The last time I was in York, I was twelve years old and was on a school trip. We spent four nights in the city; our days spent trailing around various attractions and our nights squeezed four to a room in bunkbeds. It was as far from luxurious as you can imagine. So, when I had the chance to revisit the city, this time staying at the brand new Principal York, I absolutely jumped at the chance!

Situated right by York Railway Station, the Principal occupies one of the city’s most beautiful buildings. A golden-brick Victorian hotel, it’s a pretty breathtaking building to drive up to, and the neatly manicured gardens to the front of the hotel add to the sense of old-school luxury.

We had driven down from Edinburgh (and had managed to detour quite heavily through the Yorkshire Dales) so by the time we reached the hotel, we were ready to kick back and enjoy a little r&r. Our room, a Superior Double, was wonderfully spacious. With views out to the front gardens, it was the perfect spot to unwind from the rather long car journey.

As in all Principal hotel rooms, there was a generous tuck box of goodies for us to nibble at, as well as the cutest little York-themed picnic basket! With chocolates, relish, wine and even a tea towel covered in Yorkshire sayings!

The room was an absolute dream, with a huge puffy bed and separate little desk and seating area where I could set up my laptop and get a little work done. We had planned to head downstairs and grab dinner in the stunning Refectory, but since the room was so glorious, we opted to go for the naughtier option and order room service.

We both went for the Principal Burger (£16.95) which was insanely good. It was exactly what we were after – it was the perfect comfort food supper.

After dinner, there was only one thing I was ready for – a bubble bath in the room’s claw footed tub. With Elemis toiletries, it was absolutely heavenly to kick back in a bubble bath and enjoy a good book.

The bathroom itself was absolute perfection. All marble tiles and grey panelling – I’m fully intending to copy it in my own house!

After such a heavenly bath, there was no chance of us going out to explore. Instead, we made good use of the cosy room. We spent the evening in bed, reading and watching movies.

The room was so comfy we managed to sleep through breakfast (but Principal breakfasts are among my absolute favourites, so you really should go). But the morning meant we got to give this shower a go. With the best water pressure you can imagine, it was the perfect way to prepare for a day of sightseeing!

Thank you so much to the Principal York for having us! Rooms start from £150 per night.

Snuggled beautifully between the majestic limestone outcrops of Scout Scar and Whitbarrow Scar, lying in the rolling, pastoral, damson tree-strewn landscape of the Lyth valley, is the luxuriously refurbished 9 bedroom hotel and restaurant.

The stunning oak-paneled dining room is exactly where you want to be after a long day’s exploring the wildlife.

From fresh pastries and artisan coffee for breakfast right through lunchtime treats to delicious dinners, the Lyth Valley Country Inn restaurant is putting local produce, bold inventiveness and total satisfaction back on the menu.

Dine against oak panelled luxury and jaw-dropping Lyth Valley views any time of the day. Whether it’s the chef’s signature hand-raised Victorian-style pie or maybe some mouth-watering game straight from their own Winster Estate, you’ll always find something to satisfy your appetite.

So for just a light bite or a three-course feast the Lyth Valley could be your new favourite restaurant. Book a table today and dig in.

Lunch is served between 12pm and 3pm, afternoon tea is served 3pm until 5pm (must be pre-booked with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice) and dinner is served from 6pm until 9pm Monday to Sunday.

Lyth Valley Country Inn

Kendal

Cumbria LA8 8DB

Tel: 015395 68295

info@lythvalley.com

Over the past year or so, I’ve fallen more than a little bit in love with North Berwick. It’s an area which is breathtakingly beautiful, with an old-school seaside feel, but the jewel in the crown has to be the Archerfield Estate.

As I’ve mentioned before, I (mistakenly) thought it was more of a wedding venue than anything else. But with one of Scotland’s best spas and a golf course which looks incredible, it’s actually the perfect place for a luxe weekend away!

There are a tonne of activites to enjoy whilst you’re staying at Archerfield – of course there is the fabulous Fletcher’s Cottage (you can read my review here), but there is also a fully equipped gym cottage which was filled with all my favourite machines and killer.

There is a host of accomodation choices at Archerfield – you can enjoy luxurious country house surroundings of Archerfield House itself. Bedecked with crystal chandeliers, original artwork and the most glorious architecture, this is just the choice if you’re looking to celebrate something big with friends and family. Then there are a few cottages which sleep up to eight people, so again, fabulous for bigger families or those who need a little extra space. There is also a cluster of lodges which sleep up to four, so they’re perfect for families who want a little extra space.

We were in the Pavillion Suites which are perfect for smaller gatherings. Sleeping two, our suite was absolutely glorious, and fitted out with a breakfast table, comfy sofas and even a little kitchenette.

Stocked with essentials like tea, coffee and wine it meant we didn’t need to venture out to find breakfast in the morning, and it was the perfect place to enjoy a lazy evening in. There are dining options available at the Club House on-site, but were couldn’t resist the newly re-opened Lobster Shack in North Berwick, so we popped out and came back to the suite laden with lobster and chowder.

The room itself was absolutely glorious. At least triple the size of regular hotel rooms, we had more than enough room to kick back and relax on the sofa, and I was able to spread out all my computer bits on the table too. The wifi and Sky TV were also faultless, and meant working away for an hour or two was an absolute breeze.

Like Fletcher’s Cottage, our bathroom (which came with both a roll top tub and rainfall shower) came stocked with Aromatherapy Associates goodies, as well as the pre-requisite fluffy towels and robes.

The beds deserve their own special mention. Big puffs of things, they were, without a doubt the most comfortable beds I’ve maybe ever slept in. Not too soft, not too hard (no, I’m not Goldilocks) these were absolute havens, and I have to say, getting up in the morning was nigh-on impossible!

I should also mention that the views that you get in the Pavillion Suites are pretty sublime – getting to go to bed with this view outside was incredibly special!

Pavillion Suites start at £185 per night.

Thank you so much to Archerfield House for hosting us!

The Blythswood Square Hotel is one of those places I’d been dying  to visit for years. Anyone I know who had visited only had only glowing things to report back, so it was the perfect excuse to stay over, when I popped in to review their rather fabulous Guilty Pleasures package (review here) a couple of weeks ago.

Checking in an hour or so later than planned (thanks M8 traffic), the first thing we noticed was how warm and welcoming all the staff were. Parking was a breeze thanks to on-street spaces available directly outside the hotel (download the ringo app so you can just top up your meter without having to sniff out change) and we were well taken care of at check-in.

Whisked from the reception desk, we were given a potted history of the hotel which had previously been the RAC headquarters for Scotland. With all of the original features remaining, The Blythswood Square Hotel is a seriously glamorous spot situated right in the heart of Glasgow – and I just adored all the attention to detail – just look at the chandelier!

But what was an even better surprise than the stunning interiors was the Blythswood Suite we were ushered into. Spanning the front of the hotel, we were treated to sweeping views of the Blysthwood park opposite, as well as a dining room, super comfy seated area, huge bedroom and the most fabulous black marble bathroom!

We ooh’d and ahh’d over the room whilst we freshened up – remarking on all the space, the light, and how comfortable it all was. Then, it was time to hop across to The Salon to enjoy our Guilty Pleasures package. Thankfully it was quite literally a few steps back to the room – after half a bottle of champagne each, we were both a little tipsy, and we very much appreciated the comfy sofas and wide screen tv to enjoy the rest of the evening.

Staying the the Blythswood Suite meant we also got to enjoy what has to be Glasgow’s slickest bathroom. Swathed in black marble, this is a bathroom straight out of a movie. There was a shower which could easily fit about four people, a his’n’hers sink and the most wonderful bath I’ve seen in a very long time.

I spent quite a few hours in the tub. It was huge, and it meant that I really got to enjoy the indulgent Elemis products which the bathroom was stocked with.

The main attraction for the room was of course, the oversized bed. Covered in a cloud of duvet and pillows, the bed frame was a pool table in a former life, and it was beyond comfy and cosy. I just adored the tweedy headboard, and it was such a treat to laze around for an evening and just enjoy the luxury.

Since we were lucky enough to have a full dining table to make use of, we thought we’d make use of room service and have it all delivered straight to the room. So, we ferreted out the breakfast request form, ticked away to our heart’s desire, then jumped back into bed to enjoy the comfort some more.

Once it gets dark, you’ll notice that all the windows in the hotel have red lamps in them – it’s not just to look cosy. Apparently … way back when, Blythswood Square was known as something of Glasgow’s red light district, and as a rather cheeky nod to the past, it’s a fun little touch.

We were woken up with a soft knock at the door, and the most fabulous breakfast feast was set up on the dining room table for us.

Yoghurts, pastries, salmon and toast were all unpacked, and we had the most indulgent morning, enjoying breakfast with views out onto the gardens below.

I wish every morning could be as luxurious!

Thank you so much to The Blythswood Square Hotel for having us. A night in the Blythswood Suite costs from £378 per night