We stayed at the wonderful Whinstone View; the most charming collection of unique, luxury scandanavian log cabins, each one complete with a private hot tub. Set in the most stunning grounds, surrounded by pristine gardens and rustic-chic decor, with a peaceful, countryside feel. On site you will find a gorgeous cosy bistro serving breakfast and lunches throughout the day, a heavenly spa, and a breathtaking events barn.
We arrived at ‘Blue’ lodge on a sunny Friday afternoon, ready for a long, relaxing weekend away with the kids. The first thing we noticed as we pulled up was that the lodge was surrounded by beautifully trimmed hedges with a small grassy patch outside, a perfect place for the kids to blow off some steam! The lodge was spacious and beautifully decorated, with a luxury, rustic-chic feel. We immediately felt cosy and settled, with a large corner sofa and smart TV it was easy to relax and unwind. Harry was quick to jump in to the hot tub, the kids absolutely loved it! We had a family night laughing and relaxing in the hot tub followed by some bubbles on the decking and a good nights sleep in the big cosy beds – heavenly!
We had an early start and got straight off to the nearby seaside town, Saltburn-by-the-Sea. Saltburn is beautiful, a Victorian seaside resort with rows of stunning townhouses overlooking the sea, the colourful beach huts and long pier make for a fantastic day out. We bought a couple of buckets and spades and set ourselves up on the beach, watching the kids run under the pier and build sandcastles down by the water, taking in the magnificent views of the coastline and surrounding cliffs. So, where to have lunch? Only one place – Seaview Fish & Chips. We had to queue for a while to get them but it was absolutely worth it! Is there anything better than a good portion of fish and chips by the sea? There is plenty to do and see in Saltburn so we would highly recommend a day trip, lots of lovely independent shops and sweet little coffee bars – also a miniature railway if you have any little train fans in the family!
The lovely ladies that own Whinstone View recommended we try out Padel tennis at Tennisworld, just a short drive from the lodges. This isn’t something we would usually think to do but my goodness we had such a fantastic time! Padel tennis is a relatively new sport in the UK, with only 33 courts across the UK, a game adapted from Tennis, it is so addictive! The kids really enjoyed having a go and Mila was our little ball girl, which she found suprisingly entertaining! A great, physical, fun little activity just round the corner from Whinstone – absolutely worth a visit!
Our Saturday night was so lovely, sat out on the decking playing cards with some drinks, dipping in and out of the hot tub. Whinstone is such a fabulous place to book for all types of occasions, a girls weekend away, family breaks or a couples retreat – you feel very relaxed in the privacy of your lodge – we really felt like we could have moved in!
Sunday morning we visited a fabulous local farm park, Newham Grange Farm, the kids had a brilliant time here. Donkeys, horses, a village of pigs, peacocks and more. When you walk round to the end of the farm there is a little park for the kids to run off some steam – very reasonably priced and lots to do!
After the farm we headed off to Great Ayton, the local village for an ice cream from the locally-famous, Suggits! The locals queue up daily for a homemade ice cream from the old fashioned, quaint little sweet shop – you must try the ice creams they are absolutely delicious, we took them down to river and sat by the waterfall. We fed the ducks and had a little play by the river, it was very peaceful and serene – a beautiful spot!
Back at Whinstone for the afternoon, we were booked in for Sunday lunch. Four portions of roast dinner and four clean plates. It was really lovely, finished off with some sticky toffee pudding… how could we resist? There is a really nice atmosphere down at the Bistro and the food is fantastic, if it is a nice day we would recommend getting a table outside on the decking.
We completely fell in love with Whinstone View, a real little gem of a place. The lodges have such a comforting, private and luxury feel, the decor and grounds are stunning and all of the staff are wonderful! There is no doubt we will be returning to try out another of the 7 uniquely designed log cabins. BOOK your stay now with a VIP discount code: WHIN10 – pop them an email at info@whinstoneview.com and the lovely ladies will get you fixed! Enjoy!
Lots of love,
The Big Dreams Family x
