Whilst the continuation of traffic light systems and debates around vaccine passports has left international travel up in the air for many, UK staycations have accelerated in popularity.

From coastal respites to hiking holidays, the lockdown has provided us with the opportunity to explore some of this country’s most beautiful locations.

Earlier this summer, we swapped the streets of Venice instead for the fields of Cornwall. Whilst the sound of spending a weekend in a English county has a slightly less glamorous ring to it to an Italian national park, we were proved wrong when we stepped into Alex and Keira’s hidden haven.

Situated off the beaten track in Underlane, is the Lavender Parc, an AirBnB retreat that allows you to sleep under the stars- or if you’re unfortunate with the weather like us, the clouds!

But the unpredictable English climate couldn’t falter this beautiful location. Surrounded by patches of lavender, were baby biomes, each one powered by solar energy and proved a cosy escape.

Created carefully in mind with Scandinavian touches and a sustainably powered system, our home for the weekend was as equally eco-friendly in its design, as it was exquisite in its interiors. From the double bed that acted as the centre piece to the dome, to the matching partner robes and slippers, this Eden project-esque pod became the perfect couples retreat in Cornwall.

But perhaps one of the most notable features to the pod was the tub situated outside of our sleeping quarters. Scattered with locally sourced lavender and bath salts, it was the perfect way to remedy aching feet after a day of Cornish coastal walks, and wind down for the evening.

After a peaceful night of sleeping under the stars, we were awoken by the break of dawn and even more excitingly- breakfast in bed! A hamper graced our bedside, filled with delicious pastry treats and granola, as well as coffee and juice to wash it down with when we were done. The hosts also supplied us each morning with a copy of the Happy Newspaper, which provided a welcoming read to the start of each day.

The Lavender Parc was an exceptional find- particularly given the fact that it has only been open since March this year! But behind everything that this perfect pod had to offer, was the excellent service of our hosts, Alex and Keira. From our first contact (which in fairness to them, was a tired couple who had just spent a 6-hour drive down the M5) to our final goodbye, they were constantly on hand and on call to take care of us during our stay. Their recommendations to the local area and attention to every detail went above and beyond our expectations and we cannot thank them enough for their hospitality throughout the duration of our whistle-stop weekend.

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So, whilst the possibility of walking through an airport or sipping an Aperol Spritz on the Amalfi Coast seems to be a post-pandemic, double-vaccinated dream away, perhaps use this time of limited foreign travel to explore your home country and rekindle your love for it once again.

And if you fancy a night of sleeping under the stars, book your own stay at Alex and Keira’s Lavender Parc today by clicking here.