AN AUTUMN GETAWAY AT THE LAKES
November truly is an underrated time of year - awkwardly sandwiched as it is between pumpkin scented October and festive December - it’s often lost in the holiday rush, but we’ve found it to be one of the most beautiful times of the year to travel. It’s a little quieter and only just edging into scarf weather, plus Autumn colours are at their peak in England in early November and we are hearty supporters of a good leaf-peeping adventure! Which was why we were delighted when an invite pinged into our inbox for a lakeside getaway at The Lakes by Yoo this month.
Fast forward to last Friday; and after a busy week at work, the thought of boarding a rush-hour train full of tired and grumpy commuters didn’t exactly spark joy, so instead we splurged on a private car transfer and sat back in smug glee for the trip west. Which is how, 2 hours after leaving the darkening streets of London, we arrived in The Cotswolds, the gate to The Lakes sliding open to reveal a golden-hued, tree lined road and friendly security guard waiting to lead us to our lakeside cabin.
Located just on the edge of the village of Lechdale, The Lakes is a private estate spread across 850 acres of freshwater lakes, meadows and woodland. Theres a mix of private homes and rentals here, all offered by YOO Hotels and Resort, who are inspired by “a vision of enriching lives with extraordinary living spaces” (and they’ve certainly fulfilled the brief at this lakeside oasis!). Swinging open the front door to our cabin on Marley lake we were immediately struck by the soaring ceilings and wood-heavy interiors, which perfectly frame the lake that can be spied through the floor to ceiling windows that form the back wall of the cabin (and which also fully open to an exterior deck). The space felt considered and cosy with a clever kitchenette tucked away at one end and a plush seating area, complete with roaring fire, at the other. Downstairs we claimed the main bedroom as our own, a cave like retreat thanks to its black ceiling and low lighting. We happily noted a 2nd TV here too - it doesn’t feel like a holiday unless you can watch movies from bed! Opposite is the main bathroom with a tub big enough for two. And hovering above it all is a mezzanine floor with second bedroom and ensuite. Our favourite feature upstairs was the above-bed skylight, perfect for stargazing or watching the rain.
Having arrived under dark skies we only got our first taste of the lakeside setting the next morning. Sliding back the huge curtains and glass doors to reveal a panorama of water, beautifully reflecting the golds and reds of the trees opposite. Cheerful ducks and geese gliding around completed the scene and made us envious of anyone who gets to wake up to these views full time.
Although we could have happily lazed around on the terrace, our curiosity to see the estate won over and we wandered bleary eyed over to the onsite cafe in search of coffee and breakfast. After full dishes of scrambled eggs and bacon we set off to explore on some bikes hired from Guest Services.
The Lakes is one of those places - our kind of place - where everyone smiles and says hello as they pass. There’s also a seemingly endless supply of curving gravel paths that hug the shores of the equally endless supply of lakes and lead to an array of beautifully designed lake-houses. All of which were covered in a layer of golden leaves during our stay. It’s unlike anywhere we’ve ever visited in the UK.
After putting in a visit to the bee hives and chicken coop (the source of our breakfast eggs) we decided to follow a local footpath to the nearby town of Lechdale. As you can always expect in the Cotswolds, Lechdale was a charming town of honey-hued stone buildings, housing a nice mix of shops, cafes and pubs. Including the “Cotswold Christmas Shop” where we picked up a new decoration for our tree.
After a pint at the pub and a muddy pedal back ‘home’ we dunked ourselves in a hot bath and then set up in front of the fire for a healthy (or possibly borderline unhealthy) dose of cheese and wine. And aside from a few more shorts cycles and walks around the lakes we remained inside the cabin for the majority of our weekend. Luxuriating in the peace and calm that will surely be in short supply once the buzz of December and Christmas erupts.
The nearby Communal area
Our lovely welcome pack that included goodies from the Lynwood & Co cafe
GETTING THERE
The lakes is about a 90minute drive from London (2hours with Friday night traffic)
Alternatively the nearest station is Swindon, which is a 20 minute taxi ride away. Frequent trains run directly from Paddington to Swindon and take less than a hour.
WHAT TO DO
What we loved about the cabin is that it is self contained enough you could spend days just lazing around and enjoying the view. But there is also plenty to do on the grounds (and if you came by car some of the loveliest villages in The Cotswolds are only a short drive away)
Have a spa day
Explore the grounds by bike
Swim, Boat or fish in the lakes (only available April to September)
Get sporty with a visit to the tennis courts, ping pong tables, zip wire or archery range. They even offer cricket lessons.
Visit the chickens, pigs, bees and goats that are kept onsite
Walk or cycle to the nearby town of Lechdale for a little bit of shopping or have a pint at one of the pubs
Take a drive further afield into the heart of The Cotswolds
Or do as little as possible and plan a movie night in front of the fire
GOOD TO KNOW
The Spa and pool were busy at certain times of the day (there seemed to be children’s swimming lessons at one point) so make sure to book ahead (and obviously don’t forget your swimming costumes)
The Kitchen is small but has most of what you will need for a couple of meals - the microwave even has an oven grilling option!
If visiting during the cooler months BYO slippers for the wood floors
The cafe always seemed to shut ahead of schedule during our stay and was a little unreliable so make sure to bring your own backup food just incase. Guest Services actually offer a pre-booked grocery delivery service.
Although the cabin was the backdrop for a cosy couples weekend for us it would work just as well for a group of friends or a family. In fact the majority of people we saw in the communal areas were parents with small children.
We were invited guests of The Lakes, but as always our thoughts and opinions are our own
