Recognition
Awards &
Accreditations
Independent recognition of what we believe to be true: that luxury and responsibility belong together, that standards matter, and that a great stay should leave the place better than you found it.
2024 / 25
Cornwall Tourism Awards
Gold — Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism
The highest recognition in Cornish tourism for sustainability. Whalesborough was awarded Gold in the Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism category at the 2024/25 Cornwall Tourism Awards — the most credible third-party endorsement of our environmental and social commitments in the region.
Ongoing · Multiple Properties
VisitEngland
5-Star Gold — Self-Catering Accommodation
VisitEngland's 5-Star Gold rating is the highest standard awarded to self-catering accommodation in England. Achieving Gold — rather than simply 5-Star — requires properties to meet exceptional standards across all assessed areas: furnishings, facilities, welcome, and overall guest experience. Multiple Whalesborough properties hold this rating.
Ongoing · Selected Properties
VisitBritain
5-Star Gold — Self-Catering
In addition to VisitEngland accreditation, selected cottages at Whalesborough carry VisitBritain 5-Star Gold status — the national tourism body's highest quality grade for self-catering accommodation across England, Scotland, and Wales. This recognition reflects the consistency and quality of the guest experience across the resort.
2026
Tripadvisor
Travellers' Choice Award 2026
Tripadvisor's Travellers' Choice Award recognises accommodation that consistently earns excellent guest reviews — placing it among the top-rated properties on the platform. Whalesborough holds a 4.9 / 5 rating across 600+ Tripadvisor reviews.
Partnership
Cornwall Wildlife Trust
Conservation & Biodiversity Partnership
Whalesborough works in partnership with Cornwall Wildlife Trust on the management of its 428-acre estate. Hedgerow restoration, wildflower meadow creation, and pond management programmes run alongside the working farm — helping to protect and extend the local habitat corridor for native species including dormice, bats, barn owls, and otter.
Previous Year
Cornwall Tourism Awards
Silver — Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Tourism
Prior to the Gold win, Whalesborough received the Silver award in the same category at the Cornwall Tourism Awards — demonstrating a consistent trajectory of improvement in sustainable operations over successive years.
What Five Star Gold Means
A standard, not a marketing claim
Luxury cottages on the estate
From intimate two-person retreats to houses sleeping 8. Every cottage is VisitEngland rated, dog-friendly, and includes spa access.
Gold — the highest grade
Awarded only when properties exceed the standard 5-Star criteria across furnishings, cleanliness, facilities, and guest welcome.
Independent assessment
Ratings are assessed by VisitEngland quality assessors — not self-declared. Properties are visited and graded in person, typically annually.
"Access to facilities that genuinely rival a five-star hotel."Guest review — Medlands, Whalesborough Farm Resort
Behind the Awards
The work that earns them
Awards follow from decisions — about which suppliers to use, how to manage the land, what to install in every cottage, and how to treat the people and wildlife that share this estate. Our sustainability page sets out exactly what we do.
Our Sustainability CredentialsCornwall Tourism Gold 2024/25 · 4.9★ Tripadvisor · Reply within 1 business day
