SITUATED on a stunning stretch of the Cornish coast, the award-winning four-star Budock Vean Hotel provides the perfect escape whether you want to play hard or just take it easy.

The luxurious Budock Vean Hotel (budockvean.co.uk) offers the best of all worlds.

Found on a lovely part of the serene Helford River, it is surrounded by 65 acres of glorious gardens, woodland and its very own golf course.

From the hotel’s private beach, you can take kayaking trips (korukayaking.co.uk) organised by the hotel along the river, a waterway that was the inspiration for Daphne du Maurier’s novel Frenchman’s Creek (turned into a 1944 Hollywood film starring Joan Fontaine).

I went on one of these excellent guided tours that takes you past shipwrecks and secluded beaches on the creek. On sunny days there is an opportunity to do a spot of swimming as well.

If you are fancy something a little less strenuous, there are also boat trips that run for much of the year.

The hotel has first class leisure facilities, including a 15-metre indoor pool with open log fire and sauna, outdoor hot tub, two all-weather tennis courts and a top notch spa which my wife and 13-year-old daughter raved about after having treatments there.

Its AA Rosette restaurant has an entirely justifiable reputation for its excellent food, top wine list and superb service.

From superb steaks to sublime seafood, it’s all of a very high standard.

Breakfast and the cream teas are also a real treat.

If you are a foodie fan, there’s another top award-winning, highly regarded place to dine just down the road.

Dating back to the 16th century, The Ferryboat Inn (thewrightbrothers.co.uk/ferryboat-inn.html) overlooking the beds of the Wright Brothers’ Duchy oyster farm, offers more picturesque views and great fare, from their outstanding burgers to beer battered Cornish haddock, chips and mushy peas.

Back at the comfortable modern bedrooms are spacious equipped with all the facilities you need to enjoy your stay including slick en suite bathrooms, flat screen TVs, hairdryers and Wi-Fi is free and available throughout the hotel.

You can also stay in deluxe self-catering holiday homes.

Also a couple of minutes away is another big draw in Trebah Garden (trebahgarden.co.uk), which has been rated among the finest gardens in the world.

This beautiful Cornish valley garden has over four miles of footpath where you can explore canopies bursting with exotic blooms and follow vibrant tunnels of colour to the secluded beach which is of historic importance.

In June 1944 it was used as the departure point for 7,500 men of the 29th US Infantry Division for its assault on Omaha beach at the D-Day landings.

The soldiers’ actions featured in Steven Spielberg’s multi Oscar award-winning 1998 movie Saving Private Ryan.

A stay at the Budock Vean Hotel has it all and is full of surprises.

Budock Vean Hotel, near Helford Passage, Mawnan Smith, Falmouth, Cornwall TR11 5LG.

General Enquiries: 01326 250288.

Reservations: 01326 252100.

E-mail: relax@budockvean.co.uk.

Website: budockvean.co.uk.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BudockVeanHotel, Twitter and Instagram: @budockveanhotel