Aldwark Manor, The Perfect End To Our Summer Adventure

We have all felt post holiday blues haven’t we? I feel it after the summer break every year.

I get home and get organised, get all the washing done and then bang! It hits me, that sinking feeling that my holiday is over.

This year was different; we got home, unpacked then repacked for the following weekend and our trip to the beautiful Aldwark Manor Golf and Spa Hotel. And I must say it was the perfect end to our summer of adventures. We started the summer with our beloved Queens Hotel and ended with the very beautiful Aldwark Manor.

Arriving at Aldwark Manor is a bit of an odd but exciting affair. The route we took navigated us through glorious countryside and then onto a private toll road, which led to a one-track wooden toll bridge.

Aldward Manor is very grand, and the entrance and drive up to the hotel leads you up a beautiful sweeping drive to be greeted by the most beautiful historic building. The reception is quite small and intimate, and we had the warmest of welcome by the loveliest staff that straight away asked the boys if they had met the troll on the bridge.

We  spent some time in reception chatting about the weather and the local area before being shown to our room. It is so lovely that all the reception staff spent the time to chat, the hotel is a busy wedding, spa and golf hotel and they must have had so much to do. Yet they still had time to spend with customers, I just love that.

I had spent some months chatting via email and twitter to the lovely Kim the events manager to it was great to finally meet her, and she had arranged a full but wonderful itinerary for us.

We were shown to our room and wow, all our rooms at Q Hotels have been beautiful but Kim had put us in the hotels best 2 suites. And wow they were just stunning. The suites were adjoined by a main front door but then both had separate front door so could be used as a grand suite or separate suites. Perfect for a family wanting a luxurious break but also a bit of privacy.

Kim had arranged afternoon tea for us in one the beautiful drawing rooms. The Aldwark Manor reception areas are made up smaller rooms intimate rooms and are perfect for afternoon tea or taking drinks. It felt such a treat sharing afternoon tea whilst Joe entertained us with a pack of quiz cards.

We then retreated to our suites and spent a glorious afternoon chilling out after the manic month we had enjoyed this was much-needed, we had a huge balcony with loungers and we had been blessed with beautiful weather so spend an hour chilling with a bottle of champagne on our balcony, enjoying the beautiful view.  Whilst the boys chilled in their own suite.

Once ready for diner we had drinks in the lounge before enjoying a beautiful meal in the Brasserie.  The staff was so accommodating with the boys who both changed their meals from the offering on the menu. You know what kids are like! Jack wanted a steak with no sauce and chips instead of the delicious menu option. And this was not a problem at all. Things like this make such a difference when dining with kids don’t they? And nothing was too much trouble. This resulted in a wonderful, chilled evening. We thoroughly enjoyed great food and wonderful service.

The next morning after breakfast Chris and the boys headed to the pool, whilst I headed to the spa for a pedicure, which my feet so desperately needed after 2 weeks in Orlando. The spa is just stunning, and is connected to the hotel but a spectacular walkway that takes you from the traditional historic and beautiful surrounding of the hotel to the modern and beautiful spa complex.

This is a spa I would love to spend a day chilling with the girls it is wonderful, and the staff were just so friendly and welcoming.  The pool although I did not get time to swim myself was beautiful and had dedicated splash times for kids which for us is a winner, as you can relax when you know that anyone who chooses to use the pool during these times does so with the knowledge there will be supervised kids in during that time.

We left around 11 after the most wonderful stay and set off to visit the York Maze. York is a part of the country that we have not spent enough time discovering, and somewhere we really need to go and spend more time.

Aldward Manor Golf and Spa Hotels is the perfect hotel for discovering York and the surrounding countryside, as a family we felt totally chilled and had a wonderful visit. Thank you to Kim and all the lovely team who made our stay so special.