Short break: The Ribble Valley and the Lake District

The Ribble Valley

She can be difficult – the M6 motorway out of Cheshire. And she was in a horrible mood on a Friday afternoon, and then again on a Thursday a few weeks later, when the destinations were both intended as and breathe girls' getaways.

The TGIF trip was to Lancashire and Everything Retreat with its promise of a 'peaceful escape, wellness, and unforgettable experiences in the picturesque Ribble Valley'.

It was a rare chance for me and a best friend to spend 24 hours together to reminisce, laugh, relax, eat, and celebrate our past, present and future with a glass or two...

The Thursday jaunt was up to Cumbria for an overnight stay at a spa resort with a 12-year-old very into her beauty routine and nice-smelling things, and then a masterclass at the Pure Lakes natural, ethical and sustainable skincare company in the village of Far Sawrey.

By the time we pulled into the wide open spaces of Everything Retreat (90 minutes later than anticipated), we'd taken a not-so-scenic route via several motorways, in the company of a much-berated satnav. And then we looked around us, sipped the welcome glass of fizz, met mother duck and her brood basking in the afternoon sun and looked around our very luxurious cedar lodge with hot tub at this lovely place with its views stretching across to Pendle Hill. And we took a deep breath.

After a dance around the room, a glass of wine on our terrace and a dip in the hot tub, we walked through the grounds to the Balance Bar to dine on an array of exceptional tapas dishes, alongside some of our equally chilled-out neighbours from the other 11 lodges at Everything Retreat.

Breakfast at Everything Retreat. (Image: Brett Harkness Photography Ltd) Next morning, after our sleepover, we opened the doors to a glorious view and a huge hamper of hot and cold breakfast treats to set s up for a Saturday morning mooching around nearby Clitheroe and the journey home – which we took via country roads and A roads – while we looked at the scenery and said thanks to Everything Retreat for this memorable addition to our stash of good times shared.

By the time we reached home, relaxed and serene, we had forgiven the travails of the M6 motorway on a Friday afternoon. After all, we said, it had given us extra time to natter.

Everything Retreat describes itself as a place to restore and reconnect. Perhaps it should add, 'especially if you've arrived via the M6'.

Everything Retreat, Pendle View, Primrose Lane, Mellor BB2 7EQ

01254 965095

everything-retreat.com

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The Langdale Estate has lodges, a hotel, a spa, pool and restaurant. (Image: Lee John Mann Photography) The Lake District

I wonder if anyone ever visits the Lake District without being filled with wonder at its beauty?

Alfred Wainwright was 23 when he first travelled there from his home in Blackburn, and fell in love. He later moved to Kendal and devoted his life to mapping the area, and writing his timeless guidebooks. The fellwalker and author is remembered at Wainwright's Inn, a gentle stroll from the Langdale Estate in the village of Chapel Stile, resting place for this overnight stay.

The inn, always packed with the chatter of families, walkers, sightseers and locals, is part of the 35-acre Langdale woodland resort which also includes a hotel, self-catering lodges, spa, pool and restaurant.

Our drive through Ambleside and out into the wide open spaces of the Lake District to Langdale had a 12-year-old, whose preoccupation that day was checking out Oasis tickets and watching TikTok, stop to take pictures of the glory around us. 'It's like being in another world,' she said without a hint of irony.

We spent our afternoon at Langdale in the swimming pool and then meandered down to the inn for fish and chips (mine) and a huge burger (hers), surrounded by dogs and children and couples and groups of people happy to be in Wainwright's World.

The next morning, after a very good breakfast at Langdale's Stove restaurant, we set off for a candle-making session with Claire McKeever, owner of Pure Lakes, the award-winning natural skincare company, whose products adorn luxury hotels and restaurants across Cumbria and beyond and can be bought online.

Claire and her husband Gareth invested their life savings to move Pure Lakes production to the village of Far Sawrey. The couple bought the business after relocating to the Lakes from London. Claire, a former actress and dancer, wanted to raise their family in the area where she spent her childhood and her hope is that Pure Lakes, with its promise of well-paid local jobs, will attract new families to make their home in the village, giving the community a viable future.

The Langdale Estate has lodges, a hotel, a spa, pool and restaurant. (Image: Tiree Dawson)

She and her team not only conjure up, create, pack and distribute the range of Pure Lakes natural and beautifully scented skincare, bath and body and home products, from the state-of-the art workshop in the heart of Beatrix Potter country, they also host the soap and candle masterclasses that made our trip extra special.

Claire guided us through the essential oils that magicked the blend we each chose for our creations, then showed how to infuse and pour our candles. It is a lovely thing to do with friends or family or a small group of colleagues and helped turn our road trip into 24 hours of sights, sounds and smells that will last beyond the last flicker of our Pure Lakes candle.

After a tour of the factory, coffee and cake, we took the short drive from Far Sawrey to the Windermere ferry and across to Bowness, and then onto the motorway back to Cheshire, this time without any hold-ups after another adventure that proves it's grand up north.

The Langdale Estate, Great Langdale, Ambleside LA22 9JD

langdale.co.uk

015394 38014

Pure Lakes

Soap or candle masterclasses. £50pp including your 450g block of soap or your soy wax candle.

Pure Lakes Skincare, 7 Bryers Fold, Far Sawrey, Ambleside LA22 0LL

01539 822 999

purelakes.co.uk