Saunton Sands Hotel

Salt in your hair. Sand between your toes. Morning swims before melting into a mouth-watering massage. If you love to spa beside the seaside, we have just the place. The art-deco Saunton Sands Hotel perches on a cliff above a three-mile white-gold beach. With the look and feel of an ocean liner from a bygone era, it makes the ideal retreat for those in need of coastal calm.

Wake up to the sound of the sea. The hotel has 79 stylishly decorated rooms and suites, many with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean. Watch the surfers from your window, Nespresso coffee in hand, but don’t linger in your room for too long. With swimming pools both indoor and out, plus a tennis court, fitness classes, a swish gym and a championship links golf club right next door, you won’t be stuck for things to do.

Pack your bucket and spade and your sense of adventure. This stretch of North Devon coastline is a natural playground for lovers of the great outdoors. The beach attracts surfers throughout the year, drawn by the clean, consistent waves. Stay on dry land and walk the wild dunes of the UNESCO-protected Braunton Burrows Biosphere Reserve. It’s a sea of colourful flowers in the summer months. Or lace up your walking boots and hike the challenging South West Coast Path.

The unspoilt yet buzzy surf village of Croyde is five miles away, while Braunton itself is even nearer and has so much to offer. Saunter through charming streets to discover trendy beach-wear boutiques and quirky cafes. For more adventures, head to Ilfracombe to see the Damien Hirst statue or to Exmoor to visit the zoo.

But if that all sounds a bit too energetic, head directly to the hotel’s Source Spa & Wellness zone. This heavenly oasis features a Finnish aroma sauna and a salt inhalation steam room to cleanse the skin and clear the lungs. Sink into serenity with a Source Spa ritual inspired by the salty sea air, then hit the rooftop sun deck to relax while you watch the waves roll in. But the star of the show is the piping hot Marine Vitality Pool, filled with mineral-rich Dead Sea water and complete with a floor-to-ceiling window, so you can soak while admiring the sunset.