Last weekend we were well and truly spoilt during a dreamy stay at the North East’s finest, Wynyard Hall. Early on Saturday morning, myself and Tom drove a couple of hours east, through the rolling Yorkshire countryside heading to the grand estate in Wynyard. The hall is set in aches of stunning gardens and historic landscape, making the drive up to the hall as breathtaking as the place itself.
Keep reading to find out more about our weekend away at Wynyard Hall and Spa.
Accommodation
After we checked in, we were shown to our room, Lady Mae, on the first floor which was one of the double executive suite rooms. Wow, what a surprise. The room was as grand and luxurious as the rest of the hotel with modern touches throughout. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean and fresh the room felt. I’ve been to a few estate hotels were the decor felt a little dated and threadbare but that wasn’t the case here. The carpets were soft and new, the bathroom was bright and spotless, and the bed… oh my. SO. COMFY!
The bedroom and en suite led off into the sitting area with TV and sofas, Tom made himself at home watching the cricket whilst I tried out the complimentary Temple Spa toiletries and browsed the room service menu. Our room looked out onto green fields at the back of Wynyard Hall and we could just about see the lake out of our window.
Due to the heatwave we’ve been having these past weeks, it was nice to able to open the windows wide without worrying about being overlooked. The hotel provided a fan in our room too, which came in handy at night. I was really impressed with all the little touches in our room that really made our stay, like bath robes, kettle and snacks (which were regularly topped up), iron and ironing board on hand. It really felt like a touch of luxury.
The staff really couldn’t do enough for us, they were only a phone call away if we had any questions and were always helpful and friendly. We rented a DVD, (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix… cause why wouldn’t you?!) and it was brought up with in five minutes. Same with room service which was fast, professional and the perfect addition to our HP film night!
The Spa
After we explored our room we strolled down to the spa at Wynyard Hall to spend a few hours on the Saturday afternoon. The Spa was only a few minutes walk down from the reception and situated in the tranquil setting of the lake. The spa used to be an original Victorian boat house for the hall and has kept some of the original features such as the unisex changing rooms and conservatory. All of which added to the charm of it.
We were given robes, towels and slippers before heading out to the terrace to enjoy the sunshine on the loungers and have a dip in the outdoor jacuzzi. Despite it only being a small spa, it didn’t feel over crowded and there were plenty of sun beds to choose from. The staff even provided sun-cream on the terrace as it was such a beautiful afternoon. We grabbed a drink from the bar and enjoyed the peaceful surroundings soaking up the rare British summer sun.
The popularity and reputation of the spa was proven when I asked a member of staff if there were any additional treatments available during our stay. Unfortunately they were booked up about a month in advance, showing how well loved this little gem in the the County Durham countryside is. Never the less, we enjoyed the indoor treatment rooms included in the spa experience such as a sauna, steam room, relaxation room with heated seats and the infamous ice bucket shower.
Top tip: Book any additional treatments at least a few months in advance to your stay to avoid disappointment.
Each room comes with a special rate of £20pp for 2 hours in the spa.
Lunch in the Hall
Our two hours in the spa flew by and before we knew it, it was time to head back up to the Hall for some much needed late lunch. We were seated in the hall for lunch and given the opportunity to sit out on the balcony or inside to eat. We had enough sun for one day so chose to sit in the grand Wellington restaurant surrounded by opulent paintings and traditional decor. The staff were friendly as ever chatting away about our stay before taking our order of starters and mains. Tom had terrine to start followed by lamb for main, whilst I had soup to start and gnocchi for main. The food was amazing, again giving us a taste of real luxury, nothing had been over looked. From the presentation to the taste, it really felt special. I’m still dreaming of that homemade leek and potato soup now…
Top tip: Seasonal menu, £30 for two courses, £35 for three courses. A traditional roast dinner is served on Sundays from 12pm.
The Gardens and Gin Festival
We were lucky enough to stay during the weekend of Wynyard Hall’s annual gin festival which takes place in their stunning botanical gardens. After a leisurely lunch and a quick outfit change, we jumped in a complimentary shuttle bus which took us up to the site in the Walled Garden, it was only a five minute walk through the grounds but for ease the hotel provided transport there and back. It was lovely to see the gardens in full bloom and the late evening sun cast a warm glow over the terrace.
The gin festival was £15 to enter which included one free drink and a gin glass to take home. We moved around the tent browsing the many local and unique gin flavours before choosing a few to taste and taking a seat outside among the flower beds. The gardens were the perfect setting to appreciate an ice cold glass of gin in the sun. Wynyard Hall is famous for it’s outstanding gardens and I’d love to come back to explore the gardens more.
Top tip: The gardens are open to explore during the day for families of all ages, click here to find out more.
We woke up the next morning, refreshed after a long lie and peaceful nights sleep. I was surprised at how quiet our room was. There was a wedding on at night and a few fireworks, but despite this our sleep was undisturbed. Breakfast was served until 9.30am and included full English breakfast and continental options too. To say I was stuffed was an understatement!
Before we knew it we were all packed and ready to head back home.
As well as being a perfect destination for a romantic weekend break for couples, Wynyard Hall is great for a girls weekend. I am already planning on going back next year with my mum to explore the gardens more. The staff made our stay for me, they chatted to us like we were old friends and made us feel welcomed. It’s the little things like this that really made our stay at Wynyard Hall special. It’s only a few hours drive away from us but we truly felt like we had escaped for the weekend.
Have you ever visited Wynyard Hall?
Big thank you to the staff at Wynyard Hall for making us feel so welcome. We were kindly invited to be guests of the hall but all opinions are my own.
Anna x
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Wow you’re making me want to go back – it’s just so beautiful isn’t it? My sisters are visiting this Summer and I’m seriously considering booking ourselves a spa day there!