Last weekend I was invited to stay for the weekend at
Brompton Lakes self catering lodges in North Yorkshire. Myself along with five other bloggers head over the Dales for two nights of relaxation, food and laughter. What I didn't expect was the peace and companionship I found from spending time with women who expected nothing from you but to be yourself.
Brompton Lakes are a group of lodges set around a lake just outside of Richmond in North Yorkshire. The two lodges we stayed in, Jasper and Cara, were both three bedrooms, each with a kitchen, dining and lounge area complete with log burner and, beautifully appointed living areas and even a Smart surround system.
After arriving around 7pm, we settled ourselves in to our own lodges, before gathering together in the Cara lodge for food and a few drinks together, instantly breathing sighs of relaxation as well sank into the comfortable sofas, our hectic family lives far behind us just for a couple of days. That night we chatted and laughed into the small hours as we unwound in front of the fire that Sarah built and tended to masterfully, whilst we all enjoyed a few gins, wine and Baileys.
The next day after breakfast we explored the local town of Richmond. Richmond is a historic market town with a cobbled market place and set off by the Norman Castle in the background. We enjoyed a casual stroll around the centre before having lunch in one of its many cafes.
When we returned to the lodges I took a nice afternoon nap whilst the others read, chatted and took in the tranquillity of the Brompton Lakes site. Each lodge has huge glass sliding doors giving you a spectacular view over the lake, and I imagine in the summer the private balconies would be a fantastic addition to your experience.
On our last night Sarah made us all a wonderful chilli and we pulled Christmas crackers, wore party hats and partook in one too many Baileys. The night ended with a hilarious game of Sock Puppets, followed by a Christmas film to top off our festive evening. Sian had us in stitches with her Irish jigging and my rendition of a happy butterfly had us all laughing until our stomachs ached. As bloggers we often work at home with very little interaction with others, so this felt like a wonderful way to combine just that along with a festive celebration.
The setting of Brompton Lakes was just perfect for our getaway and we all commented that we would definitely love to return. The little touches, from a Christmas tree in the corner to welcome hampers of cheese, bread, milk, tea and coffee, really made all the difference. We all delighted in the gentle warmth underfoot from the underfloor heating, which had a thermostat in each room so we could all set it to our own temperatures. The bathrooms were well appointed and finished off with NEOM toiletries, and the fire had unlimited wood so we could keep it burning for as long as we wanted.
But what made this trip so special was the company. As cheesy as it sounds it really will be a trip I will remember for a long time, as I felt so at ease the entire weekend, which I don't very often. I honestly haven't laughed that much in a long time and whilst often I come away from these trips mentally rested, I am often completely physically drained not only from the activities we do, but also from always feeling just that little bit on edge from nervousness and anxiety about being in unfamiliar territory. However I felt totally at ease as we all just seemed to understand what each needed and got on together with very little effort.
Jen played mum, making sure we all had brews and were happy and comfortable,
Sally not only organised the whole thing but also kept us entertained and fed all weekend,
Sarah cracked us all up with her rapping skills as well as of course the fire and her cooking skills,
Kirstie and I renewed a friendship over several gins (made by Sian's fair hands and totally delicious) that was long overdue and
Sian not only overcame her lack of ability to win a cracker, but had us all in stitches with her daft antics.
If you are looking for a luxury self catering break away, filled with that special touches, then do have a look at
Brompton Lakes in North Yorkshire. You will experience a home away from home with the peace of mind that relaxation and contentment are part of the deal.
*We were provided with this stay FOC however all opinions are my own.
