The Waterwheel in St Austell, England

The Waterwheel serves a 3-course dinner in an elegant dining room, with an à la carte menu that includes chargrilled steaks and fresh fish. An extensive breakfast menu is cooked to order and offers vegetarian and vegan options, plus homemade jams and yoghurt. Guests can also order wine or champagne from the bar, and a daily specials menu changes alongside the regular offerings.

The hotel sits on 1.5 acres of grounds that include a subtropical garden with a waterfall, ponds, and a micro-climate supporting tree ferns and Gunnera. Seating areas are placed on decking throughout the garden, and garden lighting is installed. The grounds also feature an accessible path for wheelchair users and a stream running through the valley.

The 16 rooms include Garden View rooms with Juliet balconies overlooking the ponds, and a ground-floor accessible room with its own patio. Each room has an ensuite shower room, a flat-screen TV, tea and coffee making facilities, and some retain old wooden beams. A Junior Suite and a King Room with Garden View offer additional space and comfort.

The Waterwheel welcomes dogs and offers pet-centric amenities, including access to the resident Labrador named Kernow, who has a dedicated corner in the bar called 'Kernow's Korner'. Staff are noted for being particularly attentive to canine guests, and a breakfast sausage for dogs is provided. The hotel's gardens and wooded surroundings give pets plenty of space to explore.

The hotel is located 4 miles from the Eden Project and a 15-minute drive from the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Charlestown Harbour with its historic tall ships is a short drive away, as are the fishing villages of Mevagissey and Fowey. St Austell town centre is a 10-minute walk downhill through the wooded valley.

Location: 4 miles from Eden Project, in wooded valley

Rooms: Garden View rooms with Juliet balconies and old wooden beams

Dining: 3-course dinners with local produce and vegan options

Gardens: 1.5-acre subtropical garden with waterfall and ponds

Pet-Friendly: Resident Labrador with dedicated bar corner

Inn Type: Adults-only with wheelchair accessible room