Sheer poetry in

First impressions matter – and historic County Durham proves an instant hit

The Cathedral looms large in the skyline.

THERE are a few key ingredients to enjoying a short break away.

There’s the look and the welcome, and the food, the drink and the comfy bed at the end of an evening.

But we’ve not even got as far as any of that at Seaham Hall in County Durham and it’s scaled the heights in our estimation.

It sits in 37 acres of landscaped gardens on a stunning clifftop location which we appreciate as we arrive along the coast road, stopping by the old pre-Viking church next to the beach.

It’s absolutely stunning, dominating the headland and with Heritage Coast views that stretch for miles. The building has the wow factor, too.

It’s a restored Georgian Country House, once the marital home of Lord Byron, the most renowned of Romantic poets. It dates back to 1791 and has gone through many incarnations, including as a TB sanatorium. It’s now a five-star boutique spa hotel, having been given a loving and luxurious revamp.

And from the moment we walk into the reception it oozes class and sophistication.

Our bags are whisked magically to our room. Did I say room? I meant suite.

There are 21 of them, from the junior variety which, honestly, is anything but junior, to the penthouse.

Not a touch has been overlooked, from carpets you could lose yourself in to massive TVs and a smart tablet to browse, view and order to your heart’s content.

The bathroom is massive with his-and-hers sinks and even a candle and a rubber duck for the sunken bath!

The cares of the world have already drifted far away, but if there are any lingering elements they are literally soothed into submission at the adjoining Serenity Spa complex.

You don’t even need to step outside the door in your fluffy white gown. A tunnel links it to the hotel and even that is special, a winding wooden pathway over a bubbling river.

The Ishga hot stone treatment almost sends us drifting off to sleep, but a bit of a swim reinvigorates us for dinner.

There are two restaurants; Byrons and our choice, the pan-Asian Ozone attached to the spa. An open kitchen adds to the theatre and everything from the duck pancakes to the Thai-style fish cakes was sensational.

We hear even more of the history with a post-dinner tour of the wine cellar where Prohibition-era whisky was bottled, taken through a tunnel to the beach and shipped to America.

If we needed any help getting to sleep, even that’s been taken into consideration with the turn-down service including a soothing spray on the pillows.

The temptation, unsurprisingly, is never to leave the serenity of Seaham. Why would you want to? But historic Durham is just 20-or-so minutes away and we tear ourselves away for a look-see.