Dolly weighs in on Love Island and shares her favourite Cornish trip

I have been so busy but that hasn’t stopped me planning my whole schedule around my 9pm fix of Love Island. Can we just take a second to talk about Ovie? I hear a scream from the cheap seats... Is it just me that sees a complete eligible and MORE than able free, single and bloody gorgeous male in there in need of me!? You wouldn’t need to ask me, 'where’s your head at?' twice, as I know ideally where it would be... come to Mama!

Do we need to get a sponsor in there, any opticians? Have they had too much sun and can’t see anything but those little yellow spots... Ovie, don’t you worry baby, there is a Kween on the outside waiting for you. And who doesn’t need a daily dose of Maura? Standing up, sticking up and never putting up with any shit, no matter what! Unless they bring good energy, respect and amples of feel good vibes.... Next.

A photo posted by on

Maura is my mood all day, every day.

I got jealous of seeing sun-kissed bodies and did some jetting off and holidaying myself. When I got a call from the team at Boutique Retreats to stay, my bags were packed and I was ready for a road trip in the matter of minutes – Cornwall I was coming, ready or not! You know I need no excuse for blue skies and white sandy beaches.

My first stop was Horizon Cottage and it was everything I thought it would be. Overlooking the quintessential Cornish fishing village of Mousehole, just out to sea in the distance you could even spot St Michael's Mount through the floor to ceiling fold away doors. This was the first time I visited Mousehole and I was at the centre of it; staying at this beautiful property perched so high on a hill, it allowed me to have the best views of this picturesque village.

I loved how the property has an upside down approach; the living space is actually upstairs, which made use of all those breathtaking views. The blue hues throughout made you feel even more connected to the sea – everything has been thought through here and the interiors both upstairs and downstairs are exactly what you require from a vacay. Calm and serene.

A log fire is always essential for me when I’m staying in Cornwall and this didn’t disappoint. I snuggled down in the extremely comfy sofas while my Mamas cooked just opposite me, in what can only be described as the best equipped kitchen I’ve ever been in. Those copper work tops though! And I’m still not over the size of the American style fridge freezer. Three bedrooms meant I had different sleeping options each night too, so it was absolutely fit for a queen, and the en-suite upstairs was a real treat.

My favourite part of my stay here had to be the stunning floral path leading up to a decking area, loaded with my very own hot tub and endless views of the sea. I spent my evenings sitting here, sipping champagne and overlooking all the quirky rooftops that light up the village.

Horizon cottage is absolute relaxation heaven and a delightful seaside retreat. Oh, but it doesn’t stop there, because from a very quirky property I now step into a Cornish dream, Rose cottage at Heligan. A cottage among acres of trees set next to the iconic gardens of Heligan. This was paradise to me; it doesn’t get more peaceful or idyllic than this. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many daisies in my entire life. Thousands upon thousands all around the cottage, swaying in the breeze, and the birds singing made it impossible to not fall even more in love than I already am with this part of the country.

Roses surrounded the very pretty windows and butterflies everywhere. Two floors inside meant there was so much to explore. A traditional cottage kitchen with a separate utility area and of course my all time favourite. An aga. Perfect to cook my pasties in. A nightly occurance might I add.

This leads onto a living space with a circular stone chimney breast and log fire which opened out onto a terrace of natural beauty. All the tones of green outside were incredible. The trees so high they looked like they touched the clouds. There’s a lovely little breakfast terrace at the front entrance of the cottage perfect for summer days. All the outdoor spaces left me speechless to be honest, and it’s where I spent most of the day kicking back on the sun loungers and soaking in the sun. This property has three bedrooms, all perfectly put together with touches of French vintage in the double, giving it a very fairytale like feel, and I loved the St. Ives wallpaper in the twin room.

Nothing prepared me for the master bedroom – just wow. Stunning shades of purple and grey and the rustic floorboards leading to a HUGE sleigh bed, not to mention the roll-top bath. I couldn’t get enough. So decadent. So me. The high beamed ceilings never ended and the gorgeous chandelier was a great centre piece. There was even a hidden away curved wall ensuite shower in the same room with stained glass windows. So extra. Very much like myself.

Rose Cottage is epitome of a family holiday home and perfectly located to nearby beaches and rich in places to explore that’s if you can tear yourself away long enough from this magical property.

Right, got to go... Love Island is about to start. I think need to make an entrance to the villa so I can save Amber from herself. 'It is what it is, babe' and seriously, 'Michael is not for you!' He is rude and you’re a female warrior, more in need of an Ovie than a Micky. But then aren’t we all! MOVE ON!

Dolly x

Horizon and Rose Cottage are both dog-friendly; for more information and more images on both head to the Boutique Retreats website above.

Sunil Makan is the Editor of British Marie Claire. With over 15 years of publishing experience, working on print publications and their digital counterparts, national newspapers and digital pure plays he is an Editor, Strategist, Content Producer, Creative Director and Brand Consultant.

Sunil’s specialisms include Fashion, Beauty and Grooming, Lifestyle and Culture. Prior to Marie Claire, Sunil worked at ELLE, InStyle and Shortlist Media and freelanced at various other titles.