Looking for a breath of fresh air when it comes to a country house staycation? Lime Wood is a boutique hotel with charm, combined with modern dining options, a serious spa and elegant surroundings.
Think amazing gourmet experiences, courtesy of Angela Hartnett and Lime Wood’s Luke Holder, the Hartnett Holder & Co dining. It’s completely informal (Gasp! Children are allowed). And the menu is a nod to Italian Trattoria and British, with an emphasis on locally produced ingredients. Their mantra is; It’s about chefs’ home-cooked food not chefs’ food cooked for restaurants. Both Angela and Luke are famed for their informal, grounded style of cooking and their respect for local produce.
The rooms are brimming with Bamford toiletries and a well-stocked stash of treats in the pantry. Plus, there is complimentary Wi-Fi, fluffy robes and plenty of towels, Kingsize beds and an open fire that you can either start for yourself, (Mr {ODE} came over all caveman) or probably the safest option – you can call someone over to assist. Enough said about that.
The spa concentrates on the best of holistic and Ayurvedic therapies and offers rooftop yoga in the herb garden, Technogym equipment, Matt Roberts training, plus indoor and outdoor pools, and steam and saunas with a view of the forest. I tried a Tri-Dosha Facial, and was polished with a scrub that’s packed with forty-three Ayurvedic herbs, including kutki, known to reduce skin toxins, and fitkari to cleanse the skin of impurities, to gently coax out any underlying blemishes. Followed by hydrating masks, creams and a facial oil with evening primrose, frankincense, rose geranium, that’s nicknamed ‘Happiness in a bottle’ and I concur, happiness is an understatement. My skin was left glowing for days afterwards.
