Gorgeous but unpretentious retreat - any recommendations?

[Alcemeg]

My lovely friends are getting married at the end of the year and I'm wondering what to give them. I know they've always fancied doing some kind of "retreat" one day, by which they mean somewhere peaceful, rural, maybe with pampering options like a spa. So I've been thinking of treating them to a couple of nights away (longer if possible, obvs, but max budget is about £500 total).

My eyes are out on stalks after hours on TripAdvisor and I still seem no closer to finding the perfect place. It would need to be:

Pet friendly (they have a tiny dog)
Gay friendly (they are both female)
Friendly, kind hosts with a good sense of humour
Unpretentious
Not wildly expensive to do things in the area (e.g. pub meals)
Not too far from the south coast

I really want to make sure they are in the right environment as they are the sweetest people in the whole world and also rather shy. It would be awful to send them somewhere to be tortured with frosty politeness or where they'd be expected to join in chanting sessions or something. I want them to completely relax, not feel intimidated by the experience.

I wondered if anyone had any recommendations?

I don’t but I just wanted to say that you sound like the most gorgeous friend ever.

@samsalmon

I don’t but I just wanted to say that you sound like the most gorgeous friend ever.

Why thank you!!!!! 😍

Just to give an example of their shyness, the first time they came to visit me they turned up nearly 2 hours late. They had got off the bus several stops too early, basically because some rowdy kids on the top deck told them "Come on, we're getting off here, come with us!" and they weren't sure how to say no. So they had to walk for miles. You can see how a holiday in the wrong place (e.g. with bossy people recommending hideous activities) could go pear-shaped! 🤣

Try South Coombe cottages in Devon

The radio presenter Jo Wood goes to an amazing looking hotel set in acres of woodland, right on the south coast. Can’t remember the name but look her up on You Tube as she recently did a vlog about it. It’s both a hotel and a selection of cottages. Dog friendly and a spa too I believe.

You may perhaps be thinking of Lime Wood, @YellowandGreenToBeSeen - would definitely be outside OP's budget, sadly.

Not anywhere near the South Coast but this is fabulous and quirky with a bookable hot tub. Local pubs very reasonable and within walking distance. Definitely no judgement there or indeed locally and there is an excellent spa a taxi ride away if so inclined for a more formal spa day.

Train to Manchester and then direct express bus

www.cronkshawfoldfarm.co.uk/

thewoodlandspa.com/

Othona at Bradwell in Essex may be suitable.

No, it’s not Lime Wood. I know that place, been there and it’s lovely. This place is smaller hotel, enormous grounds that lead down to a beach.

It’s Bailiffscourt Hotel. Beautiful but could be out of budget.

Thank you so much for your suggestions! I am looking them all up with great interest.

Places that have "luxurious and imposing" in the description might not be suitable, as I know they would feel out of place somewhere really posh.

On the other hand, I can kind of see them doing goat yoga!

Just to give an example of their shyness, the first time they came to visit me they turned up nearly 2 hours late. They had got off the bus several stops too early, basically because some rowdy kids on the top deck told them "Come on, we're getting off here, come with us!" and they weren't sure how to say no. So they had to walk for miles.

Sounds like you want to do something lovely for them OP, but the above situation is nuts. They got off a bus because some children told them to? That's not "shyness" it's just weird.

I don't know anywhere but I also want to say you are so kind
I hope you find somewhere lovely for them to visit. Enjoy the wedding

@snanagram

Just to give an example of their shyness, the first time they came to visit me they turned up nearly 2 hours late. They had got off the bus several stops too early, basically because some rowdy kids on the top deck told them "Come on, we're getting off here, come with us!" and they weren't sure how to say no. So they had to walk for miles.

Sounds like you want to do something lovely for them OP, but the above situation is nuts. They got off a bus because some children told them to? That's not "shyness" it's just weird.

Yes, that struck me as way more than 'shy', getting off a bus miles too early because they 'didn't know how to say no' to some rowdy kids sounds like they are extremely gullible, or suggestible, or in other ways very vulnerable.

OP, are you sure they'd be able for a spa, even the most homely type?Even the most down to earth place can't be guaranteed not have a staff member who says 'Would you like to pay extra for a hot stone massage/tasting menu with wine flight/whatever?' and if they're really that incapable of saying no, it sounds as if they might end up having a miserable time!

Haha! That was a rather extreme example. I mean, they don't always get into such scrapes. I'm not quite sure how pushy the kids on the bus were. I'd love to have been a fly on the wall 😃🥰 But yes, they are "innocents abroad"!

They could definitely hold their own in a genuinely relaxed and friendly environment, but would be terrified out of their wits somewhere super-posh, plus they would worry that it was all costing an arm and a leg.

It's finding that perfect balance between special luxuries and feeling comfortable/relaxed/at home. I might end up buying them a vase or something instead 🤣

Is it worth looking at the Landmark Trust? They have some lovely hideaways for two (St Winifred's Well, Nicolle Tower, The Ancient House in Clare etc).

There may be places on AirBNB with hot tubs, though I know some people love hot tubs and some hate them! Personally I find the search interface much better on airbnb than tripadvisor - much less wasted time. HTH

These are all for two, allow pets, have hot tubs (sometimes shared) and are under £150 a night: I've no idea of your dates obvs, so just put any weekend in Oct / Nov: You can tweak as you wish! Anything of interest?

www.airbnb.co.uk/s/England/homes?tab_id=home_tab&refinement_paths%5B%5D=%2Fhomes&flexible_trip_dates%5B%5D=november&flexible_trip_dates%5B%5D=october&flexible_trip_lengths%5B%5D=weekend_trip&date_picker_type=flexible_dates&adults=2&source=structured_search_input_header&search_type=filter_change&ne_lat=53.14124591295382&ne_lng=1.4670839164952554&sw_lat=49.511502354239894&sw_lng=-4.103899746706077&zoom=7&search_by_map=true&amenities%5B%5D=12&amenities%5B%5D=25&place_id=ChIJ39UebIqp0EcRqI4tMyWV4fQ&price_max=149

I’ve been reading this with interest - and horror. I’m scared of goats, and the long list of etiquette rules before exposing myself in a spa would be the opposite of relaxing.

I have no South Coast offerings - but if your friends should ever find themselves within spitting distance of North Wales they might enjoy Gladstone’s Library. No pool, no massages, no effing goats. Just a quiet place a few miles west of Chester, with a glorious, glorious library you have full access to as a resident. The village it’s in is pretty (despite being bisected by a terrifying road) and the library itself is a bit too well known now, but it’s still my idea of a retreat.

Book somewhere close to them. Maybe a fancy hotel if there's no retreat

Agree with Edmontina - if your friends are shy I don't know how much they'd like a spa or a hot tub. Or indeed any 'pampering'.
I would hate them all. And I'm not that keen on pub meals, either; give me a posh picnic in a quiet and scenic spot, or a good but small and unpretentious restaurant...
For some shy people I can think of, solitude or at least peace and quiet would be the best gift.

But you know your friends best, of course. Your idea is kind and generous.

If your friends are shy, then a picnic may be a wiser option. But it depends on the person in question.

This is two minutes walk from me - it's a beautiful area...

www.houseandgarden.co.uk/gallery/aller-dorset

How about www.SenSpa.co.uk? Lovely New Forest walks and pubs nearby too.

How about something like the shepherds huts here? Not a luxurious spa but a beautiful retreat. www.elmleynaturereserve.co.uk/stay

Honestly I'd never have put either of them down for any kind of spa or retreat experience, at least not unless I was there to film the comical scenes that might arise! But they have actually expressed a desire to do these things. It's a sort of bucket-list experience for them, and they have declared it's what they want to do one day to celebrate being married.

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions and will have a good mooch through all these. I'm beginning to agree, though, that this might be a bit of an ambitious thing to try and arrange for them. I'm going to see if I can suss them out in a bit more depth 😉

Thanks everyone! x

I think that's wise, OP. You could just get them a pair of day tickets to a local spa? I take the point about some spas being a bit posh and uppity, but at least they'd only be stuck there for the day - if they really don't like the treatments, at least there will be a nice pool, steam room and sauna, and something civilised for lunch.

I must admit I'm a bit that way - love spas as places, not so keen on having a stranger fiddle with me!

My best spa experience ever was in Babington House in Somerset, where they leave you alone in a room with your DP, a lovely shower, and a range of different muds. Brilliant fun, totally private, and we felt fab-u-lous afterwards! But it was undoubtedly posh...