A Restful Weekend at The Coniston Hotel, Yorkshire Dales

*this article discusses a PR stay

Tucked away in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, The Coniston Hotel Country Estate & Spa offers that perfect balance of countryside calm and modern comfort. I visited in late September, courtesy of Bloxham PR, and from the moment I arrived, it felt like stepping into a pocket of peace.

Exploring the Estate

The hotel sits within 1,400 acres of rolling hills and lakeside views, a landscape that instantly slows your pace. I spent my first afternoon wandering the estate, watching the light dance on the lakewater and breathing in that unmistakable Dales air. It’s the kind of place that makes you exhale all stresses and worries away.

The Nàdarra Spa Experience

Then it was spa time. At Nàdarra Spa, the staff couldn’t have been kinder, I was quickly wrapped in a robe and shown to my treatment room for a head, shoulder and back massage. Tension melted away, and afterwards I lingered in the relaxation room, a dark, cocoon-like space with soft music and mood lighting. It was perfect for a few minutes of stillness and cucumber water before re-joining the world.

Dinner at The View Restaurant

As the afternoon light faded and evening came, I headed to The View Restaurant, which lives up to its name with sweeping scenes of the lake and hills. With game season in full swing, I chose dishes celebrating the best of the estate, starting with, Cured Coniston Lake Trout, Estate Shoot Game Terrine and juniper chutney. The main was a standout Gamekeeper’s Venison Loin with beetroot, blackberry and woodland mushroom polenta. Each dish felt rooted in the land, beautifully presented and paired with a glass of house red.

By the end of the day, I craved total rest and loved that The Coniston offers restaurant service to your room. My Chocolate Tart with home-made malted ice cream arrived right at my door. I enjoyed it in bed with a cup of tea and my current Netflix binge, which felt like pure indulgence.

Early Morning Serenity

The next morning, I was up early to beat the spa rush and slipped into the outdoor heated pool at 7am. Steam rose off the water as the sun broke over the hills. Just me, my coffee, and complete silence. It was simple, beautiful, and exactly what you hope for on a countryside escape.

After a refreshing shower, I went for another stroll through the grounds, sharing the path with pheasants, geese, and the occasional horse. At first they darted away, but after a while, they relaxed and carried on as though I weren’t there.

Breakfast and Countryside Adventures

Breakfast back at The View was a vegetarian full English with a pot of tea, enjoyed while watching the mist lift from the lake. Reluctantly, I packed up and loaded the car, but my morning wasn’t over yet. Down on the estate, The Coniston offers a range of outdoor experiences, from the thrilling Land Rover adventure to the traditional clay shooting I’d booked that day.

Inside the Shooting Lodge, I sipped coffee by the fireplace beneath a proud stag’s head and it felt like a proper countryside hunting lodge. Soon I was fitted for a gun that suited my frame, and my instructor led me out for an hour of clays. The session was exhilarating; a perfect blend of focus, laughter and fresh air.

A Perfect Yorkshire Dales Escape

As I finally drove away, sunlight spilling over the hills, I realised how seamlessly The Coniston brings everything together: wellness, adventure, and the wild beauty of the Dales.

The Coniston Hotel captures the very essence of the Yorkshire Dales: restorative, breathtaking, and quietly unforgettable.

 Quick Travel Notes

• Location: Coniston Cold, Skipton, North Yorkshire

• Best for: Spa breaks, couples’ getaways, and countryside retreats

• Don’t miss: The View Restaurant’s seasonal game menu

• Spa tip: Take an early swim in the outdoor heated pool for the best sunrise views

Congham Hall Hotel & Spa

*Ad - PR stay

Sometimes you just need to get away from it all. Disappear and no one knows where you are. I certainly needed it towards the end of June. No big or bad reason why, sometimes I just want some alone time to recharge the social battery. 

Congham Hall Hotel & Spa had kindly invited me for a weekend stay and I still can’t believe how lucky I am for these opportunities. Bloxham PR did it again - You know I am always going to sing those incredible women’s praises!

I arrived early on Friday morning and enjoyed the space before checking into my cabin. The spa had my name on it for sure, and I couldn't wait for an early morning swim and soak in the hot tub. A tip for anyone visiting, please book any spa treatments in advance - they get very busy on weekends especially. I was too last minute to book something, so just a heads up! But the pool and hot tub is free to use at any time.

The Georgian manor house is every bit the country hotel aesthetic you expect to see on Pinterest. The boots all lined up, flowers on every table top, vintage furniture in the lounge areas. The spa and restaurant have a more contemporary look and it feels elevated. The cabins remind me of Scandi architecture, where the sliding doors open up and nature can be welcomed in.

Friday evening and I sipped a glass of wine as the golden glimmer of sunset enveloped the sky. Baby deer foraged amongst the wild grass. You couldn’t make this up, it was something I imagined in a film. As I journaled and listened to the soft coo of cows in the distance, I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. Over the last couple of months, I have felt a grounding sense of peace within. As a producer in the media industry, your mind is always racing ahead to the next potential obstacle. Anxiety and over-preparation become your closest friends. But despite this, I have found a way to block that noise so I can be truly present.

Now, I couldn’t give that peaceful energy away if I tried. It’s too precious. I finished my wine, closed up the blinds and sank into the glorious bed. What is it about hotel beds? How do they find the softest, comfiest bedding, and those linens are just always perfectly white and crisp. I have tried hard to replicate it, but yet to be successful. Maybe that’s why travelling can feel even more magical.

I am an early bird so I got up around 5am and began running the roll top bath outside. I grabbed my Country Living magazine, a cup of coffee and continued to enjoy my solitude. That’s the thing about Congham Hall, you can just lie back and feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere. Even though the cabins are closely located to one another, I always felt a huge sense of privacy. As far as I was concerned, I was the only person staying there.

It was a big day ahead and the forecast was sunny skies - a rare one for us presently. A morning swim to clear the mind and a hearty breakfast in The Samphire Kitchen to keep me energised, were on the cards. That Saturday, I headed to Sandringham Estate. I figured with it being my first time in Norfolk, I should go and see an iconic royal residence. The house stands in a whopping 22,000 acres estate in the Norfolk Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The estate has been occupied since Elizabethan times, when the manor house was constructed, and is listed as Grade II. 

I opted for just the Gardens visit as it was too hot to be inside. There are eight rooms in the house available to the public for viewing. But there are also gift shops, a restaurant, multiple cafes, St Mary Magdalene Church and the royal park, all available to visit. You easily need at least half a day if you want to explore thoroughly. The church and the park are free to roam if you want to opt out of paying tickets. But the Gardens give you great views of the house.

Whilst sunbathing, I had to get an ice cream, which fun fact - the milk is sourced from Windsor farm. It was really delicious and a big hit for the day. I leisurely made my way back to Congham Hall, but stopped off for a pub lunch at The Three Horses. It was such a cute roadside pub and the meal was so good! I inhaled my food and people watched. It was really nice to see lots of locals greet each other as you’d expect in a small village. That wholesome neighbourly energy is exactly what I search for in my future. Being back in London for two years now, I do enjoy the bustle, but I can imagine that it will later become fatiguing. Village life, where I walk my dog and say hello to people in my street, will call upon me soon.

As I sipped one last cup of tea in the cabin, I couldn't help but wonder, what was it about Congham hall that brought me so much peace? Was it the natural beauty of Norfolk, the peeled back simplicity of the cabin’s interior design? Perhaps it was the wildlife, unafraid and unabashed by my presence? All of the above and it embodied how I feel energetically. You can’t beat inner peace. When you feel this good, things align and those that do not, will be removed from your space. Don’t fight it, let it go, with ease. And if you’re really lucky, you can stand and look at an apple orchard, knowing that life couldn’t be any better right now.