Nestled in the stunning Cumbrian countryside – between the Lake District and the Solway Coast – Landal North Lakes Lodges stand in the gorgeous secret escape of Brayton Park, just outside the village of Aspatria.
Just six miles north of the Lake District National Park, Brayton Park is a picture-perfect setting of rolling green hills and serene water, set amongst the backdrop of the peaceful countryside and provides the perfect family-friendly escape in luxury.
Location
Landal North Lakes Lodges – part of the Landal GreenParks group – stands in an unbeatable location, nestled amongst the hills and fells of Cumbria.
Brayton Park – once a grand country estate – dated back to the 15th century with more than 860 acres of land. But the opulent mansion was destroyed by fire and a smaller mansion was rebuilt, becoming home to the RAF in 1942, and hosting the famous Vickers Wellington aircraft. The estate was then purchased by the Ward family, who still own it today and have transformed it into the perfect bolthole for a luxury retreat.
There are endless attractions and activities to keep everyone entertained in the surrounding area, from unbeatable hiking and cycling routes through the stunning landscapes of the Lake District to adventure and excitement across Cumbria and the beautiful coastline.
Accommodation
Our lodge, Darwin, was perched at the end of a gravel drive branch stemming out from the main driveway, surrounded by grassy knolls. Sheep and cattle were grazing in the meadows beyond as we arrived, just as the sun was setting on a beautiful, bright October evening, which bathing the silvery wooden-clad lodge in warm, orange light.
There’s a parking area with plenty of space to unpack the car (handy when you’re travelling with a 10-month-old and the mountain of belongings they require!) providing easy access straight into the stylish, comfortable lodge.
We arrived into an entrance lobby with a handy utility bench where we hung our coats and stored our shoes. Ahead is a vast triple-aspect open-plan kitchen, dining and living space creating a spacious area for the whole family, with a vaulted ceiling and floor-to-ceiling windows offering views across the greenery.
There’s a sleek, modern kitchen appointed with everything you could need for your stay (no matter the duration) whether you’re planning to head out to eat, order in takeaway or cook up an a la carte menu of your own! The smart kitchen island splits the zones and creates a natural barrier between cooking and relaxing, while still allowing easy socialisation with the whole family.
A large sectional sofa is finished in a soft grey fabric with plush cushions scattered across it, creating a cosy spot to unwind in front of the TV and the roaring log burner at the end of a busy day (you can pick up fire packs from the shop). A cute and intimate dining table provided somewhere to enjoy a delicious hamper from the on-site butcher, which included steak pie, sausages and impressive breakfast skewers of mushroom, black pudding and burgers.
Following the glittering tiles of the curved wall – a firm sensory favourite with our little one, Skye – around into the plush bedroom, a gigantic, elevated bed offered us a snug place to rest our heads, floating above the wooden floor in the soft glow of LED lighting below. In fact, the lighting throughout the lodge is clever and subtle, creating different options for different moods, as well as zoning the various areas of the open-plan lodge – although, I wasn’t a fan of the multicoloured LED strips framing the outdoor terrace.
The bathroom is housed through the sliding pocket door and is packed full of special surprises. Taking centre stage (quite literally, thanks to a number of uplights that surround it) is a sleek black freestanding bathtub – great for bath time at the end of a busy day – as well as a vast double vanity with huge mirror and sculpted ceramic wave-like sink; a high-tech (perhaps a little too complicated!) steam shower with different washing options; and a beautiful wooden sauna with space for two.
Through sliding patio doors, the bathroom opens directly onto a private, sheltered terrace with a huge state-of-the-art hot tub sunken into the wooden decking. There’s a snug rattan seating area around the outdoor flatscreen TV – although we did struggle with signal, much to my football-fan husband’s dismay as he missed half of an England match!
The sound system runs throughout the lodge and stretches outside with speakers embedded in the vaulted cover of the indoor-outdoor entertainment area. Switch on your synced-up soundtrack for a romantic evening, crack open a bottle of wine and jump into the bubbles of the Jacuzzi to relax under twinkling star lights embedded in the wooden canopy overhead, as well as looking out onto the real night’s sky stretching as far as the eyes can see.
A flagstone patio wraps around the whole lodge so, in the sunshine, you can sit out and enjoy breakfast on the terrace and take in whatever the changing landscape has to offer, from the wild spring storms to long summer evenings and stunning sunsets, to the breath-taking night-time stargazing.
Family friendly
The lodge is really family-friendly (although sadly a no-dog policy meant our rescue dog, Storm, had to stay behind) and our daughter, Skye, had a wonderful time racing around the lodge in her walker, checking out her reflection in all of the windows and enjoying the sensory materials that the holiday home is built out of.
The team can provide a travel cot and highchair on request, to cater to the little visitors, and there’s also a washing machine and iron etc for those practical jobs that may need doing during your stay; especially with children around!
Facilities
Brayton Park is a secluded spot which provides all of the important amenities visitors could need during their stay.
The Lakeside Restaurant is a cosy eatery with gorgeous views across the sweeping fairways and windswept flags of the nine-hole golf course. Open from 9.30am – 5.30pm from Wednesday to Saturday, guests can enjoy breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea in the warm and welcoming dining room. The team sources food from the resort’s own walled garden or from local farms and suppliers.
Next door, Home Farm Butchers Shop is a well-stocked store providing an incredible array of seasonal produce and meat sourced from the on-site farm. Pop down to get some sausages and bacon for a hearty breakfast, or a homemade lasagne for a romantic dinner in, or arrange for a hamper to be delivered to your lodge before you arrive.
While you can sit back and relax in the comfort and privacy of your own lodge, or head out and about to walk, cycle and explore the stunning countryside that surrounds Brayton Park, there are also plenty of activities to keep you busy right on your doorstep. Everyone is invited to enjoy the beautiful lush greens of the pay-to-play nine-hole 2,353 yard golf course regarded a hidden gem in the north-west.
Brayton Park is also home to a tranquil eight-acre lake, home to an abundance of carp. If fishing is your thing then you could stay in Lawson Lodge and head straight out over the water on your own private jetty to enjoy a day of fishing all on your own. All lodge guests are welcome to fish with allocated swims around the lake where they can soak up some sunshine and take in the breath-taking views of the Northern Fells and Scottish Hills beyond.
The North Lakes team can also provide in-lodge wellness and beauty treatments such as relaxing hot stone and bamboo massages.
In a nutshell
Landal North Lakes Lodges are an exclusive collection of stunning holiday homes bringing five-star luxury to self-catering getaways in a quiet corner of the British countryside. This is the perfect spot to explore Cumbria, the Lake District and the north-west coastline while still having a beautiful and luxurious home-away-from-home to retreat to at the end of some windswept and wild autumn days.
Factbox
A three-night weekend break for two people in The Darwin Retreat starts at £729. For more information, visit landal.co.uk or call 0345 498 6200. (Prices accurate at the time of writing and subject to availability.)
Landal North Lakes Lodges is part of the Landal GreenParks UK group; the UK’s fastest growing holiday resort company. Find out more at landal.co.uk.
Address: North Lakes Lodges, Brayton Park, Aspatria, Wigton CA7 3PY
Phone: 0345 498 6200
