A review of The Coniston Hotel & Spa, Skipton

When most people think of Coniston, the location that springs to mind is often Coniston in the Lake District. However, on the outskirts of Skipton, deep in the rural North Yorkshire Moors there's another Coniston, Coniston Cold.  Situated against the idyllic backdrop of the 1,400 acre Coniston Cold estate and the lake is the award-winning Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa. What was once a small country tea house, has now transformed into one of the UK's most loved country retreats, offering everything that is needed for an escape in the British countryside. Whether you're looking to sip cocktails in an infinity pool or test your adrenaline and driving skills on their off-roading track, have a go at one of the UK's top voted clay pigeon shooting ranges or feast on the estates culinary treats, there's something for everyone. To see what all the fuss is about, I was invited down to the hotel to experience just a few of the things they have to offer.

The Estate

The Coniston Cold estate is over 1,400 acres of beautiful woodland and a 24-acre lake. Open to all day visitors and hotel residents, the estate is wonderful to walk around, especially in the autumn as the leaves are turning gold and amber. It features an array of wildlife from swans to wild rabbits, pheasants and ducklings, as well as the estates' livestock such as cows and sheep.  It's a great place to unwind, step away from technology and be at peace with nature - perfect for families and couples alike.

The rooms

The hotel features 71 bedrooms, ranging from classic to superior and luxury bedrooms. Prices start from an affordable £99 and all of which are pet-friendly. During our visit, we stayed in the luxury bedroom which included a balcony overlooking the grounds, a large bathroom and a separate walk-in shower. The room had all the essentials such as hairdryers, tea and coffee making facilities as well as Aromatherapy Associates skin and bath care. The bed was incredibly comfy, the rooms were quiet and we loved being able to sit out on the balcony first thing in the morning and absorb the view. 

The spa

The spa is one of the newer additions to the Coniston Cold estate, which was added just over two years ago. It features a wide range of facilities such a 15m indoor swimming pool, a thermal suite which includes a Himalayan salt sauna, indoor bubble pool, sauna and steam room, treatment rooms, a fitness studio, gym, a brasserie and the star attraction, a stunning outdoor infinity pool overlooking the lake. The spa was clean and modern and the treatment rooms were relaxing and inviting, we really enjoyed our few hours relaxing by the pool and our couples massage. The massage took 60 minutes and the staff were really attentive and took the time to ask me what areas I would like them to focus on. In my day job, I spend a lot of time hunched over a computer so my shoulders and neck often get strained, the massage really helped to relieve some of the pressure points and get rid of knots that had built up over the last few months.  Our only criticism of the spa and spa area is that the Nourish Brasserie is far too small for such a large spa - it would have been great to have had lunch there before we checked out of our hotel, but they had limited seating and everything was all booked up. The menu caters for vegans, vegetarians and those who are gluten-free, so if you're looking to have a spa break at the Coniston Hotel, it looks like it is definitely worth booking a table.

The food

Despite not being able to get a table at the Nourish brasserie, we were well catered for throughout other areas of the hotel. The Coniston Hotel and Spa has two additional restaurants - The Huntsman Lodge which is catered towards casual dining and the a-la-carte Macleods which is a formal evening restaurant. Although both restaurants primarily serve food which is reared on the estate, they both went above and beyond to cater for our special vegan diets, providing us with our own special menu for both lunch and dinner - this is available on request as long as you notify them in advance. The menu included a variety of risottos, stuffed mushrooms, bruschetta as well as some creative desserts such as poached pears and cashew cream. One of my favourite dishes was the salt baked carrots and walnuts - this was essentially just carrots on a plate, but the flavour derived from salt baking them was incredible. It was great to see skilled chefs being able to be creative with vegan dishes, rather than putting together a simple salad and this was very much appreciated.

The activities

There's a whole range of activities available to book at The Coniston Hotel and Spa from clay pigeon shooting to falconry, archery, fishing and off-roading. I was kindly booked on to the off-roading experience on my first day of the visit and falconry on the second, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was really nervous about off-roading as I'm quite an anxious driver, but after a briefing session with the team, my nerves diminished and throughout the course, the instructor helped me relax and enjoy myself. It started out as the activity I was dreading the most but ended up being one of the best things I have done in a long time, I'm even looking to go back in 2018. The falconry experience was also something I was a little bit apprehensive about. Firstly, I was nervous about having a few big birds fly into me and from an animal welfare perspective, I had heard a lot of negative things about falconry in the past. However, after seeing the birds and their keeper it was clear how well they are looked after and cared for. The birds were absolutely beautiful and it was a wonderful experience to be so close to some big birds of prey.

If you're looking for an escape to the country that is a little bit different to your standard spa break, I would definitely consider looking at The Coniston Hotel and Spa, it is somewhere I'm already planning on going back.

Have you been to the Coniston Hotel and Spa?

*This stay was complimentary, however, all views are my own

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A night at The Vicarage, Cheshire

There's nothing that I love more than visiting old country pubs which feature exposed wooden ceiling beams, roaring rustic fireplaces, cosy fireside chairs and hearty, wholesome home cooked grub, so when I realised that The Vicarage in Cheshire ticked all of those boxes, I knew it was somewhere I wanted to visit.

The Vicarage Freehouse & rooms is a refurbished 17th Century grade II listed pub and hotel, situated in the rural village of Holmes Chapel in Cheshire. The hotel features 26 en-suite bedrooms, a snug area, games room, restaurant, bar and library as well as six new stylish signature rooms where you can relax and unwind following an afternoon of walking in the idyllic neighbouring countryside. Rooms start from £145 which includes bed and breakfast.

Holmes Chapel, where the Vicarage hotel resides, is conveniently situated just under an hour away from three major UK cities - Chester, Liverpool and Manchester, making this the perfect pit stop for someone looking to explore the North. An hour away towards the East of Holmes Chapel is also the Peak District National Park, perfect for long walks or simply a romantic getaway where you can escape the hustle and bustle of city life and get lost in the wilderness of the countryside.

Last week I stayed in one of the six newly furbished bedrooms at The Vicarage and I was really impressed. The bedroom had lots of character from the wooden beams on the ceiling, to the old fashioned chest at the bottom of the bed. It had plenty of tea making facilities, a smart coffee machine and large television, as well as a jar of homemade biscuits at the bedside.

What really caught my attention after checking into my room for the night was the huge, decadent bathroom with freestanding Victorian style bath, cosy exposed brickwork and the most beautiful mint green dressers. The bathroom alone makes you not want to leave this hotel - it was luxurious and quite unexpected for a cosy pub in the middle of nowhere.

Once we had showered and dressed up, we headed down the bar area for some pre-dinner beverages and to soak up the atmosphere downstairs. The bar again had ample character from the fabric deer heads above the doorways, dog motifs on the fireplace, gold ornate mirrors dotted around the walls and intricate Celtic style engravings in the ceiling work. It was quite dimly lit, but it all added to the appeal, making it feel cosy and welcoming.  It was ever so slightly hipster, but in a way that it was hipster before hipster became cool. Another unexpected surprise was the rock music that played all night - it could be slightly off-putting to some, but for someone who loves her hair metal, I was enjoying the Bon Jovi and Poison ballads playing gently in the background all evening.

After we had mulled around the bar for half an hour, we decided to take our seats for our evening dinner. The menu was quite extensive and had lots of choices for vegetarians, as well as a vast gluten free section. I opted for the Celeriac soup for starter, vegetable Wellington for main and a mouth-wateringly good rhubarb and elderflower cheesecake for dessert, all of which were faultless and full of flavour. My only criticism throughout the evening was the price of wine - I have no issues paying a fair amount for a decent bottle of wine, but I felt that just over £17 for a bottle of Blossom Hill that I could get from my local supermarket for a third of the price was a little bit steep. Needless to say, I still bought and drank it and overall enjoyed being merry, eating good food and listening to a bit of Motley Crue,  so much so that as soon as my head hit the pillow that night I was asleep.

I had a really comfortable nights sleep at The Vicarage, despite my initial concerns of being close to the main road (I barely heard it) and I woke up with a spring in my step eagerly awaiting breakfast. Breakfast was served in a beautiful white conservatory attached to the side of the building and it was lovely being able to look outside at all countryside as we dined. Breakfast consisted of a continental breakfast and a hot cooked breakfast - I went for a pot of fresh fruit from the continental side and ordered poached eggs with hollandaise from the cooked menu, which was cooked to perfection. 

Overall I had the most wonderful stay at The Vicarage and the staff were lovely and attentive throughout our time at the hotel. Would I stay again? Yes.

Have you stayed at The Vicarage before?

*This was a complimentary stay in exchange for this blog post, but views are my own

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Why You Should Visit Borough Market, London

Borough Market made the headlines in June 2017 as one of the places in London hit by deadly, unpredicted terrorist attack. The attack targeted people on a Saturday evening enjoying themselves in nearby bars and restaurants at Borough Market, killing eight people. Since the events only eight weeks ago, the market has been steadily rebuilding itself and restoring normality. Borough Market has always been one place I wanted to visit in London and now, more than ever it seemed more poignant for me to go pay my respects and visit the traders whose livelihoods have been temporarily destroyed.

When I visited Borough Market last week, it was a hive of busy tourists and locals soaking in the market atmosphere , feasting on all of what Borough Market has to offer and enjoying their Saturday. It was a place bursting with energy, from the enthusiastic market traders selling their products to the hoards of tourists making the most of every photo opportunity. From the moment I entered the building, I fell in love. It was full to the parameters of foodie favourites from all around the world, as well as catering for so many different dietary requests. The fruit looked colourful and fresh and the scents that filled the air gave me hunger pangs. It was a market place determined to move on from recent events and live life to the full.

I decided to write this post on why you should visit Borough market because there's so much to see and do. Whether you're stocking up for a picnic on a day trip to London or fancy a meal with friends, Borough Market needs to be on your London bucket list.

As Borough market is a quintessential English market place, there's plenty of hog roasts, burgers and meat stands on offer, but one thing that really captured my attention was the plethora of vegan food available. From these juicy mock burgers to hummus stands and vegan curries, there's just so much to choose from which is great for those with dietary requirements and it makes Borough Market the perfect place to visit with friends all of whom have different foodie needs.

Another item that Borough Market has in abundance is freshly squeezed fruit juices. You can get almost any fruit juices from Borough Market from watermelon to your typical orange, pineapple and apple juices. They are great for anyone looking for a morning pickup, lunch time refresher or an evening pre-drinking quencher.

As previously mentioned, the fruit in Borough market is as fresh as it gets and there's vast quantities of it over in the fruit and vegetable market. I was really impressed with the prices of this fruit - my friends and I managed to get two punnets of strawberries for a £1 whereas supermarkets sell just one of them for around the £2 mark. If you live locally London, it is worth visiting the market to stock up on fresh fruit and veggies.

If you're gluten free, dairy free or wheat free, I also stumbled across a lovely bakery in Borough market selling vegan creamed buns in a variety of flavours, as well as gluten free ginger men, to name but a few products. Unfortunately I didn't get the time to sample these, but they are definitely on my radar for my next visit, which I'm planning before the end of this year.

Once we had browsed the market, my friends and I set off to Jubilee Gardens for a picnic, where we sat down and ate some of our foodie findings - pepper Focaccia bread,  strawberries, freshly made samosas and a few sneaky buys from M&S.

My visit to Borough market was brief, but very exciting and I was glad that I got the opportunity to visit the hustle and bustle of the Saturday market. It reminded me that life is short and that Saturday's are the best days to go spend quality time with the ones you love and what brings people together? Food, of course.

Have you been to Borough Market before?

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A Trip to Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire

Growing up, I was very fortunate to spend most weekends of my childhood sailing around the coast of the UK. I love hearing the gushing sound of the waves, the smell of seaweed and sea salt and hearing all the sea birds gleefully chirping and because of all my favourite childhood memories, I'm always happiest when I'm by the coast. Last weekend when the sun was bright and the weather for once was on our side, my husband and I decided to take a road trip to North Yorkshire and called at one of my favourite coastal haunts, Robin Hood's Bay.

Robin Hood's Bay is a small fishing village nestled between two Whitby and Scarborough on North Yorkshire coastline. It is a quaint little village steeped in history from pirate smuggling to where dinosaurs roamed and it has the most beautiful little buildings and cobbled streets, full of independent boutiques. 

To access Robin Hood's Bay you need to park at the top of the hill and it is quite a steep descent down the road, accessed via stairs or the roadside, but the views are breathtaking and from the top of the hill you can see the bay in all of its glory. On the way down the hill there's a plethora of boutiques from chocolates to interior shops and all little shops selling all the usual tourist fare as well as a dinosaur and fossil museum. There's also several little restaurants, many of which serve seafood caught fresh from the bay.

Once you get to the bottom of the hill, there's a slip way leading straight on to the beach and into the sea and neighbouring pubs so that you can sit back, have a drink and admire the scenery. The view on a day where this is good visibility is beautiful and with it not being as busy as places like Scarborough or Whitby, it is a place you can genuinely feel relaxed.  Robin Hood's Bay is a hidden gem along the North East coast and if you ever have the opportunity to visit, I would definitely pop by.

Have you been to Robin Hood's Bay?

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A Night at Tewkesbury Park - Review

The Cotswolds has been on my UK bucket-list for quite some time due to its quintessentially English villages, picturesque landscapes and abundance of world heritage sites and two weeks ago, I finally got the chance to go when I was invited down to review the Tewkesbury Park hotel. For those  who are unfamiliar with the Cotswold, the Cotswolds stretches across five counties of England - Gloucester, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. The Cotswolds is popular with tourists worldwide due to it's astounding beauty from the lush green fields, to villages nestled by rivers and in 1966, it was given an (AONB) and declared an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' by UK environmental agencies.

Tewkesbury is one of the many traditional medieval English towns in the Cotswolds which rests next to the River Avon and it is known for its vintage and antique shops, quaint coffee shops and Tewkesbury Abbey, the second largest parish church in England and a former Benedictine monastery which dates back to 715. Tewkesbury Park, is set in 163 acres of undulating parkland and overlooks the town and the famous site of the AD1471 Battle of Tewkesbury. The hotel completed its second phase of it's extensive two-year renovation at the cost of £4 million in the autumn of 2016, with the brand new addition of nine luxury historic suites, two new spa rooms, meeting rooms, an Orangery and a cocktail lounge and two weeks ago I was invited to check it out.

Driving up the steep hill to the hotel foyer, the views were impressive. You could see the abbey at the bottom and the golf course was vast with beautiful lush greenery, neatly trimmed hedges and picturesque forestry - it was idyllic and everything you would want for a few nights, undisturbed in the countryside. When we checked in, we were equally impressed with the hotel lobby which is decorated with regal blues and gold colourings. The bar was spacious with an beautiful log fire which is lit on an evening and in the entrance there's an antique piano with a sign welcoming guests to play. 

Once we had checked in at reception, we headed to our room which was one of the new suites, the King Richard III suite on the third floor.  The suite featured a gigantic king size Hypnos bed, a 40 inch Smart TV, a Nespresso coffee machine  a separate dressing room complete with dressing table and wardrobe space and a large bathroom with a free standing bath and separate shower room. One of the things I loved the most about the hotel room was that it came with a hot water bottle and the hot water bottle was heated up when we came back to my hotel room after our evening meal. I suffer from chronic pain and cannot live without my hot water bottle at home, so it was lovely to have one readily available to me here and I really appreciated the fact that the filled it up during the turn down service.

Shortly after I had rested from my long four hour car journey, I was called down for my treatments in the spa. The hotel has several treatment rooms, a pool, outdoor Jacuzzi and sauna and stream, all of which are available to guests. I was booked in for a full body massage which was a lovely treat after sitting behind the wheel for hours and I loved the aroma that came from the natural, locally sourced body products that they used. The therapist used just the right amount of pressure that I like when I have a massage and when I left, I felt like all my knots had vanished. The full body massage was around 45 mins and when I was finished, I headed to meet my husband in the pool area. Since it was a lovely, bright day we both headed to the outdoor hot tub to soak up the sun. The hot tub just the right temperature and is hidden away in a courtyard so that you're able to relax in peace. I wore my brand new Boohoo swimsuit, which has the most beautiful summery print.

After we had finished around the pool, we headed back to the room to get changed for dinner and headed down to the bar. We both ordered a glass of house wine which came to £5 each, which I thought was really reasonable and then headed to the orangery for our evening meal. We ordered off the A La Carte menu which had lots of great choices with locally sourced ingredients - my only criticism is that the vegetarian options were rather limited, but I find this with most a la carte menus anyway. Overall the meal was wonderful and both my husband and I enjoyed it. The star of the meal was definitely my starter - the World Cheese Award winning Cerny Ash Goats Cheese with Cheltenham Heritage Beetroot, Balsamic pearls and beetroot crisp, it was a delight to eat.

When we headed back to our room, it was dark - that lovely countryside darkness that makes a room feel cosy.  Our slippers had been left by the bedside, the hot water bottle was filled and the curtains were drawn ready for bed. I had one of the best nights sleep that I've had in a long time and in the morning, it was wonderful to open the curtains to a view of the golf course and greenery which stretched for many miles.

In the morning we headed down for breakfast - which was a usual hotel style buffet breakfast and then left the car in the car park and walked down to the town. It was lovely to stretch our legs and absorb the wonderful scenery before heading to our next location. Our stay at Tewkesbury Park was nothing less than brilliant - the staff were excellent, the location is superb and I felt like everyone went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. My only criticism is that there are no lifts and a lot of stairs,  but I would still go as far as saying that this was one of the best hotels that I have stayed in. 

Prices start at £109pn, with a suite being £350pn

Have you visited Tewkesbury before?

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A Weekend Break in Guildford

Over the last few months I've been on a mission to discover more of the UK and to see what makes 'Great Britain' so great. So far I've explored the hilly coastline of Northumbria, shopped around some of the biggest cities such as Newcastle, Manchester and Birmingham and two weeks ago I took a weekend trip to Guildford, one of the most unique and beautiful medieval cities in the UK.

Guildford is a large town in Surrey located thirty minutes by train from central London. The close proximity to the capital means that Guildford makes a great day trip for those visiting London or alternatively a wonderful staycation for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. If your ideal weekend away consists of a town steeped in history, a town with connections to some of the world's greatest literature and places where you can sit and relax and admire the beauty of nature, Guildford should be on your bucket list. 

Guildford is a wonderful market town consisting of cobbled alleyways with dozens of independent and high street stores, several small, yet fascinating museums and a castle with the most well kept gardens you will ever see. Guildford Town Centre was voted 'the best luxury shopping destination outside of London' by Experian in 2014 and in the same year clinched the prestigious title of 'Tourist Destination of the Year' beating the likes of Cornwall and Bath at the Tourism Networks Award.

One of the many things that fascinate me about Guildford is the amount of history in such a small town.  Guildford has a strong Saxon history dating back to the 10th century and evidence of this can be seen at Guildford museum, along with other artefacts found in the town, but it also has many historical buildings which really exhibit the changes in Guildford town throughout history. Above is the Abbot's Hospital, which is such a beautiful building situated on the main high-street. The 'hospital' which isn't really a hospital in the modern phrasings, was the brainchild of George Abbot, the former Archbishop of Canterbury and it was erected in 1619 to house the poverty stricken elderly of Guildford town. The building acted as a place of shelter for those struggling to find accommodation and consisted of 12 single men and 8 single women - under the care of a master.  Nearly 400 years later, the building still continues to house elderly 'Guildfordians' and provides not only town centre accommodation, but a social and supportive environment for those who need it the most.

Another historical building in Guildford is the castle, situated on a hill overlooking the town. Guildford castle dates back to approximately 1086 shortly after William the Conquerer invaded England. After the 1300s, the castle was heavily neglected and therefore only a small part of the building remains, however the grounds are kept in beautiful condition and on a summery day, it's the perfect place to visit and have a picnic. While I was there, the castle grounds played host to Guildford's annual 'Fringe festival' and two commemorative gardens were unveiled to celebrate the Queen's 90th birthday.

If you prefer literature to history, you will be pleasantly surprised to hear that Guildford was once home to the author Lewis Carroll, famous for writing the Alice in Wonderland books and Guildford has honoured the writer with many monuments around the town. The famous Alice Through the Looking glass monument can be found in the castle grounds and the rabbit jumping through the hole is situated near the canal. Free history walks take place several times a week from Tunsgate Arch and by taking part in these, you can learn more about Lewis Carroll and the history of Guildford.

Guildford is a wonderful town and I would definitely recommend paying it a visit. If you would like more information about Guildford check out the Visit Guildford website.

Have you been to Guildford before?

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UK Winter Staycations

Misty skies, crisp auburn leaves, the sound of a flickering flame on a wood fire, mulled cider in hand - there's nothing I love more than the beginning of autumn.  The autumn weather makes me think of romantic novels, everyone snuggling together to keep warm around fireplace, kisses in the rain and walking through woodland as the first leaves begin to drop. When the weather gets colder, there's a lot of people that like to abandon ship and take the next flight out of the country, but not me. I love a winter stay-cation in the UK. Pretty castles, old fashioned pubs and acres of wonderful countryside to photograph as the season changes, that is my type of retreat. Over the last week I have scoured the internet and searched far and wide to bring you a few UK hidden gems that will make you not want to head for the nearest plane, but book a train and explore what our beautiful country has to offer this time of year.

Vintage Lovers

If you have a penchant for fifties style dresses and a love for corduroy and flares then Brighton and Hove may whet your vintage shopping appetite. The image above is just one of the many vintage stores Brighton and Hove have to offer. There's Hope & Harlequin on Sydney Street whose vintage finds have graced the likes of Downtown Abbey,  the Snoopers Attic at Kensington Gardens - a must go-to for any thrifty shoppers who don't mind sifting through bric-a-brac to find that coveted item, The Lavender Room which is one of the UK's most successful lifestyle boutiques and Flock, a new vintage store opening in November that promises to bring together the stylish and bohemian offerings of a handful of local labels.

The Romantics

If you prefer to head somewhere where you can switch off your phone and hide away for a few days just you and your partner, the Hidden Lodge in the gorgeous Devonshire country may be more suited to you. The Hidden Loge is a beautiful converted barn hidden away amongst the undulating hills and bubbling streams of Yealm Valley. The property boasts thick stone walls, wooden beams, under-floor heating, a wood burning stove to cuddle up next to, a glass staircase and a loft style bedroom with meadow views.

Foodie breaks

If your idea of a perfect break revolves around sampling the local culinary treats, then the Edinburgh Food Safari at the exquisite Nira Caledonia hotel is not to be missed. Foodie lovers can experience a culinary adventure with Nira Caledonia as they launch their new 'Edinburgh Food Safari' this month. This tantalising taster of local specialities will lead explorers on a gastronomic quest, exploring the vibrant Scottish Capital allowing them to immerse themselves in the city's culture and authenticity. During the safari, explorers will be introduced to six of Edinburgh's local flavour haunts, serving the best in Scottish cuisine.

Luxury

Finally if you prefer a city break to capital, but you are looking somewhere different that has an historical background and serves exceptional food, check out The Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington. The Ampersand Hotel is a new London experience with individually styled brooms, balconied suites, splashes of contemporary art and a ground floor patisserie serving artisanal coffee and Champagne. Located in the original 19th century vault below the luxurious decor of the hotel, Apero offers a taste of the Mediterranean with a tempting menu of sharing plates of cocktails. The hotel is one of London's original Victorian boutique hotels, having originally opened in 1888.

What would be your perfect winter stay-cation?

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