The Gatehouse Lodge, Easton

It's been such a long time since there was a travel post on the blog. Are you ready for a new adventure?!

Long time readers might remember that I occasionally write for a travel website. Recently, they sent me off to review The Gatehouse Lodge in Easton, Lincolnshire. The sun was shining, and as my husband and I drove up to the entrance, first impressions weren't too shabby!

This impressive building was once the gatehouse to Easton Hall, a stately home which sadly fell into disrepair after the second world war and had to be demolished. Owned by the same family - the Cholmeleys - for hundreds of years, the current generation are doing everything they can to make what remains of the estate thrive again, including renting out this cute little corner of the gatehouse as a holiday cottage.

Small as it might be, it was beautiful inside. The kitchen was cosy...

...And the living room was elegant. We only stayed for two nights and went out in the evenings, so we didn't really have the opportunity to curl up on the armchairs and light the wood burner. However, if we'd been staying for longer and cooking meals in the cottage I'm sure we would have done. I can imagine this would be lovely in the winter too.

With the weather being so lovely, our favourite part of the cottage was the sunny little terrace outside. The perfect place to enjoy a cup of tea and a piece of homemade chocolate cake - very thoughtfully provided to us by the owners!

Do you see the gate behind me? That was our own private entrance into the Easton Walled Gardens. Like the gatehouse itself, the gardens are part of the old estate and have been lovingly restored. As you wander through them, you can see a few old structural remains of the Hall that once stood here. It's a very beautiful place, and we loved the fact that we were able to enjoy it even when there was no one else there. It's open to the public four days a week, but it was closed while we were there. Having it all ourselves felt very special.

Of course I couldn't miss the opportunity to take some outfit photos in this stunning setting. They'll be up on the blog soon! 

Easton is located quite close to the town of Stamford. This is a lovely place and well worth visiting, with quaint little streets full of unspoilt Georgian architecture and lots of independent cafes dotted about.

If you do ever find yourself in Stamford, make sure you pop into The George Hotel. Whether you have lunch, afternoon tea or just a quick drink and good nose around the gorgeous decor, it's well worth it!

 

I didn't document much of the food we had over the weekend, but the main courses at Piccola Venezia, an Italian restaurant in Grantham (another town close to Easton), definitely deserve a photo on the blog. Mike had a steak with rocket, Parmesan and rosemary roast potatoes, and I had a baked pasta dish with a four cheese sauce, pancetta and spinach. My mouth is watering as I think about it again!

It was a flying visit to Easton and we packed a fair amount of exploring into that time. Back at the Gatehouse Lodge, I was grateful for the luxurious bathroom and cosy bedroom to curl up in after a long but enjoyable day.

I would definitely visit this place again! Have you been on any trips lately?

Kate x