Review: Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa, Northumberland

Grant Reid takes the time to explore one of those places you always see signposted while driving somewhere else and finds there is indeed plenty to amuse off the beaten track...

By Grant Reid
Published online : 16.07.11 @ 11.21am

How many times have you been speeding along the road to a predetermined destination when you see signs to interesting places you promise yourself that one day you'll explore, but never do?

The A1 is like that when, for instance, Newcastle-bound, the signs flash past — Seahouses, Alnwick, Lindisfarne and so on. 'Must go there next time,' we always say. But you reckon they are probably just too far for a day trip and a bit too close for a holiday, and consequently it never happens.

So when the chance to stay in Northumberland for a few days came about it seemed an ideal opportunity to remedy all these good intentions and see at first-hand what attractions lie just across the border.

Being sort of preconditioned to long drives to holiday destinations, the 150 miles or so from Dundee to Doxford Hall Hotel at Chathill just north of Alnwick was a doddle and erm ... a dawdle ... particularly through the last few miles of rural Northumberland, criss-crossed by roads all seemingly heading for the same few places. Thankfully the hotel was well signposted and we were soon safely checked in for our two-day stay.

Grant stayed at Doxford Hall Hotel and Spa, Chathill, Alnwick, Northumberland. Visit www.doxfordhall.com for more info

Exterior-wise think small classic stately home with formal gardens (and its own maze) and you'll be pretty close to what Doxford is all about. It has been comprehensively extended but in such a sympathetic way it needs a second glance to work out the division between old and new. That ethos carries on in the interior, with genuine antiques dovetailed in with reproduction furniture and strangely a multitude of timepieces including the tallest grandfather clock I've ever seen, at least nine feet high.

All the rooms are named after local castles (ours was Warkworth) and had information and pictures of 'your' castle within. We were in the new part of the hotel in a large semi-circular room directly above the spa area. Ample towels, bathrobes and slippers were provided along with a selection of high quality toiletries. The bathroom boasted such nice small touches as bottled water and a jar of cotton wool balls and a nice big touch in the shape of an oversized Jacuzzi bath.

Arriving mid-afternoon gave us the opportunity to inspect the spa and have a swim and we were amazed but delighted to find we had the place to ourselves. The water was on the chilly side at first but most enjoyable after the initial sharp intake of breath, and anyway there was a choice of whirlpool baths to heat up in after. The après dip shower back in the room was certainly invigorating with almost enough force to knock me off my feet (yes, it really was that powerful).

Continued...