Middleton Lodge Estate - A Perfect Family Retreat

When I think back over the year at all the beautiful places we have stayed as a family, Middleton Lodge Estate is one of our favourites. It’s a place where we shall be visiting many times over. The English countryside estate sits on 200 acres of privately owned parkland, nearby to the gateway of the rolling hills of the Yorkshire dales. Owned by James and Rebecca Allison, who themselves have two young children, they have together created a more than welcoming place for families.

There’s space for adventure and exploring too, residents can ask for an estate map and access the giant bicycles, so they can explore the estate through the day or pop in the car and visit the nearby Yorkshire Dales for a longer hike. The woodland walk on the estate isn’t too far, or too short and is loved by many. For those with early rising little ones, the Walled Gardens are open between 7am and 9am for an early morning wander.

The walled garden is like something from The Secret Garden novel and I’m happy to say the chef is often spotted pottering around collecting herbs and edible flowers for the Coach House restaurant. The food here is delicious, fragrant, and filled with texture.

There’s a warm and welcoming ambience, and the team here are so helpful, friendly, and eager to help. You are made to feel completely at home in the restaurant and highchairs can also be added to tables. Those looking for a more private eating experience, that being for breakfast, lunch or dinner can reserve one of the two private dining rooms. Brunch fanatics will not be disappointed with the amazing Yorkshire takes on classic brunch dishes. Little ones don’t miss out on delicious dishes either, as the children’s menu is utterly sublime.

A giant stretch tent covers the original honey coloured courtyard of the restaurant, which is perfect for those who’d prefer to dine outdoors. Heaters, hot water bottles and blankets create a cosy setting with twinkly lights and on the cooler evenings a roaring open fire fills the space with a warm air and inviting glow.y Head chef Jake Jones works with the estate land, gardening teams and surrounding farming community to source the best produce possible, creating the ‘estate to plate’ menus which are served from morning until night, seven days each week. Never have we seen salads brimming with fresh, flavoursome ingredients. Over coffee at breakfast Florence was delighted when Head Chef Jake shared his secret to the chocolate bread and butter pudding we devoured the evening before.

There is a slower way of life here, the birdsong is idyllic, there’s seasonal blooms everywhere you turn, and it really is the place to sit back and settle into the country with your little ones. Open in the summer is the Forest Spa where the outdoor pool and lodge will welcome families where they can spend the day relaxing and having fun.

When it comes to ‘you’ time, the estate doesn’t disappoint, two award winning Treatment Rooms offer a range of handpicked beauty therapies and massages using products from gorgeous brands such as REN, VOYA and Kiss the Moon. For mums to be there’s the most relaxing massage which focuses on the full body, and as of recent a new massage for new mums has been added to the menu. Middleton Lodge really is the Yorkshire retreat to eat, gather and pause.

You can book a room at Middleton Lodge Estate here and enjoy their gorgeous images on their instagram account here.

Vanessa xx