Stories from the Bay and beyond

We’re lighting the fires and testing the festive punch. Your dinner plans and itineraries are in place and we’re ready to welcome you for Christmas.

Fireworks at the ready, hot chocolate by the bonfire and music in the Living Space, here’s a taster of what to expect during your three-night New Year break.

A simple pleasure that has swooped through countless centuries, nothing beats the exhilaration of watching your kite take flight.

The tides can completely transform a landscape in a matter of hours, as vast expanses of sand are hidden beneath the waves. Find out what creates the tide and how to keep safe in them.

Our silver-headed, bright-eyed neighbours, the jackdaws’ cries from the cliff face are a familiar sound around these parts. We spoke to local ecologist and lecturer John Blackburn to learn more about our local colony.

The still blue waters, secluded coves and craggy outcrops along from the Bay host an ecosystem full of surprises – best spotted standing a few feet above the surface on a standup paddleboard.

Join Will and former beach ranger Tim Uff for a walk along the beach. Wide open spaces, solitude, teeming with wildlife: Watergate Bay’s far north end promises rich rewards for those who make the mile trek.

Step from the hotel straight onto the coastal path, hire a bike and explore some incredible landscapes. Walks through forgotten gardens and stepping stones for giants, there's plenty to do around Watergate and further afield. 

The long nights ahead are perfect for star and planet gazing, and you don’t (always) have to stay up so late. What might you see staring up into the darkness in the next month or two?

Aaron Jenkin makes his living from long nights gazing at the stars. He tells us about everything from adjusting your eyes to the darkness, to the elation of watching the Milky Way reflected in the water…