Weekend Away - The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa
Hayley Murray travelled to the glorious sloping Dales for a luxury spa break
Sitting next to Bolton Abbey, The Devonshire Arms & Spa with its exquisite gardens, beautiful sitting rooms, five-star dining and luxurious spa is one of the most exclusive venues in Yorkshire and I was excited about my stay.
The hotel was built in the early 17th century, though there had been a place of hospitality on this site for much longer than that. It came into the ownership of the 4th Duke of Devonshire in 1753 as part of the Bolton Abbey Estate and was further developed by the 5th Duke, a man well ahead of his time. He realised the importance of visitors to the area and ensured many miles of footpaths were established so that visitors could admire the splendid views. The area attracted poets and artists alike, including Wordsworth and Turner. During the 19th century, the Royal Family would stay at Bolton Abbey for grouse shoots.
In 1981 the hotel underwent a major refurbishment and additional bedrooms were added, under the supervision of Her Grace the Dowager Duchess of Devonshire. Her personal touch is still evident throughout and much of the artwork has come from Chatsworth’s Devonshire Collection, one of the finest private art collections in Europe, making the ideal choice for an array of important private and public occasions and events.
On arrival, the drive up to the hotel was breathtakingly pretty. The entrance hall welcomed with a grand open fire which was a sight for sore eyes given the unpredictable British weather. The entrance also felt homely with wellington boots of all sizes at the ready for your use at the door.
The staff were incredibly inviting and relaxed and assisted us to our room. We stayed in a Classic Room (which are mostly located in the new wing of the hotel) which offer superb garden views, with many overlooking the Italian box garden or the landscaped area surrounding the hotel. The bedrooms are individually designed in a classic contemporary style and all enjoy 5ft king-size beds (with some twin beds an option where requested). Private cottages and superior rooms, luxury rooms and suites are also available.
We explored the grounds during our downtime and admired the beautiful scenery. We then went on to relax in the lounge to have pre-dinner drinks. The evening meal was something I was most looking forward to, with an eight-course taster menu prepared by award-winning Peter Howarth who had recently taken over as Head Chef.
We dined in The Burlington which specialises in seasonal and ever-changing tasting menus. From home-grown fruit and vegetables from the hotel’s own kitchen garden, to produce reared and caught on the estate, each and every ingredient is carefully considered from seed to plate. These ingredients are then cooked skilfully by Peter and his team, who take pride in creating special dining experiences for the guest, with Peter especially creating a vegan menu for my husband.
I had a wonderful mixture of fish and meat, the food was well presented and tasted exquisite. With quail to start followed by Morecambe Bay seabass, Saint Austell mussels, sardine purée and Alsace bacon, these were my favourites. Then onto a beef dish, tartare of Hereford beef was simply stunning. Scallops with crab came next with charred cabbage and then mountain yam which was divine. Roasted Scottish venison with parsley root, charred leek and juniper jus was the last of the mains before going onto a savoury dish. The sweet was calamansi parfait with a banana mouse which was an incredible dessert.
With a wonderful night's sleep, the next day we indulged in a spa visit. The Devonshire Spa is housed in an ancient barn, adjacent to the Devonshire Arms Hotel. There are four generously-sized therapy rooms, an indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, Rasul temple, relaxation space and lounge, with views over the countryside. For those fitness fanatics, you can also find a separate gym next door with cardio, weights and resistance zones.
The hotel has won countless awards including 3 AA rosettes and The White Rose Awards Large Hotel of The Year. Having experienced their incredible service, luxury spa and quality food I can certainly see why.
The Devonshire Arms Hotel & Spa, Bolton Abbey Estate, Skipton, Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire BD23 6AJ
t: +44 (0) 1756 718100 e: reception@thedevonshirearms.co.uk w: devonshirehotels.co.uk
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