As we drove up the M1 to escape London for an August bank holiday weekend, I breathed a sigh of relief as we wiggled from motorway junctions to tiny village roads.

I was heading off for my first wedding anniversary with my husband, having booked a hotel I’d read rave reviews about: The Tawny.

Set within 70 acres of beautifully-maintained gardens and forests, The Tawny spans two neighbouring estates in a particularly beautiful part of Staffordshire’s Churnet Valley. The views are breathtaking, and as you arrive its charm washes over you immediately.

Rooms and Facilities

As we were driven to our room (or should I say cabin in the woods) little did I know the best was yet to come.

We entered our room and I fell completely in love. With a back wall made entirely of glass the rooms have calming, serene views across the forest. I suddenly felt like I had escaped reality and was living in a romantic novel.

The rooms are dotted around the grounds to ensure maximum privacy and you feel isolated in an entirely indulgent fashion. It’s a 10-minute walk to the main hub of the hotel, however if that feels like too much effort, a private Land Rover is a phone call away and is with you within five minutes to drop you to the door. This is also incredibly useful at the end of the evening when you have enjoyed a bottle of wine and don’t fancy tottering home.

With a giant hot tub on the balcony that feels completely private, a hidden outdoor shower and a divinely deep indoor bath in your room, I would challenge you to leave The Tawny less relaxed than you arrived.

It would be worth flagging that there are self-catering options which would probably be more suitable for a longer stay or family trip.

Food and Drink

The Plumicorn is their hero restaurant, with a huge glass frontage that overlooks the grounds, the outdoor pool and the lake. The food is quite simply amazing, from a fry up that somehow doesn’t leave you feeling lethargic and a dinner menu that could rival the best of London’s offerings. It is a foodie’s paradise and the wine menu stands up against it.

Hotel Highlights

After a large meal, a 45 minute walk around the trail path through the forest is just what you need. There are maps of the routes on offer and you can pick one to choose whatever you fancy. A highlight for us was then collapsing next to the heated outdoor pool and ringing for a glass of champagne to be brought down to us. Pure indulgence!

What to do nearby

Embracing The Tawny experience fully we disappeared into the wild luxury of the estate for the whole weekend and failed to venture into the vast offering of exciting options on its doorstep. If you were to visit for longer, with children or if unlike me you naturally crave activity there is such a large variety of options nearby including the Emma Bridgewater factory, Go Ape, Trentham Monkey Forest, Chatsworth House, Wedgewood Museum, Peak Wildlife Park and Alton Towers.

Best For

Anyone that finds the outdoors relaxing will feel completely at home here. The pairing of decadent luxury and nature is something truly special.

Prices from £290 B&B thetawny.co.uk