insideKENT Magazine Issue 26 - May 2014 | Page 115

GETAWAYS insideKENT’s TOP PICK FOR ACCOMMODATION IN BATH: Bath Lodge Castle Set in the beautiful Somerset countryside about 15 minutes from the centre of Bath, Bath Lodge Castle is a boutique hotel in the style of a stunning miniature castle. Relax and enjoy this welcoming retreat which offers a much-needed antidote to our all too often fast-paced lifestyles. Complete with battlements, arrow slits and a portcullis, Bath Lodge Castle is actually the principal of six gate lodges to one of the largest estates in England. The land on which it’s built can be traced back as far as 987 AD when it was mentioned in King Ethelred’s Charter. Fernleah, as it was then known, became Ferlege in the Domesday book and by the 12th century had become Farleigh. In its lifetime, the Farleigh estate was owned by many colourful characters, some of whom had the misfortune of dying some extraordinary deaths; George, Duke of Clarence, brother of Edward IV, for instance, drowned in a butt of Malmsey wine; while his daughter, accused of treason and sentenced to the block, refused to lay down her head so instead had it removed from her shoulders by the executioner chopping at her while they ran around the scaffold! Even with the promise of a glass of wine and a stay at a splendid hotel at the end, a journey down the M3 can be disheartening, but arriving at Bath Castle Lodge was a joy to the senses. Despite the looming battlements, the castle’s walled crescent driveway beckoned us in like a hug and we knew our stay would be a warm and welcome one. We were greeted by the hotel manager who insisted that we enjoy a glass of wine on the veranda and take in the remaining evening sunshine. The house white was particularly delicious while overlooking the landscaped woodland gardens and listening to the sound of running water from the stream that cut through the 3.5 acres surrounding the hotel. If you’re adventurous enough, the hotel grounds also boast a pavilion which houses a hot tub, infrared sauna and refreshing bamboo shower. Now thoroughly relaxed and having been made to feel very much at home, we were shown to our bedrooms. Sumptuously furnished and exceptionally comfortable, each room at Bath Lodge Castle has been designed to make the most of its interesting architecture: toilets in turrets, arrow slits with wooden shutters (presumably to stop any onslaught of arrows at night), angular windows and large roof terraces between the battlements. The soft furnishings have been brought together to provide an air of romance a building such as this deserves, and uses colour palettes lifting enough to draw the stress from even the tightest of shoulders. Egyptian cotton linen, bathrobes and bath towels in every room add a further touch of luxury. After a long soak in the tub with some very fragrant Penhaligan soaps, I slipped dozily between my sheets and slept until morning. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the hotel restaurant, Le Chateau. Using locally sourced ingredients, the hotel chefs present a modern take on classic French combinations to satisfying effect. However, for breakfast, nothing much beats a full English. For me, the epitome of a good cooked breakfast is a properly poached egg; silky smooth, pillowy soft and always a joy. What a delight! My eggs were perfect. Slightly hardened around the outside yet runny in the centre, served with beautiful local dry-cured bacon and toast made from home-baked bread. Heavenly. With some digesting needed, we chose to retire to the drawing room for coffee and papers where we discovered a charming reading nook set in 115 one of the castle’s turrets; a cosy corner to curl up and get engrossed in a good book. Dinner is a wonderfully serene affair. Beginning with delicious little smoked salmon rolls filled with dill and cream cheese, I enjoyed another glass of the delectable house white. With taste buds roused, I dived into my perfectly cooked sirloin steak soused in garlic butter and soaked up the juices with thick and crisp homemade chips. With barely enough space in my waistband, but with what I considered enough for dessert (can’t you always find a little more room?), I was served a delicious melting chocolate pudding and cream. As my short stay came to a close, I reflected on the wonderful service and individual attention provided by both the owners and staff. The care and welcome of guests is the heartbeat of Bath Lodge Castle. To stay here is to be at home, albeit a particularly beautiful one. Bath Lodge Castle Nr Norton St Philip Bath Somerset BA2 7NH 01225 723043 [email protected] www.bathlodgecastle.com