Cornwall, in South-West England, is probably the most popular holiday destination in the UK.
Despite its popularity, for some reason, Cornwall has always eluded us. So, imagine how excited we were to be invited to stay in luxury assisted lodge on the Landal Gwel an Mor 5 Star Holiday Resort in Portreath.
Even the January weather didn’t dampen our spirits. From start to finish, we fell in love with Cornwall, especially with Gwel an Mor holiday resort. I honestly don’t know why we left it so long, and we certainly won’t wait long to return.
As you know, at the backend of last year, Bridget and I had a tough time because our health was unpredictable. Bridget’s Rheumatoid Arthritis was getting worse, and I was diagnosed with Heart Failure and Kidney Cancer.
As you can imagine, the distraction of a trip to Cornwall was more than welcome and exactly what we needed.
My Urologist wasn’t keen on delaying the operation. Still, the chance to spend time together, in an accessible luxury lodge, in one of our bucket list destinations was too good to miss.
I’m so glad we made an effort because Gwel an Mor and, specifically, our luxury lodge opened my eyes to what’s possible from an access point of view.
But before I get into our accommodation, let me introduce you to Gwel an Mor.
Landal Gwel an Mor 5-Star Holiday Resort
Where is Landal Gwel an Mor?
Gwel an Mor Luxury Resort is in Portreath, Cornwall. It’s the perfect location for a relaxing holiday, or if you’re a bimbler, Newquay, Padstow, St Ives, Penzance, and Lands End are all within a reasonable driving distance. See our roundup: A Weekend Break in North Devon and Cornwall.
Gwel an Mor sits in an enviable position overlooking the fishing village of Portreath. A trip to the village reveals a stunning sandy beach, popular with surfers and bodyboarders, village shops and a traditional Cornish pub.
What is Landal Gwel an Mor Resort?
Awarded “Holiday Village of the Year 2018” by Visit England, Gwel an Mor is a self-contained, 5-star luxury holiday destination.
The multi-award-winning resort is designed to deliver an enjoyable experience for the whole family, with relaxation and quality at the heart of everything they do.
Accessibility on Landal Gwel an Mor
The first thing to mention about accessibility at Gwel an Mor is their website. You’ll note on their front page they talk about state-of-the-art accessible accommodation. On the drop-down menus, accessible accommodations, facilities, and breaks are upfront and centre.
This is always a good sign because it shows the site doesn’t just pay lip service to accessibility; it’s in the DNA. Another good sign is Gwel an Mor has an access statement which you can access here.
The resort is on a hill, and there is a slight incline from The Residence accommodation to the reception and central facilities.
All roads are tarmac, but you might struggle if you’re not the best at self-propelling. If you use an electric scooter, powered chair or, like us, a car, you’ll have no problem.
What We Did on Landal Gwel an Mor
Relaxation
For us, Gwel an Mor was about relaxation. Instead of our usual chaotic road trips, we wanted to go with the flow. If the truth was known, other than we wanted to see more Cornwall, we could have easily stayed at the resort.
Even in January, the views from our lodge across the Atlantic were spectacular, and the stars in the “Dark Sky” at night mesmerised me. If your holiday style is chilling out and recharging your batteries, Gwel an Mor is the place to do it.
Feadon Farm
I still smile when I think about our trip to the farm. We went on an assisted “Meet the Animals” tour, and boy, we met the animals.
If you had told me beforehand how much I’d enjoy it, I would have laughed, but I did. So much so that I wanted to bring a snake home with me, but Kirstie, our guide, wasn’t very keen on the idea!
Okay, so we met Goats, Reindeer, Falcons, Ferrets, Slow Worms, Grass Snakes, Toads, Mice, and Foxes, and I even had the pleasure of letting an Owl land on my glove.
Look at me; I’m like Robbie Doolittle, and I loved it.
The Terrace Restaurant
Our visit to the Terrace Restaurant was an absolute treat because it allowed us to sit down with Bill, Gwel an Mor’s owner. It was a pleasure to meet Bill, but it was also valuable because I now know where the high standards come from. Bill is passionate about delivering the best holiday experience in Cornwall.
The Terrace Restaurant.
Situated next to reception and the central car park, the Terrace Restaurant is accessed by stairs or a ramp. The outdoor terrace overlooking the Atlantic would be the perfect place to unwind with a glass of wine during the hot summer evenings.
Once inside, there is plenty of space for wheelchairs, and the friendly staff are only too happy to move the furniture around to accommodate you.
Freshly cooked food is prepared by a highly trained team of chefs and overseen by an Executive Chef who influences his Northern Spain heritage.
Now, I’m no food critic, so I’ll rely on my taste buds for an opinion. The food was stunning and reminded me of that famous film scene, Meg Ryan in it when she was thrilled with her food choice. Need I say any more?
Also Available at Landal Gwel an Mor
Luxury Spa Treatments – we were invited to participate in a spa treatment, and while we were tempted, we decided against it. If you fancy a bit of pampering, skilled therapists can help you unwind with various massages, treatments and therapies. Please look at their Wellbeing Spa Treatments page for a complete list of what’s available.
Swimming Pool – Guests at Gwel an Mor have full access to the heated indoor swimming pool, whirlpool, sauna and steam room. From an accessibility point of view, a swimming pool hoist and pool wheelchair are available should you need them.
Fitness Gym – I can’t imagine why you want to, but a fully fitted fitness gym is at Gwel an Mor. If you need advice about using equipment, contact customer services before visiting, as I’m sure they’ll be happy to discuss your individual needs.
Tennis – How about a game of tennis? The outdoor court and equipment are available to hire. And if you want to up your game, you can book a tennis lesson with the local county champion, a qualified coach.
Golf – If there’s a golfer in the family, how about pitting themselves against the nine-hole, par-three golf course? Feeling less inclined to walk around the golf course, what about a leisurely afternoon on the putting green? I would highly recommend checking if you have access or mobility requirements.
Fishing – Clover Lake is fully stocked with carp and tench, so the fisherman among you can spend an afternoon by the lake. There is an accessible peg on the lake and an accessible cafe, shop, and toilet.
Base Camp – If you’re holidaying with youngsters, they’ll love Gwel an Mor’s indoor activity centre. Base Camp is perfect for keeping the kids active and entertained during your stay and features:
- 2,000 sq ft soft play area
- Three floors of zip lines
- Ball Pools
- Slides
- Self-contained play areas
- Clip’n’Climb climbing walls
- Climbing lessons
- Café serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
I am sure you’ll agree that Gwel an Mor resort is unique, but I have saved the best for last. It’s now time to introduce you to our luxury wheelchair-friendly lodge.
Wheelchair Friendly Accommodation on Landal Gwel an Mor
There are two types of wheelchair-friendly accommodation on Gwel an Mor. We were fortunate enough to stay in the newer “Residence Collection Assisted Living Lodge”, but I did pop into the original Scandinavian style “Tregea Assisted Living Lodge” to take photos.
Both styles of lodges are NAS M3 accredited and feature everything you need for a comfortable holiday. If you have specific equipment requests, inform the reservation team at booking.
The Residence Collection Assisted Living Lodge
Do you know when you must take a moment to enjoy what’s in front of you? When I first set eyes on “Stargazy”, our lodge, that’s what happened, and I just had to stand back and admire it.
I don’t usually get excited about holiday lodges, but I was happy to make an exception.
Bridget and I turned into an episode of “Amazing Spaces” and spent ten minutes discussing the lodge’s style, quality, and sheer beauty.
I don’t know whether it was the apparent accessibility, manicured gardens, Atlantic Ocean backdrop, dramatic Cornwall countryside, or combined. Whatever it was, it worked, and we hadn’t even been inside yet.
The Exterior
Each lodge has an ample dedicated accessible parking space, making it easy to access the lodge and unload the car with less effort.
Access to the terrace is by way of steps or a ramp. Once on the deck, there is a Hot Tub, outdoor shower, BBQ, sun lounges and seating area. The balcony area is vast, with plenty of space for manoeuvring a wheelchair.
Living Area
I thought the outside of Stargazy was impressive, but inside, that was just WOW!!!
The first thing that hits you is the space, then the colour. Your eyes start darting all over the place because there is so much to take in.
We arrived late in the day, and the light was fading. The open-plan space, copious windows, soft aqua walls and bright wooden floors made the lodge feel bright and welcoming.
I can’t imagine this ambience was a happy accident instead of an intentional design feature (Amazing Spaces Again :-)).
With so many features to mention, I will highlight just a few:
- Comfortable Seating
- Adjustable Lighting
- Underfloor Heating
- LCD TV with Freeview
- Free Wifi
And my absolute favourite, a log burner, and I even took a video of it.
Look at the “Full Features” tab on the Residence Assisted Living page for a complete list of features and what is included during your stay.
Kitchen and Dining Area
This one was pretty special as kitchens go, and it even had an island, unusual for holiday accommodation.
As much as I loved the kitchen, I initially had one complaint. There was no kettle?
Fortunately, right before I was about to get on the phone and make a fool of myself, Bridget pointed out what a Neanderthal I am. In a kitchen of this quality, kettles were so last century.
This kitchen had constant hot water via a little spout. I mean, come on, that’s just class. Upon further inspection, the kitchen had everything you could need and stuff you didn’t know you needed during your stay.
The open-plan dining area had a stylish table and chairs. Upon arrival, we were happy to be greeted with a nice Gwel an Mor wine bottle – nice touch!
Accessible Twin Bedroom with En-Suite Wet Room
The accessible twin bedroom was huge, and thanks to the quality bedding, luxury furniture and, of course, those colours again, it didn’t feel clinical.
Essential features are the electric adjustable bed and the Ergolet H Hoist System, allowing room-to-room transfer with the en-suite wet room.
Not being a hoist user, I strongly recommend contacting the reservation team before booking to discuss your specific needs.
Another nice feature in the accessible bedroom is the wheelchair-friendly wardrobe which includes a safe for your belongings.
The en-suite wet room and toilet were spacious and had plenty of grab rails.
There is a portable shower chair, plenty of luxury towels, soaps, shampoos, and a ceiling track hoist system for easy transfers.
Double Bedroom
We used the double bedroom. It’s not accessible unless you can self-transfer to the bed. There isn’t enough space on the side of the bed for a wheelchair, but as Bridget can walk, it worked for us.
Again, luxury bedding, soft furnishings, quality furniture and a pair of sumptuous bathrobes made for a very comfortable stay.
Bathroom
The main bathroom is next door to the double bedroom and features a toilet, bath with overhead power shower and a TV. I highly recommend it if you’ve never watched TV in the tub.
Single Bedroom
The lodge also has a small single bedroom, ideal for teenagers who demand their room or a travelling carer.
The Residence Assisted Lodge has so much to offer and talk about.
Apart from the hot water spout and the TV in the bath, the big takeaway for me is how accessibility seamlessly fits in and doesn’t detract from what can only be described as a genuinely luxurious lodge.
The Scandinavian Tregea Assisted Living Lodge
I popped into the Tregea accessible lodges and was impressed with what I saw. However, the older two lodges are still more than adequate for a comfortable, relaxing holiday.
Situated close to reception, The Terrace Restaurant and The Clubhouse, these Scandinavian-style lodges are two-storey and fully wheelchair accessible throughout the ground floor.
There is no hoist in these lodges. If you need a hoist to transfer, you must bring your own or arrange a local hire. Gwel an Mor’s reservation team will advise you of what’s available in the local area.
Access to Tregea Accessible Lodges
As you can see, there is step-free access to the lodge from the car park.
Ground Floor
You’ll find a spacious living room, dining area, kitchen, and a twin bedroom with an electric adjustable bed and en-suite wet room on the ground floor.
First Floor
There are two bedrooms on the first floor, one double with an en-suite bathroom, a twin bedroom, and a family bathroom.
Note the upper floor is not accessible as it is accessed via a staircase. The Tregea Scandinavian lodge is another excellent reason to stay at Gwel an Mor luxury resort if you can climb the stairs.
Would I Recommend a Holiday at Landal Gwel an Mor?
Yes, without a doubt. I can’t imagine a perfect holiday.
Staying on Gwel an Mor, in a luxury lodge, with fantastic facilities, made our first trip to Cornwall unforgettable. If anything, it may have set the standards too high.
Both Bridget and I created so many beautiful memories at Gwel an Mor. I’ll never forget feeding foxes, handling a snake or flying an owl.
We’ll never forget the excellent hospitality shown to us by every team member. And, no matter how often we visit Cornwall in the future, we’ll never forget it was Gwel an Mor we saw first.
Resources:
Website – Gwel an Mor Luxury Holiday Resort
Facebook: Gwel an Mor on facebook
Twitter: Gwel an Mor on Twitter
Instagram: Gwel an Mor on Instagram
Pinterest: Gwel an Mor on Pinterest
Cornwall Tourist Information: Visit Cornwall
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