Clearly I haven’t done very well at blogging this year. I think it’s a combination of being so busy with work and then the fear of posting again, I just didn’t know where to start.
In the end I decided to keep this post casual, it’s a selection of local highlights from the year so far. I had considered doing a big post of trips from the year so far but it turns out so far I have fitted in way more than I remembered, so I might make a couple more posts on recent trips to Sussex and Barcelona.
I always hope these posts are as interesting for you as they are for me. I enjoy going back over previous ones like these to jolt my memory on all the things I’ve done and places I want to visit again. Even if at the very least you use the post as a recommendation then it’s worth the read.
Huts in the Hills, Northumberland
We went to Huts in the Hills last year as a bit a of a joint birthday get-away. Once we were home I kept thinking about how much I loved our stay there; the peace and quiet, the uninterrupted countryside views, the most incredible outside bath *swoon*. The attention to detail that has been put into the hut is brilliant.
I loved it so much that we booked it again for a long weekend in early February. Now last time we encountered Storm Callum which really was some crazy weather. Given the time of year we thought this time it would be just a bit cold but nothing we couldn’t handle. Surely we couldn’t have two stays with unbelievable weather…
The day we left there was a flurry of snow, without thinking twice we packed the car assuming it would pass like it had earlier in the week.
But by the time we got 5 minutes away from the huts we were stuck in a full on blizzard, our little polo wasn’t going anywhere. Nicola and Jamie who own the huts came to our rescue towing us up to the farm (what legends). We had to abandon our car at their house as there was no way it was going any further and so we shut ourselves away for the weekend in the hut.
When we woke up on the Saturday we thought we were in Narnia, the snow was so deep I hadn’t seen anything like it since being a child. I was out in my pyjamas, wellies and coat jumping around.
Of course again even despite the weather I was still going to have a bath, and this time t was more incredible than the first stay. I sat soaking with a hot chocolate and marvelled at the winter wonderland around me.
We spent the rest of the weekend staying cosy with the wood burner on. We played board games and binged listened to Jessie Ware’s podcast ‘Table Manners’, just like we did the first time.
We have booked to stay again in November for a pre-Christmas trip, so this is an early weather warning for you all!
Later on in February I stayed with a group of friends in Allenheads. Luckily on this weekend the weather wasn’t so challenging and we enjoyed a weekend full of delicious food, pub trips and countryside walks. I am known for having inappropriate footwear on walks like these and this one was no exception. Nature 1 – heeled boots 0.
I am a massive fan of a Sunday lunch, so much so that if I had one final meal on this earth I think a roast dinner would be a serious contender. I have sampled several of the North East’s but never the Lord Crewe Arms. My goodness it did not disappoint! The idea behind it is that it is a sharing lunch and you either have two or three courses, but you get a bit of everything. The quality of the food was to a really high standard and even better that you don’t have to be indecisive on what to have, you can try a bit of everything.
We went as a three (all big eaters) but there was so much food we were really very full by the end. The wine menu was great too with plenty of choice; being so long ago I can’t remember what red wine I drank but whatever it was it went down well.
Being such piggies we tucked into our food so quick that I didn’t remember to take a photo, so instead are some photos of the location itself which is tastefully decorated.
I can’t wait for autumn just so I can fit in a few more Sunday lunch visits here!
I wish that North Yorkshire was closer to work because it is the sort of place I could happily live in. Alas, the reality is that it’s miles away and not possible so instead a staycation every once in a while is a must (it’s a hard life).
I always make a point of really researching where we stay, I can’t bear parting with my hard earned money for something that is naff. So as with any trip I spent ages looking at where to stay until I came across a fairly new listing on Airbnb. I am always a bit cautious with new listings but could see it had a couple of great reviews to took the plunge and booked it.
Well I knew my gut feeling had paid off as we got there, stunning views of rolling fields, and just a stone’s throw away from Brimham Rocks. The cottage itself was small but perfectly formed and the finish was to a really high standard.
Before we left we had popped to Fenwick Food Hall to get supplies as often we really enjoy just tucking ourselves away for the weekend on these trips. So we enjoyed the last of the spring sunshine on the first evening with a glass of rose wine and an antipasti board.
The rest of the weather that weekend was hit and miss, but it meant we had an excuse to get some logs on the wood burner and get cosy. Plenty of books were read and I found myself watching ‘Say Yes To The Dress’ for the first time – what a programme!
As mentioned Brimham Rocks wasn’t very far at all, Christo being keen ran all the way to the top from the cottage, where as I had more of a walk than run listening to a podcast.
We were also lucky enough to have a sneak peak of the other holiday cottage the owners were about to put on Airbnb: their daughter’s jewellery studio which was an incredible space and well designed.
Before we knew it though as always the weekend was over in a flash and it wasn’t long before we packing up the car to head back to Newcastle, our batteries recharged.
Hope Killick 