A royal hideaway
THE WELCOME This spa hotel is tucked away in the heart of Staffordshire. Recently renovated to a high standard, it is a great location for a wedding, spa day or spa weekend. The hotel is understated but has all the luxuries you’d expect from a Visit England five-star hotel. THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Surrounded by beautiful Staffordshire countryside and set in grounds which have walking and biking tracks and a lake. THE ROOM Modern and spacious with a terrace leading to a communal hot tub. All the extras you’d expect from a luxury spa hotel including comfy robes and Elemis bathroom products. Our super-king bed had the softest mattress, ensuring you leave not just fully pampered but totally rested too. THE FOOD The restaurant serves locally sourced dishes. And the evening meal was impressive. We had the rump of lamb and the chicken supreme with risotto. For the full English breakfast you can head down in your robe then saunter back to bed. Perfect. THE SERVICE Staff here are friendly – many are quite young but what they lack in experience they make up for in charm. THE SCENE For a snapshot of what the Staffordshire countryside has to offer, this is the place. Easy to access from Stoke-on-Trent station yet with that “middle of nowhere” feeling. LOVED The huge outdoor hot tub surrounded by comfy loungers with a roaring fire. The hot tub drinks service was the icing on the cake. HATED That we were only here for one night. I’d have loved to try more of the treatments. VERDICT Perfect for a day or weekend spa with the girls or for a romantic break. BOTTOM LINE Spa breaks from £390 for 2. Deep tissue massage £70 for 55 mins. Christmas offer moddershalloaks.com/product-category/ Christmas-gift-experience-vouchers. CHECK IT OUT See moddershalloaks.com. FANS of royalty can stay at a favourite of QueenVictoria’s from May – the Generals Quarters on the Pitchford Estate, Shropshire. In the grounds is what is said to be the world’s oldest treehouse – Grade I listed – where Victoria took tea with friends. Guests can visit by appointment.Three, four or seven nights available, starting from £1,399 and sleeping 14. See cottages.com. THE five days of Twixmas, between Christmas and New Year, can be a challenge. You’re sated with eating and telly. The office is closed. So what to do with this big gift of time? There are plenty of hiking opportunities all across the kingdom – but for those who would like to join an inexpensive, sociable affair, Hfholidays has a three-night break in the BRECON BEACONS, where walks could include the remarkable path behind the Sgwd yr Eira waterfall or climbing to the top of Pen y Fan for a panoramic view over southern Wales.
The holiday’s base is in Hfholiday’s own Nythfa House, in Brecon itself, a manor house which has its own indoor pool – good for soothing those aching muscles. GO: Three nights full board from £389pp, departing December 27: hfholidays.co.uk. MONMOUTH BEACH, at the west end of Lyme Regis, is part of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site and home to the ammonite pavement, a stretch of foreshore with dozens of large ammonites on the exposed boulders and bedrock at low tide.
It is overlooked by the two-person Chalet on the Beach, with a generous deck on the outside and an open plan living area inside.
Steep stairs lead up to the bed “shelf” which itself has a relaxing sea view. Snuggle in and listen to the pounding of the surf, or stride across Lyme Bay to Golden Cap, the highest point along the south coast.
You might be lucky and see dolphins. You will certainly stumble across fossils. GO: A three night short break for two, starting 27th December, costs £521. See classic.co.uk. You have to be a little bit hardy if you want to get out and about north of the border at this time of year, but the TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK, just north of Glasgow, has a mix of lochs and peaks – so there’ll be a dusting of snow on the tops, but plenty of shelter in the glens.
Whichever you favour, you should feel snug enough at Gartmore House, a hotel in an 18th century mansion with roaring log fires, expansive gardens, great views, and particularly good prices, which compensate for its rather well-worn state.
And once you’re here you can head down into Glasgow for Hogmanay – New Year’s Eve, an experience you’re not likely to forget. GO: Gartmore’s winter deal is priced at a bargain £79 per room and includes dinner, B&B and bottle of prosecco – gartmoreestate.com. If you’re tempted by Scotland, you’ll love the location of AIRDS HOTEL in PORT APPIN, north of Oban in Argyll on the shore of Loch Linnhe. The loch is famous for its shellfish and seals.
Here you’ve got all the scenic beauty of the West Coast but with the shelter of being on a protected sea loch’s shores.
If there’s snow around then the skiing areas of Glen Coe are only a half hour’s drive, as are ferry trips out to the island of Mull and the chance to see sea eagles.
But above all you should see this as a foodie break for those who have done their time in the festive kitchen and want to sit back and enjoy Scotland’s natural harvest.
The hotel’s Twixmas offer includes a fivecourse gourmet dinner every night. GO: Three nights’ dinner plus B&B, starting December 27, is from £389pp: airds-hotel.com. THE CHANNEL ISLANDS are the farthest theUK. south you can get without leaving will The geography ensures that they always be a couple of degrees warmer than the mainland. in the Jersey is a popular family location is more summer and in the winter the focus in on coastal walks and boutique shopping Hotel has St Helier. The three-star Mayfair the a pool, sauna and gym for when weather turns inclement and itsTwixmas across packages even include the flights from the mainland. with GO: The three-night half-board deal, See flights included, costs from £299pp. modernhotels.com.