CORNWALL, ENGLAND
Admittedly, Newquay hasn’t always been the easiest sell to anyone the far side of their A-level results. Signs are, however, that’s changing, with the venerable Cornish resort town – which has sandy beaches ringed by steep cliffs and some of the best surf in Europe – reasserting its seaside appeal beyond the raucous nightlife. Leading the charge is the Headland Hotel, a grand 1900s edifce, which is looking sprightly after a thorough refurbishment and the addition of a smart new spa. Handsome guestrooms have views over surfng beaches, on which lessons can easily be arranged. Alternatively, book a foraging workshop in the hotel grounds, searching for sea beet and wild garlic among the hedgerows and meadows of the coastal countryside, before cooking up freshly found produce in a local café.