Aldwark Manor, situated halfway between Harrogate and York, has a long and fascinating history. Its name (from the Saxon language meaning 'Old Fort') likely comes from its historic Roman purpose: the defence of a crossing point of the nearby river Ure.
The building has been used for various purposes since then (a school and an WW2 Airforce base among them), until in 1978 when it was converted into a country house hotel.
Recently, there’s been another twist in the tale. The hotel has undergone massive transformation, following a 25 million multi-year investment. On a warm October Sunday, my wife Lisa and I took the short trip up the A19 to see what all the fuss was about.
Our immediate impression went a long way to answering this question. The beautifully maintained grounds reflect the atmosphere of the classic setting while the presence of the gently flowing nearby river is felt in the lushness and vitality of the foliage.
Add to that a newly re-designed 18-holer, and you can see why Aldwark is attracting golfers from all over the country. I kicked myself for allowing Lisa to persuade me to leave the clubs at home!
Arriving early, we had to content ourselves with a retreat to the Squadron bar. Admittedly, my yearning for a round of golf was nicely assuaged by a creamy pint of Theakston’s (when in Yorkshire) while Lisa was more than content with a chilled glass of vino.
We ordered sandwiches: club and oak smoked salmon on sourdough. The expertly equipped Squadron bar perfectly balances antiquity of decor with varied, international drink and food menus.
After a cheery check in we were shown up to the stunning room. Again, the pairing of tradition and modernity is tastefully done. Old Victorian windows let in generous light and afforded views of those historic grounds, but a look back at the slick bathroom (complete with walk-in, tiled shower), spacious dresser, flat screen TV and comfy beds serve as a nice reminder of the modern convenience and luxury that Aldwark Manor has to offer.
After a quick change it was time to check out the Salus Spa, recipient of a large chunk of the recent investment. This certainly shows – the spa is visually stunning and equipped with cutting edge technology. We spent time exploring the garden, featuring the new hydrotherapy pool and woodland sauna, unique features which make the Aldwark stand out as a spa-break option.
Guests can also visit Sal’s, the health-conscious spa-side cafe, featuring light options such as smoothies served in an informal atmosphere so that guests can enjoy in robe and slipper ensemble (provided on spa days or overnight packages).
After checking out all of the flash new features, we repaired inside for a swim, sauna, steam and snooze. As well as all the bells and whistles, the Salus gets the simple parts right as well – nice and quiet, lovely and warm – we were dozing off in seconds.
We changed back at the room and then headed down to Elements Restaurant for a more formal dinner. Elements is yet another example of Aldwark seamlessly fusing the traditional and the contemporary. Leather seated booths provide comfort and privacy while the huge paned windows let in a beautiful light.
We perused a varied menu before settling on contrasting dishes – I opted for the “Not just any Prawn Cocktail,” followed by Teriyaki grilled salmon, while Lisa went for the Heritage Beetroot followed by Butterflied Cornfed Chicken.
Staff were highly knowledgeable about the wine list and helped us to select a bottle of Vermentino – a lovely nod to our Italian summer escape as the light faded outside and winter began to draw in.
Often with big investments my worry is that the character of the original building is lost. This is not the case with Aldwark at all: its stunning grounds, characterful rooms, state of the art spa and beautiful contemporary restaurants are a perfect mix of tradition and technology.
Next time, I am bringing those golf clubs!
For more information, visit www.aldwarkmanorestate.co.uk