Horticultural Elegance
Lucy Daltroff visits Rockliffe Hall in County Durham and enjoys fine dining and an impressive new spa with treatments based on plants and flowers. It wasn’t just the beauty of the 18th Century estate or the 375 acres of land on the banks of the River Tees that attracted my attention on approaching Rockliffe Hall, but the man peeling bark from the lovely chestnut tree on the front lawn. I later found out it was for use in the spa.Recently opened Rockliffe Hall is a privately owned 5-star hotel, a short drive from Darlington railway station. It has a championship golf course and what is reputed to be one of the best spas in the country. The Hall’s original proprietor was a horticulturist and the spa has continued this tradition with many treatments based on plants and flowers. It took...
Read More
Harmony in the Forest
Over the last two decades Center Parcs has become a household name, successfully removing the angst out of the family holiday experience and winning ‘Best UK Holiday Provider’ for six years in a row. Its Aqua Sana Spas have repeatedly won accolades and awards and claim to be the UK’s most popular spa. Sarah Dawson takes a trip to Center Parcs, Longleat to see for herself. Situated in four stunning forestry locations (Sherwood, Whinfell, Elveden and Longleat), amid 400 acres of fresh oxygen-boosting trees, lakes and waterfalls, Center Parcs provides an outdoorsy woodland wonderland with all the conveniences of a small village. The lodge styled accommodation ranges from the comfortable Comfort Plus to the decadent Tree house with a sauna and balcony hot tub. At Center Parcs you’ll find a supermarket stocking fresh bread, croissants and the weekend papers, a...
Read More
A Weekend in the Country
Jonathan and his partner Alison enjoy the many pleasures of country house living at one of the UK’s finest hotels – the acclaimed five-star Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa in Hampshire. The drive through the natural beauty of the New Forest National Park was an uplifting start to our stay at Chewton Glen – the renowned country house hotel on the edge of the Forest, a short walk from the sea. Synonymous with luxury, fine cuisine and impeccable service, Chewton Glen is still winning prestigious awards and accolades and its beautiful spa is rated one of the world’s best. Arriving mid-Saturday morning at the flower-bedecked entrance, we had our first taste of the legendary service; after a warm welcome, our car and luggage were spirited away, while a friendly member of staff showed us around the facilities and to our...
Read More