REVIEW: Stoke by Nayland Hotel Golf and Spa

Our first family trip was spent with friends at the Stoke by Nayland Hotel making use of the spa facilities and the two championship golf courses. 

Location: Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf, Spa & Lodges, Keepers Lane,

Leavenheath, Colchester, Essex CO6 4PZ

How to get there: Being based in Surrey it was so much closer than I thought

and only took us about 2 hrs by car. The award-winning hotel is located in the

Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the easiest way to reach the

hotel is by car, which is just a short distance from Colchester and about a 1.5hr

drive from London or 45 minutes by train.

Accommodation: Our accommodation for the weekend was in one of the

fantastic lodges located on the golf course just a short drive from the main hotel

(there is a 24hr shuttle service so you do not need to drive) or a few minutes

walk. The lodge was amazing, a cosy electric fireplace in the lounge/kitchen, 2

bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. There was plenty of space for two couples and their

babies with added amenities of high chairs and travel cots available at an

additional charge. 

The lodge also had a lovely terrace area, dining table and fully equipped kitchen

which allowed us to cook for ourselves on one of the nights we were there. The

lodges have won several green awards for being self-sustainable through

investing in renewable sources of energy and providing their own power and

were nice and cosy with under-floor heating during the cold November nights.

Although we did not stay in the main hotel they have plenty of suites and rooms

available with views of the lake and the golf course, for all the details visit here.

Food: Stoke by Nayland has a number of dining options with Sports Bar in the

golf area, The Gallery Grill which has just had a makeover, a lounge bar area

with the most amazing fire and the Lakes Restaurant which is where we ate on

several occasions. They also have The Peake Bistro down in the spa.

On the nights we were not cooking for ourselves we had dinner in the main

Lakes Restaurant, which offers AA Two Rosette dining. They offer classic, locally

sourced dishes such as steak, pork belly, tuna steak and trout. During the day,

they offer an amazing afternoon tea which we got to enjoy whilst the husbands

were off playing golf for £19.95. The friend I was dining with was dairy free and

the restaurant was so accommodating. With a wide array of teas beautifully

presented, mini rolls, scones with local clotted cream and cakes.

Golf: Whilst I am not a golfer my husband is a keen player and enjoyed a round

on the Gainsborough course on the Friday. Both the Gainsborough and Constable courses are championship ones and have hosted some very prestigious televised tournaments including the European Senior Tour. As you can see the views from around the course are amazing and the 4 different lakes and multiple bunkers make for an enjoyable but challenging round.

Spa Facilities: Whilst the boys were on the course, we were in the spa. We also

had several spa treatments including:

 Eyebrow Re-shape £17

 Hot Stone Massage 55 mins £62

 Crystal Clear Frozen Facial Elite 70 mins £115 or £570 for a course of 6.

My skin after the Crystal Clear facial was literally glowing, I think it was at its

peak about 48 hours after the treatment. Hailed as groundbreaking; with the unique microchannelling roller to really get deep into the skin and help to rejuvenate I can see why, it’s also very relaxing pumping the skin full of oxygen

and hydration.

The spa itself was a hotbed, make sure you book up not to disappoint there are

lots of Spa Day experiences to choose from with a spot of afternoon tea or lunch

as part of the package where you get a fluffy robe, towels and flip flops and

unlimited access to the pool which also has special family times so we could take Winston for a dip. There is also a sanarium, steam room and Jacuzzi to enjoy.

Green Credentials: The Peake family, who own Stoke by Nayland Hotel, has

been farming in Suffolk for over 80 years, mainly apples and now also soft fruit.

Their Boxford (Suffolk) Farms long-term strategy has been to operate as a

sustainable green business, Bill and Devora Peake were founder members of the

Soil Association in the 1950s. More information can be found here.

Now a third-generation family business (Did you know Copella was created

here?), which owns and runs fruit farms, a fruit packhouse/storage business and

Stoke by Nayland Hotel employing some 600 staff, they have invested around

£5 million over the last six years in the installation of renewable energy sources.

These include an anaerobic digester, solar panels, biomass boilers, air-source

heat pumps and ground source heat pumps, and they harvest millions of litres of rainwater from glasshouses to re-use on crops.

Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf, Spa & Lodges Tel 01206 262 836; www.stokebynayland.com.

B&B starts from £90 per room per night based on two sharing an executive single/cosy double room.

 

 

 

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Review: Le Jardin Des Douars, Essaouira, Morocco

Le Jardin des Douars is the perfect place to unwind when visiting Essaouira. Located in the hills about a 5 minute drive from the city centre, Le Jardin des Douars looks like a palace. Surrounded by wonderful gardens this is truly a luxurious gem with secluded accommodation and terraces overlooking the Ksob river. You can see straight away that it was created by a French couple as a mix of Moroccan and French culture is entwined throughout the hotel even to the food. 

Location: Coined the ‘Wind City of Africa’ the beach is not the place to relax but there are plenty of water sports to try your hand at. The main Medina of Essaouira contains vast amounts of alleyways and small streets filled with art galleries, shops, restaurants and boutique cafes. 

Nearest Airport: Essaouria, is only 15 minutes away from Le Jardin des Douars, with shuttle service available. Flights from London Luton with Easyjet run twice a week on Saturdays and Tuesdays; and its only three hours to fly or a two hour drive from Marrakesh, so perfect for a long weekend.

Rooms: Each of the rooms are located within traditional Moroccan houses dotted around the beautiful grounds of the hotel. You get an instant feeling of calm and tranquility when entering your room for the first time. Do not expect modern luxuries here but instead embrace the tradition Moroccan feel of your room.  

There are a wide range of rooms and suites available to cater to your requirements. I stayed in the Luxe Room which is perfect for couples. There are six of these rooms in total which includes a king sized bed, an amazing bath big set into the floor of the bathroom, shower and even a working traditional fireplace if you are visiting during the chillier months. You get your own private terrace, air-conditioning and a hair dryer - which is always a requirement for the boyfriend. 

The rate for the deluxe room including the ‘Royal breakfast’ is around £160 per night in high season.

Facilities/Activities on site:

Take a dip: There are two stunning swimming pools within the grounds of this boutique hotel on opposite sides. This is very handy as one of the pools if for adults only which means guests without children can relax whilst families do not feel like they are disturbing others. The pools are heated which is great, when I went to Greece last year it was so hot outside but the pool was absolutely freezing and I couldn’t even use it!

Relax: We stayed in Morocco for three nights and it was one of the most relaxing long weekends I have ever had. My time was spent relaxing by the pool reading my favourite book, going for a dip in the pool followed by amazing food and occasionally popping into Essaouira to wonder around the bustling Medina. 

Spa: I booked myself into the Hammam spa, I had the traditional skin exfoliation Hamman with perfumed black soap which lasted around 30 minutes and cost £30. I did not know what to expect from a Hammam Spa but you basically lie on marble in a romantically lit room it is a must do if you visit Morocco.

Explore Essaouira: The hotel offers shuttles to Essaouira’s historic Medina and the local harbour. It is very similar to the markets you will see on the TV in Marrakesh but on a smaller scale. Get ready to barter and try to relax when being approached by the the local tradesmen to take a look at their goods. We did not experience any problems with the locals and in fact they were amazingly polite and friendly at all times. The artwork, crafts and fabrics were amazing to look at so do not be afraid to get lost in the alleyways. We ended up at the rooftop bar Toros to watch the sunset over the medieval town and coastline.

Food & Drink: The food is served at the main building in the complex and most of the time we made use of the beautiful outdoor terrace.

Breakfast is included within the cost of the room and is presented in a buffet style. All food is completely fresh. You can have a wide variety of fruits and cereals along with freshly squeezed orange juice and teas. They also offer an a la carte option, where you can order Moroccan pancakes, eggs of any variety or French toast.

For Lunch the hotel offers a wide selection of fresh salads, burgers, fish and Moroccan cuisine. We had the fresh Tuna Nicoise salad which was amazing and a healthy beetroot and goats cheese plate, made from local produce. 

In the evening, there is a new specials menu everyday which offers traditional Moroccan dishes. This is accompanied by the normal a la carte menu offering a wide range of options. We have to say the food was excellent and a major highlight for us was the succulent Lamb Tagine special. There is also an extensive drinks menu on offer. 

Tips:As this resort is a litter far out from life you may decide to hire a car for a little exploration. 

To book Le Jardin Des Douars, click here.

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