Whizzing past tranquil St Mawes in Cornwall with a Ferrari Purosangue at the helm
Hullo! Cornwall, not just the sprawling backyard of England, but the place the English like to call their second home. You got that right, the little bundle of joy from West London and the South East, flocking to this sunny paradise for a few weeks a year with their shiny 4x4s, yoga mats, and fancy grills. After the G7 conundrum at Carbis Bay in 2021, this place was under the spotlight, showing off its picturesque coves, rugged cliffs, and quaint fishing villages. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry wanted a piece of the action.
But the locals weren't thrilled. Gordon Ramsay, holiday home proprietor, found himself in hot water for breaking Covid rules. He, in turn, couldn't stand the Cornish. To tackle the soaring property prices and the widening rich-poor divide, Cornwall doubled council taxes on second homes and holiday lets. The newcomers, not so welcome anymore, are migrating to Spain, where the welcome mat's hotter.
That brings me to the Ferrari Purosangue. If the Cornish thought they'd seen the back of loud, obnoxious SUVs, I made sure they heard a loud, outlandish high-riding supercar instead. Yet, I didn't set up camp in a Ramsay-style Airbnb palace, I checked into The Idle Rocks, St Mawes' buzzworthy hotel.
The Ferrari Purosangue: A true 'pureblood'
Owner of The Idle Rocks, David Richards CBE, motor racing entrepreneur extraordinaire, has a long history with the Ferrari universe. He's the brain behind Prodrive,, a racing organization and engineering group that has done wonders for Subaru in the World Rally Championships, steered F1 teams, been Aston Martin's boss, and chaired UK motorsport's governing body. Prodrive engineered the 550 Maranello that won the GTS category at Le Mans 24 Hours in 2003, but Ferrari refused to let them build customer cars, insisting that Ferraris must be manufactured in Maranello.
The Ferrari I'm cruising through the 303 and A30 is a fire-red masterpiece, handcrafted in that holy production line. The Purosangue, pronounced 'puro-sang-way', means 'pureblood' or thoroughbred in Italian, an apt name, given its pedigree. It's designed to rile up the purists who think Ferrari has gone rogue by mounting its iconic emblem on a high-riding vehicle.
St Mawes, nestled on Cornwall's Roseland Peninsula at the Percuil River's mouth, was fortunate enough to escape the wrath of overtourism. Boats bob in its tiny harbor, while hardy souls shiver in towels after a wild swim. The Purosangue contrasts beautifully against this backdrop of rock pools, whitewashed fishermen's cottages, and thatched houses, appearing vibrant and otherworldly under the grey, soggy sky.
The Edwardian Idle Rocks is a spectacle on the waterfront, a favorite among artists and the yachting crowd since time immemorial. Designer Karen Richards, David's better half, oversaw its refurbishment in 2010, in time for its centennial. The interior, a blend of New England beach style and minimalistic elegance, is bathed in neutrals, blues, and greys, with pops of coral red and starfish orange. Driftwood sculptures add a touch of barefoot luxury.
It's off-season, but the fire's a-burning, and the focus is on seafood, with local oysters, crab, cod, and octopus on the menu. The view from the terrace and the bedrooms above is nothing short of spectacular, even during those gloomy, rain-soaked days when windows seem to be under siege. These are the conditions that once saw smugglers come ashore. For those who fancy a smuggling career, the hotel offers sailing lessons. At night, the harbor is lit up with a kaleidoscope of colors, offering a warm embrace to sailors as they navigate through the mist.
Ideally, you'd stay put in St Mawes for the entire duration of your trip. But when you're driving a naturally-aspirated V12 Ferrari, especially one with powerful 715bhp engine, you wouldn't want to squander precious time eating pasties and gazing into the sea. Now, let's talk shop: yes, this is a true Ferrari. It's more akin to a hypercar than an SUV like the Lamborghini Urus. Unlike the Urus, which, under the hood, is essentially an Audi Q7 with a bull badge, the Purosangue keeps its DNA unadulterated. It's also incredibly exclusive, but the price won't be music to your ears - it starts at over £360,000, with an additional 20% for customization, a figure that doubles the cost of the Lambo.
For that, you get four seats, rear-hinged suicide doors, all-wheel-drive, and more cargo space than ever seemed possible in a Ferrari. And most importantly, the engine is a masterpiece, evolved from that of the storied Ferrari Enzo in the early 2000s. Mounted mid-front for optimal weight distribution, it roars like a beast with 715bhp - 74 more than the Enzo. The Purosangue swats other vehicles away like pesky flies, hitting 60mph in under 3.3s and topping out beyond 193mph. The handling is a dream, aided by active suspension and rear-wheel-steer, leaving competitors in the dust.
A more sustainable choice might be the Aston Martin DBX, equally powerful and agile in the corners, and a considerable £190,000 cheaper. But while the DBX is a fantastic car, it doesn't elicit double-takes like the Purosangue. The Purosangue is the right balance of aggression and elegance, well-proportioned, innovative without being nerdy, and cleverly disguising its girth for a sleek, athletic appearance. This was perhaps one of the most high-stakes automotive briefs of the past half-century, and Ferrari has garnered a well-deserved win.
This is a supercar with added practicality, not an over-inflated luxury hauler. Even without the Ferrari badges, I'll say this: it looks like a Ferrari, sounds like a Ferrari, and flies like a Ferrari. Any heart racing with adrenaline dreams of driving a Ferrari will find themselves smitten with the Purosangue, the undisputed queen of emmets, the Cornish word for ants.
• Book your stay at The Idle Rocks here
- The property prices and the rich-poor divide in Cornwall increased due to taxes on second homes and holiday lets.
- In St Mawes, people enjoy various outdoor activities such as boating, swimming, and sailing.
- The Ferrari Purosangue, a high-riding supercar, is a contrast to the quiet and picturesque town of St Mawes.
- The Idle Rocks hotel in St Mawes offers sailing lessons for those interested in engaging in smuggling activities.
- The Ferrari Purosangue is designed to appeal to purists who believe Ferrari has strayed from its roots by producing SUVs.
- The Purosangue is more akin to a hypercar than an SUV like the Lamborghini Urus, and is incredibly exclusive.
- Unlike the Lamborghini Urus, which is essentially an Audi Q7, the Purosangue keeps its DNA unadulterated.
- The Purosangue is priced at over £360,000, with an additional 20% for customization, making it twice the cost of the Lambo.
- The Purosangue is more practical compared to other Ferraris, with increased cargo space and all-wheel-drive.
- The Aston Martin DBX, while powerful and agile, does not attract the same level of attention as the Purosangue.
- The Purosangue is well-proportioned, innovative, and cleverly disguises its girth for a sleek, athletic appearance.
- Ferrari has succeeded in creating a supercar with added practicality, a true Ferrari in every sense, capable of making any adrenaline junkie's heart race.
