for us. Salmon and prawns, accompanied with hot buttered new potatoes, bread and dips and salad (you could request more bread and salad too) all finished off with ice cream. Just £18.95 and enough food for two people.

The short drive back took us through the amazing countryside of South Devon, taking in Kingsbridge and Totnes, meant we were back home just in time to give the boys big hugs and bedtime stories.

Hope Cove was so nice that we surprised my dad with a trip to Hope Cove for his 80th birthday last month. And you know what, just like after our child-free break away last year in Lovely Lulworth, I want to return but this time with the boys :)

Cost: Rooms at Hope & Anchor are available from £69

Time: A lovely place to spend a few days to a week - with or without kids.

Equipment: Beachwear and walking shoes.

Boys Club Rating: Got to go back - love it! Especially, if you love fish.

Where would you recommend for a child-free break?

Deb x

* Thank you to Christopher Reeve the American actor, film director, producer, screenwriter, author, and activist for his quote that was the inspiration for my headline.