StyleNest heads out of town with the kids to experience a new, ‘lux-eco’ way to do self-catering at Natural Retreats.
When you’ve got small children, self-catering holidays are really appealing. But drafty cottages or cramped, modern apartments are not. And when you try to live an eco-friendly life at home, why would you want to compromise that when you go away?
If this sounds familiar, then we’ve got two words that will change the way you go on holiday: Natural Retreats. This inspiring company offers family-friendly, eco-friendly and dog-friendly cottages, lodges, apartments and villas across the UK, and they’ve just started reaching further afield too.
We headed to Natural Retreats Yorkshire Dales, which boasts award-winning residences nestled into rich green hills near Swaledale, just a stroll from the town of Richmond and one mile from the National Park. Driving up the country road towards the site, we could suddenly see Yorkshire stretched out around us, and excitement descended on the back of the car (a three and a five year old in search of adventure) and calm on the front (a stressed-out couple in need of relaxation).
Our accommodation was just stunning, and the children were always reluctant to be dragged away from it. A stream flowed past the front of the (award-winning), open-plan, sustainable build lodge, with its full height picture windows. The kids couldn’t believe that there was grass growing on the roof, and that we would be able to go for midnight (well, 8pm) walks in the woods opposite. There are just under 20 lodges in over 54 acres of woodland and meadow: they are neatly blended into the hillside causing minimal visual impact.
The children were as enchanted by the location as we were about the interior: freshly revamped with bespoke furnishings, we had a log stove in our open plan kitchen/living area, as well as huge TV and DVD player for cosy nights in. There’s also free WiFi on site. The kitchen was equipped with everything you could wish for, from a superb coffee machine to a welcome hamper with local produce such as local cheese, jam, butter, eggs and milk.
The bedrooms were just as comfortable as the living area. The ‘eco-lux’ furnishing was just our style (all the lodge furniture is designed and created locally, exclusively for the residences), and the beds vast and comfortable. We all slept so well, and rose to steamy showers in our two bathrooms accompanied by stacks of fluffy hotel-style towels.
Some days were spent roaming Yorkshire, but as it was still early spring, some days we were quite happy to walk in the woods near the lodge and play in the stream, knowing we were just a few feet away from a log stove and a hot bath. On days out, we loved wandering around the nearby town of Richmond and exploring the castle. The children also fell in love with ‘Head of Steam’ in nearby Darlington, a railway museum with lots of charm and a ‘find the station cat’ trail that had them captivated.
We felt both looked after but left to enjoy our precious family time. Natural Retreats provide a concierge service; a team of dedicated travel professionals who can tailor make your holiday experience, providing advice, expertise and experience for you to call on before, during and after your stay. Before we left, we got a call to find out when we’d be arriving so the heating would be on in our lodge, a lovely touch. And during our stay, when I needed a recommendation for a child-friendly place for lunch, I got a text back within minutes – and we thoroughly enjoyed the restaurant suggested.
This was self-catering as it should be done, and I am wondering how many more times I can hear the question, “Mummy, when are we going back?” before we cave in and book again.
Natural Retreats Yorkshire Dales, Aislabeck Plantation, Hurgill Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4SG.
Need to know facts
Rates: 2 nights in a 3bedroom residence (sleeps 6) from £330 (price includes fresh linen, towels, toiletries and a welcome hamper including local produce).
Facilities: Each residence sleeps up to six adults and includes a fully equipped kitchen with gas hob and electric oven, microwave, fridge, kettle, toaster, dishwasher; as well as a washer/dryer, iron and ironing board and hairdryers, 32” flat screen TV, DVD, radio/CD player. There are Egyptian cotton bed linens, natural toiletries and cots, highchairs and sterilisers are available. The residences are centrally heated throughout with decked area with outdoor furniture, wildlife ponds, a woodland trail and private and shared parking facilities. Sustainable design is fundamental to the Yorkshire Dales development and Natural Retreats rigorously assessed the design alternatives, building in ‘green technology’ features wherever possible, ensuring that they offer practical solutions, providing real benefits that are also cost effective.
Check out time: 10am
How to get there: From the A1 exit at Scotch Corner and follow the A6108 to Richmond. Pass through the village of Skeeby and continue to the outskirts of Richmond until you reach a mini roundabout. Go straight ahead at the roundabout, through a set of traffic lights and look for Quaker Lane, a right turning with a funeral directors on the corner. Proceed along Quaker Lane until a T-Junction, turning right into Hurgill Road, climb up the hill as far as Gingerfield Lodge on the right. Approximately 50 metres further up the hill the entrance can be seen on the left hand side. The nearest train station is Darlington (approx. 13 miles). Local taxi companies are Star Cars – 01748 835559 (Richmond) or ABC Taxis 01325 466664 (Darlington).
For more information and prices, visit www.naturalretreats.co.uk, call +44(0)843 636 4780) or e-mail [email protected]