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Enjoying life in a parallel universe...
Posted 3rd May 2012.
Nottingham Post, (Lynette Pinchess).
A COUPLE had been in the outdoor hot tub for a considerable time. As I swam another length of the hotel pool, I said to my husband impatiently: “Come on, let’s go out there and they might take the hint.” Good job he persuaded me to hold fire or I could have ended up spoiling a wonderful romantic moment. A few minutes later the beaming woman wafted her hand at us to show off her sparkler. “I’ve got engaged – just!” she trilled.
Full marks to her chap for picking such a picturesque spot to pop the question: drinking champagne, in the swirling hot waters, overlooking the snow clad hills in the heart of Derbyshire’s Peak District. Sometimes it’s easy to overlook what’s on our doorstep. Yet just a few miles from the heaving M1, spectacular countryside, charming villages and inviting rural pubs await...
While we headed to neighbouring Derbyshire, friends were off to London, Bath and even Paris for a short break. We reached our destination just over an hour later – probably while they were on their first toilet stop. Surrounded by stunning views and tranquility, the busy city we’d left behind seemed a parallel universe. Visitors to the village of Hope would be hard-pressed to find Losehill House Hotel and Spa if they didn’t already know of its existence. Nestling amongst the rolling hills, it is tucked away at the end of a narrow track. The morning we travelled was the day the weather took a turn for the worse so the green peaks and fields encircling us were hidden under a blanket of snow. Some parts of Derbyshire had been cut off – not that we minded as we weren’t venturing out of the hotel for the next 24 hours. Relaxation, pampering and good food were all we had planned – no ten-mile hikes this time.
Our “room ” was actually a duplex apartment and the spacious Win Hill Suite, as it was named, had ample room for the three of us. Downstairs had a large leather sofa and a TV, with two en-suite bedrooms upstairs.
After dropping off our bags, first on our agenda was a dip in the hotel’s indoor pool. After my near engagement blunder, we got our turn in the hot tub. Wearing the provided toweling gown until the very last second because it was so cold, I disrobed in record speed and sank into the warm water. We had our 14-year-old with us, so it wasn’t a romantic retreat but the views were stunning, never the less.
We followed our swim with a relaxing hour-long aromatherapy massage while our daughter stayed in the suite.
Despite feeling cut off from the rest of the world, she was able to get a signal on her mobile – which any parent appreciates is vital in a teenager’s world – so she was able to tweet her thoughts on the room: “Wow our hotel room is amazing. It’s like a mini house – it has 2 floors and everything woo.”
The hotel seems to have stunning 360° views since every room we entered looked out onto the magnificent scenery and the hotel’s Orangery restaurant was no different. It’s surprising how doing very little makes you incredibly hungry.
The starters of king scallops with belly pork, black pudding and apple puree and mackerel escabeche with lemon gel and samphire were delicious. The restaurant prides itself on locally sourced food and the meat for my main course of Derbyshire lamb with parsley quinoa, anchovy, kidney and butternut squash puree came from just down the road.
We shared two desserts – a delicious rhubarb and duck egg tart and honey and orange cake. A selection of artisan cheese rounded off the meal. Our stay was over all too soon and we were loathe to leave. This is a hotel that has all the facilities of big chains but comes with the intimacy and friendliness
of a family-run business.
As we loaded up the car we noticed the snow-filled sky had turned to blue and, like the brighter weather, we returned to Notts with a sunnier frame of mind.
Posted 3rd May 2012.
Nottingham Post, (Lynette Pinchess).
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