Allow me to be yet another soft Southerner who, on taking in the endless views and lush landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, sighed, ‘Why has it taken me so long to come here?’

Granted, it’s not exactly on my doorstep but the five-hour drive to The Coniston Hotel Country Estate and Spa was worth it. This was my ‘base’ for my first-ever visit to the Yorkshire Dales and it’s one of those places that soothes a nervous system frazzled by overwhelm and the fast pace of city living - not least because of the views, but we’ll get to that in a minute…

A key element of taking any time off is justifying the break, deciding where to go to get the best bang for your buck, releasing the grip on your to-do list and just, well, letting go. As I’ve said many times previously on the podcast, I’ve been great at identifying I need a break over the years but have always faltered at actually booking the plane ticket, blocking out the diary, logging off or contacting the Air BnB host.

Word of mouth about The Coniston had reached me more than once; how the views were unrivalled, how it was impossible to think about work when you were exploring the 1400-acre grounds and how it’s not just quiet, it’s peaceful. I’d wager that one’s blood pressure is lowered just from that first gulp of fresh Yorkshire air. That’s before we even get to the award-winning Nadarra Spa, which is perched high up on the Estate’s grounds and from which you can enjoy a cocktail and endless views of rolling hills and the Estate’s huge lake while lazing in a bubbly outdoor jacuzzi.

Be honest, you’re already feeling relaxed, aren’t you?

Find me a better place to enjoy the view?

After navigating the M40 and M6, relaxation and a good stretch were exactly what I was after and as any weary traveller knows, unpacking and getting eyes on where you’ll be sleeping becomes a priority. I had a Dales Room waiting for me; a vast suite with views of the Estate and Lake that could be enjoyed from the bed or terrace.

Each morning when I woke up, I revelled in jumping out of bed, opening the curtain and flinging open the doors to let the light in before I ran back into bed to get under the covers and enjoy the view with an espresso.

On that first day though, when I stepped out from my room onto the private terrace, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Not only were the views like nothing I’d seen before - the recent rain made the scene insanely lush - there was a physical shift too. Minutes before I’d been navigating roads I’d never driven on before while scream-singing to The Tortured Poets Department and yet in that moment I felt myself unwind.

The Estate already impressed me but it was a tour from Michelle that made me completely fall in love with the hotel’s charms. Michelle told me the story of the Estate’s history while she drove me around the grounds; it’s a private estate owned by Mr B who lives on-site in a not inconsiderable house overlooking the lake and who refers to his dogs as ‘the hounds’. It didn’t feel like a hotel tour, it felt like a friend proudly showing you around their new home and it was impossible not to see it through her eyes. By the end of that car ride I was besotted.

The tour also afforded me even more of the Estate’s incredible views. And as I enjoyed each one, I felt my cortisol levels drop and my jaw unclench. It reminded me of a conversation I had on the podcast with Psychotherapist Lee Pycroft about how panoramic vision can reduce your stress and anxiety. Research shows that our stress levels decrease in panoramic vision. When we look straight ahead and allow our peripheral vision to open up it mellows the in-built, and some might say over-active physiological fight or flight response that is constantly triggered in modern life.

It harks back to our ancient brains but because we can see so broadly, we can see what might be coming towards us and where no imminent threats are detected, the brain responds by telling the nervous system to calm down.

If you’ve ever felt calm looking at the ocean or from the top of a hill, this is why. The brain can get perspective, rationalise and relax. This is on tap from the second you step foot into the Estate and it’s why you might feel when you’re back in the car navigating the M40 and M6 again, as though you spent much of your time there floating around the place.

Except, of course, for that moment when I walked through a field of cows when I veered off-site and was then pursued by said cows, despite knowing that you should never walk through a field of cows. Cows are responsible for around five deaths every year, but when it’s a case of retracing your footsteps and missing your appointment at the Nadarra Spa or taking your chances and getting to your massage on time, you make the choice you have to make.*

What a massage it was though! Hailey enveloped me in the most soporific cocoon during my Aromatherapy Associates Relax & Sleep Ritual. A light but considered massage that eeked out all cow-related tension and muscle aches and left me feeling brand new. I also took Hailey’s advice and picked up some Aromatherapy Associates De-Stress Muscle Gel, which has been so helpful for easing sore legs after a busy day running around London clocking up 20,000+ steps.

Relaxation and that sense of mental calming is just one aspect of The Coniston’s charms and it would be remiss not to mention the incredible food. I ate at McLeod’s Bar & Lounge, which has a cosier feel to it than the vast The View restaurant, which overlooks the Estate. Everything I ate, from the fish and chips to the strawberry desserts, highly recommended by Sarah and Beth on the wait staff, was utterly delicious.

While my focus was unwinding, switching off and making the trip to nearby Skipton to visit The Wright Wine Company, after it kept coming up on my social media feeds, so I could buy a bottle of orange wine from the excellent and highly knowledgeable Les, there are other more daring activities to be enjoyed on the Estate.

If shooting is your want then they boast one of the UK’s best shooting grounds - the clay pigeons don’t stand a chance. Plus, there’s a Land Rover Off-Road Driving Experience that will test even the most confident driver.

You know you’ve fallen in love with a place when all you can think about when you leave is plotting your return and that’s exactly how I feel about this very special place.

*this is terrible advice but the cows weren’t that interested in me so I took my chances.

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