Cagney On Tour: The Lakes

Putting together this post has given me all the joy, don't you just love looking back at photographs? Pre Sadie my dream weekend away would have been a city break with as much shopping as possible whereas now I'd happily choose the countryside with team Wild any day. I booked the Lakes to celebrate Craigs 30th and I think I did a sterling job, we stayed on the periphery of the Lakes in the quaintest cottage looking out a striking church in Kirkby Lonsdale. Kirkby Lonsdale isn't a place I'd heard anything about before but I can promise you it's firmly on our radar now - the village is adorable, incredibly family friendly and somewhere I was definitely sad to leave.

Our first day was travel heavy so things didn't get noteworthy until Saturday where the day began with a walk to Ruskins View, a view so epic it was once painted by Turner. I say walk but much of the hour plus stroll was me carrying Sadie as she was feeling under the weather and only wanted me, let's just say I deserved my chocolate scone in the afternoon. With plenty of fresh air in our lungs we collected the pram and headed into town to eat, visit the best gift store and even get a drink in the local brewery, can Kirkby Lonsdale get any cooler? With recommendations coming thick and fast for local eatery Platos we decided it was the only place to dine on a Saturday night. Massive snaps to Sadie who let us eat three whole courses, a real treat for Craig and I.

Day two saw us drive to Bowness as it was somewhere I visited on my Geography trip at school. Rather disappointingly it wasn't quite as I remembered and felt spoilt by tourism which was a real shame as I'd waxed lyrical about going as a teen. Thankfully we found a super relaxed, Instagram worthy pub that more than made up for the let down. From Bowness we drove back to Kirkby Lonsdale via Low Sizergh Barn which is one of the most individual farms I've ever visited - not only can you sit and enjoy a slice of cake but you can do it while watching the cows being milked! Sadie absolutely loved it and so did we, there's even a milk vending machine as you leave. Reason 23 why we need to head back to the Lakes. With weary feet and a tired toddler on our hands we rounded off our day with a pizza at Avanti a stones throw from our cottage.

Waking up on Monday morning to the sound of the church bells reminded me just how quiet and relaxing our stay had been although the chiming did bring me back to reality as I realised today was check out day, cue frantic bag packing and sad faces all round as we left our beautiful cottage. With just the morning before we set home we decided to visit Ambleside and boy did it live up to its high praises. The views and weather were equally glorious particularly as we strolled around the park, the perfect way to end the celebratory weekend.

Have you ever visited The Lakes?

Cagney On Tour: 3 Days In Brighton

If I had to describe my happy place I would always say beside the sea, closely followed by the countryside. I'm sure you'll agree there's something incredibly special about hearing the waves crashing on the coastline that make me feel at peace with the world. After a less than perfect few months Craig, Sadie and I were ready for some serious down town and Brighton couldn't have been a more perfect anecdote if it tried. If you frequent these parts often you'll know it's my second time in the seaside resort (get the original low down here) but this jaunt was all the more special as I went with my two favourites.

With r&r at the forefront of our minds we decided planning every last minute of our trip wasn't the way to go which I'm sure you'll know all about if you have an almost toddler in your life (they sniff out a plan like quicker than an Organix carrot cake bar and see how they can 'alter it'). The only item on my agenda was to visit as many foodie recommendations as possible from my scrambled together list, tell me I'm not the only one who plans their staycation around places to eat out? Huge props to Carrie who gave me some real corkers but more on that later. Naturally Craig, Sadie and I ticked off all the Brighton must dos including a walk along the sea front where we all dipped our toes in the cool blue waves before hitting the promenade, riding the carousel and numerous Sadie sized rides, not forgetting to devour the Brighton shop filled centre and Pavilion Gardens.

As with all good mini breaks the real pull factor for me is the accommodation, I've always been a bit of a boutique hotel girl at heart but since Airbnb came along I've surprised myself at just how much I enjoy living the life of a local and the flexibility of staying in someones home. Our Brighton abode did not disappoint and was just as beautiful in real life as it was online - I'd be one happy bunny if the bedroom wallpaper and dressing table could find its way into my home pronto. Oh and I'd be ecstatic if the little mid century rocking chair with faux fur rug could wiggle its way into my cottage too, Sadie absolutely adored it. Our apartment was just a ten minute walk from the seafront which was absolutely ideal for family Wild and our host was superb so I'd highly recommend checking out our Brighton pad.

Now if you're anything like me you'll want to know all about the food (priorities right?) so without further a do, let's talk food - on Sunday evening we headed to Wahaca for Mexican fodder and a much deserved mojito or two, which is a serious treat for me as I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed a cocktail. The staff were lovely and the children's menu was brilliant so even though its a chain it definitely deserves a mention. 

Monday morning called for a brunch to end all brunches so the Breakfast Club it was and boy it didn't disappoint. The soundtrack was on point resulting in mum dancing (thank goodness Sadie isn't old enough to get embarrassed), the orange juice pitcher was ideal for juice guzzlers like Craig and I and the banana bircher which I ordered for Sadie was an absolute treat. I was almost willing her not to eat it all so I could tuck into it too. It's definitely a breakfast I'm going to try and recreate in our new kitchen.

Lunch was all about vegetarian Food for Friends which may just be my favourite eatery out of everywhere we visited, our server went above and beyond to make us feel welcome and the food was out of this world which is saying something coming from two meat eaters. If only there was one in Sheffield... Also a huge shout out to Bluebird Tea Co which I got to try with my pudding at Food For Friends, the Gingerbread Chai was so good we Google mapped it to the store and bought some to take home straight after our meal. With a day full of dining out we decided to get Deliveroo for dinner, partly to have a more relaxed evening and partly because we were dying to try a burger from Meat Liquor. I haven't had a proper burger in forever so I don't know whether I enjoyed this so much more because of this, maybe you need to be in the restaurant to get the true Meat Liquor experience.

Tuesday morning began in style with pastries and iced coffees on the beach from Small Batch Coffee, I mean can you think of a better way to start your final morning in Brighton or any morning for that matter? In an attempt to counteract the pastries we enjoyed a pre lunch smoothie each at 42 Juice. This teeny juice and smoothie bar is a bloggers dream and I wish I'd of taken some snaps and tried one of their infamous charcoal juices but with Sadie taking a power nap I was enjoying taking a quiet five minutes with Craig.

For lunch we stumbled upon Mange Tout, somewhere I'd seen Suzie recommend and although it doesn't look much from the exterior both Craig & I were blown away by the food. Now French eateries aren't usually our go to but something about this restaurant was just right, the menu was paired back but delicious. Craig even declared it was the best steak he'd eaten in a long time and that's saying something from a man who comments very little when dining out. He also remarked that many places right now are all about creating fancy and elaborate dishes but there's a lot to be said for establishments that do simple dishes really well. I couldn't agree more. 

Before our journey home we decided to line our stomachs with our first ever Franco Manca pizza, the result was heavenly although the service was a lot more in-n-out compared to the note worthy experiences we had in the other restaurants we tried. Another must visit if you ever find yourself in Brighton is Boho Gelato where we wolfed down the most Italianesque gelato outside of Italy not once, but twice. The flavours Boho Gelato produce are just magic think salted caramel, carrot cake and chocolate rose and you'd be on the money.

For me Brighton is a dreamy destination for a family mini break with the perfect blend of cool shops and stand out eateries to keep the adults happy and enough throw back charm to bring out the child in you/keep your own children entertained. If only we could go back and do it all again tomorrow. Until next time seaside...

Have you ever been to Brighton? Which of our foodie must visits would you try?

Cagney On Tour: Oulton Hall, Leeds

Spa stays and mini breaks are what my dreams are made of, well that and wedding day panics so when an email landed in my inbox inviting the family and I to Oulton Hall*, a spa and golfing resort in Leeds I was immediately texting Craig for potential lets go dates, retail worker woes. Now if you've read Cagney on Tour posts before you'll know I like to include an abundance of photos but thanks to all the precipitation coupled with a teething baby I managed to get very few so you'll have to use a pinch of imagination or check out Oulton Hall if you don't believe me when I say this hotel is something else. Steeped in history and dating back to the 18th century Oulton Hall has been everything from a business retreat to a military hospital and even an asylum before becoming the hotel that stands today, if only the walls could talk...

Welcomed by all of the grandeur one expects of a Hall - think sweeping staircases, gilt framed portraits and a grand piano to boot we found our way to the spa cafe to enjoy a light lunch pre check in. Arriving at a spa zone with a seven month old baby can go one of two ways but thanks to the amazing Ashley I felt at ease - not only did she provide us with a spoon for Sadies lunch after I quickly realised I'd forgotten to pack one she also dashed over with a bowl for a smooth lunch time delivery. These may sound like incredibly simple tasks to those without children but I'm yet to encounter a more perceptive member of staff full stop. For those not eating Ellas Kitchen pouches we opted for bento boxes; Craig a British one and I the Asian choice. Mine was delicious, packed with chicken, noodles, ginger yoghurt and an asian inspired slaw while Craigs was a simple English picnic - think cheese sandwiches, ham terrine, chutney and the thing I was most envious of, a jam scone. My only critique of the spa cafe would be that I'd love to see it serve smoothies, as a slave to the NutriBullet I must say I missed my fresh fruit fix and with the gym facilities a stones throw away I bet members would lap these up.

After our lunch pit stop we took a guided tour of the hotel where I fell in love with the elegant decor of the drawing room where butler accompanied dining is an option, eat your heart out Downton Abbey. The sumptuous drawing room leads to the opulent chandelier filled champagne bar which was somewhere I could have happily whiled away an afternoon with my friends. Next we had a sneak peek of one of the private rooms available for weddings or events and we were instantly transported to Las Vegas complete with airport check in and sparkling Vegas signage (a business was hosting the coolest belated Christmas party ever). Before retreating to our bedroom to unwind and more importantly unpack we were shown the alpine lodge inspired Claret Jug, the clubhouse for the onsite golf course. Now golf has never been my bag but I could certainly start showing an interest to hang out here. Think roaring fires, antler light fittings and more slate and stone than you could shake a stick at. We got the impression seven month old babies weren't the norm at the Claret Jug so maybe one for a date night as non-golfers can enjoy brassiere style dining here too.

With a weary baby in hand (I can't tell you the number of times I said naughty teeth this weekend) we finally checked into our bedroom and instantly felt at home, with a blended spectrum of neutral tones, floral wallpaper, velvet chairs and the biggest bed you've ever seen room 117 did not disappoint. Spoiler alert, the bed was incredibly comfortable and the pillows? Let's just say other hotels need to take note. Oh and did I tell you about the dreamy taupe hexagonal bathroom floor tiles? No I did not but I can confirm they were pretty spectacular. The only thing missing? A heated towel rail but that's just me being picky.

Now for where Oulton Hall excels itself, the spa. This is definitely somewhere I didn't feel comfortable taking pictures but go and have a perv at the sedate interior here. Craig and I had a 25 minute treatment each and we both opted for the back massage, I was just about to nod off when my massage came to an end. It was that delightful. My therapist had a three year old herself so was fully aware of the backache you get carrying a young one so really concentrated on getting rid of those unruly knots in my neck and towards the top of my back, what a star. Sadie and I then waited for Craig to have his massage before we all went for our first family swim. The pool was fairly quiet by this time (about 6.20pm) so we only had to share it with two others. Watching Sadie laugh and giggle at her first swimming experience was the best and I even managed to get a few lengths in all whilst starting longingly at the hot tub. Props to Oulton Hall for the swish family changing rooms, a sentence I never imagined I'd utter but what a difference they make when you're attempting to get a baby in and out of a swimming costume.

After the speediest shower and change known to man we headed to the Calverley Grill for dinner. The restaurant has a masculine formal vibe and I instantly felt a smidge underdressed in my faux leather mini and stripy top from Olive. Nevertheless I thought I better up my fancy with a glass of prosecco, when in Rome... For eats I chose the goats cheese & beetroot tarte for starters while Craig opted for the salmon terrine. I immediately had food envy at Craigs pick and while I enjoy goats cheese at any occasion I found my starter a touch disappointing. Thankfully both our mains were spot on, Craig opted for melt in the mouth beef and I the pumpkin ravioli. We rounded off proceedings with the chocolate truffle and cheese board. I love chocolate like a fat kid loves cake but my choice seemed to lack a certain somethin' somethin' while Craigs cheese board won best in show. With full stomachs and a sleeping Sadie we retreated to our first floor abode for a good nights sleep.

Now this is the part where my review comes to an abrupt end as Sadie and I enjoyed a rather lovely lie in while Craig popped down for breakfast Sunday morning. Craig cemented his keeper status by bringing me back not only a full English breakfast but also an orange juice and a bowl full to the brim with yoghurt, fruit and granola. While breakfast was tasty, even more so for me as I enjoyed it from the comfort of our huge bed Craig did say there was only one hot plate in action so there was a rather large queue for all things hot. Personally I'm surprised a four star hotel doesn't offer an a la carte option for breakfast, think of all those poached eggs that could be Instagramed OH. 

That said I can honestly say my little family and I had a fantastic break at Oulton Hall and if you're planning on visiting Leeds soon but don't fancy being amongst the hustle and bustle of the city centre I can't recommend Oulton Hall enough especially if you're enjoying a romantic getaway or a girlie get together. 

Have you ever stayed at Oulton Hall before? Do you love a spa mini break as much as me?

*Craig, Sadie and I were guests of Oulton Hall, all thoughts and opinions my own.