Tweed & Tranquility; A Classic Stay on a Cheshire Country Estate
This staycation really will have you reaching for your tweed and Barber jacket and fantasising that you’re Lord & Lady on the manor for a weekend. But in all seriousness, what a privilege to have been invited to stay at the North Wing of Combermere Abbey, a 1000 acre Estate in Cheshire. This magnificent estate is still family owned and in 2016 completed a 16 year restoration. Guests are now able to stay in one of the two bedrooms in the North Wing of the main house, on a Bed & Breakfast basis, but trust us when we say this is unlike any B&B that you’ll ever have stayed in before.
OUR HIGHLIGHTS: (& the very important links)
The Old Piggery Cafe
A Brief History
We love to know a little of the history of where we stay and this house has history by the bucket load. Originally an Abbey dating from 1133 (the foundation stone can still be found in the North Wing), the abbey was given to the Cotton family by Henry V111 following the dissolution of the monasteries. Obviously, the Cotton family chose the right side to be on as they were gifted the abbey and the 22,000 acres that the estate originally consisted of. The Estate remained in the family for 400 years and played host to great historical figures such as the Duke of Wellington. The house has been owned by the current family since 1919. Its restoration revealed the original Tudor timber frame, grand fireplaces commissioned for the Duke of Wellington’s visit and the original driveway to the Abbey.
The North Wing
A B&B unlike any we’ve ever stayed in. It’s feels more like Lord and Lady of the manor than your average B&B. There are two magnificent rooms to choose from, two lounges, a dining room, honesty bar and a delicious private butler breakfast in the morning. As we were the only guests the night of our visit, we had the whole of the North Wing to ourselves! It would be well worth buddying up and booking both rooms out with friends or family to really experience the North Wing exclusively, but if not, there is ample space.
We absolutely loved being surrounded by fully restored features from the original Tudor timber framed facade, that was rediscovered during restoration and cleverly incorporated to the interior wall, to the gothic cornicing and the marble fireplace, originally fitted for the Duke of Wellington’s visit. We have visited many a historic home through our staycations, but usually we are stood behind the little red rope looking on to a room, not actually getting to sleep and dine in it.
The North Wing has spectacular views of the mere (which just happens to be the largest lake in Britain on a private Estate).
Things to Do:
To put it simply, just enjoy the estate. Take your time to walk around and explore, from the woodland walks to the parkland and mere and the array of walled gardens and fruit tree maze. It was early March when we visited but we would love to go back when the gardens are in bloom and the bluebells are scattered through the woods.
Activities:
Country stroll - Follow one of the planned routes across the estate.
Country Pub - Visit The Combermere Arms, just over 1 mile from the North Wing, the majority of which is the driveway to the Abbey! We would have walked there and back if the weather had been on our side.
Gin Making & Tasting - Combermere Abbey hosts Three Wrens Gin Distillery on the Estate and it’s an easy walk across parkland to reach. You can book gin making and gin tasting experiences in the link above, or just call in for a drink. Get the Combermere Abbey, lemon verbena gin…it’s incredible….or the Bryson Grass Gin….or the raspberry…who am I kidding, they were all delicious!
Wild Swimming - if you’re a wild swimmer then you have the largest lake in a private park at your disposal.
