I had done the self-catering experience in Cornwall many times before.

The sodden tents, the damp caravans, the wind-creaking barns and sparse, woodchip-wallpapered cottages.

Been there, done that. Had enough of musty rooms and even mustier bed linen.

No, I had promised myself – and Mrs M – if we were ever to do the Cornish self-catering thing again it would be when the county managed to come up with something approaching true comfort, where every possible need was catered for and all we needed to do was turn up, wind down and relax. And the chances of that happening were as likely as the Tate Gallery St Ives showing an exhibition of chocolate box covers.

And yet here we were, rounding the headland at Carbis Bay, approaching our self-catering accommodation with the promise of five-star luxury to ease tired bones and weary minds after our four-our drive from Hampshire.

Surely this couldn’t be true!

Oh, but it was.

The thinking behind The Sands at Hawke’s Point atop Carbis Bay is quite simple. Create a home from home self-catering holiday experience that blends the luxury of a five-star hotel, the space and light of an up-scale apartment, with all the creature comforts you would expect from your own abode.

From the moment we stepped into our chosen apartment it was obvious all this had been achieved – and more.

Stunning! And that’s before taking in the view of the bay itself, visible from the two balconies of our penthouse apartment.

What greeted us were rooms made quite beautiful by a gorgeous blend of French boutique style with smart, comfortable sofas and chairs coupled with rich fabrics and beautiful furnishings.

The theme was Cornish charm, with a dash of the nautical – but not too much – an array of elegant, personal touches, all mixed with the plush extras you would choose yourself to create your own perfect holiday retreat.

A superb dining table seated eight if needs be, another balcony table hinted at al fresco dining if the weather played ball.

A super brass telescope provided a close-up eye on the comings and goings in the bay below, with superb views of the lighthouse and, beckoning from its promontory just two miles along the coast, St Ives itself.

We promised we would walk there, along the cliff trail that started where the beach at Carbis Bay met the road. We never did, always too reluctant to leave the luxuries of the penthouse in time to make the effort. But the thought was there.

Waiting for us when we arrived, just to ease us into the stay, was a welcoming bottle of Cornish Camel Valley champagne and a tremendous hamper of goodies from food4myholiday.com that included such local delights as Cornish cheeses, Crellow chutney, local farm milk and butter as well as free range eggs and bacon, home-made coleslaw, apple juice, Cornish water and, perhaps best of all, a selection of local fudge, candies and honeycomb and a whole heap of ingredients for the ultimate Cornish cream tea. It was a struggle, but we managed it!

A huge draw surprisingly was the kitchen. No, I kid you not. Seen as usually the ‘chore’ of any self-catering break, the cooking turned out to be one of the highlights of our stay, made easy by the superbly equipped kitchen area complete with just about everything you would need.

Even Mrs M found it a delight, and she usually insists on going on strike when on holiday. The marvellous array of equipment was topped off with a host of Villeroy and Bosch dining ware, which added a luxury touch to each meal even if there was the slight frisson of making sure four boisterous teenagers – the Miss Ms and their beaux – did not break anything.

In fact, to take the energy out of the teens we found a strenuous match on the apartment’s Nintendo Wii game attached to the huge flatscreen TV worked wonders, even if the boyfriends did have a tendency to ignore the fact they should be permitting their possible future father-in-law to win!

Flat screens were the order of the day in each of the three bedrooms, two twin and a king-size master bedroom with en suite in our penthouse. There was a luxury master bathroom and everyone had their own luxuriant robes. The mattresses were deep, deep, deep; the duvets plump, plump, plump. We slept, slept, slept.

In the end of course we had to drag ourselves out. In part this was down to the fact I had foolishly plumped for a break that included a surfing lesson for myself and the teens – Hawke’s Bay can arrange this for you – and so the four teens and I headed off to the Gwithian Academy of Surfing some 20 minutes car drive from the apartments.

For two hours I heaved, panted, struggled, cursed, swallowed, sank, swam and only occasionally managed to hold on to my board long enough for it to carry me through the foam.

It was raining, the teens’ humiliated me, but I – and they – had the time of our lives. Total fun, even if the water was freezing. It was even colder when we ‘lads’ chucked ourselves in the sea off the Carbis Bay beach ten minutes walk beneath our apartment. We emerged pink with the chill, but feeling true heroes.

And so we passed our Carbis Bay days. A visit to St Ives on the seafront train from the Carbis Bay station two minutes from the apartments. A night at the spectacular Minack open air theatre near Penzance.

A little rain, a lot of wind, and yes, even some sun; but a whole lot of luxury. Self-catering in Cornwall will never be the same – thank goodness!

A stay at The Sands, Hawke's Point at Carbis Bay begins at £240 for an apartment for a Friday to Monday weekend stay.

Surfing lessons, welcome hamper and a host of other activities and features can be pre-arranged prior to arrival through The Sands.

More details visit: hawkes-point.co.uk. Tel: 01762 884072.