A Midlands Countryside Escape

By the time we arrived at Lythwood Lodge for our girls’ weekend, the Midlands was wrapped in mist, giving the landscape a particularly atmospheric quality. Over the next two days, we settled easily into the rhythm of the lodge: long meals, good conversation, plenty of laughter and time to explore, with the luxury of being able to simply enjoy each other’s company.

Set among the rolling countryside near Lidgetton, just under two hours from Umhlanga, Lythwood has the character of a longstanding country property, with beautiful old features including gorgeous parquet flooring in parts, fireplaces and substantial, comfortable furniture. The interiors are tasteful and elegant, with a distinctly Midlands country lodge character that feels warm and welcoming while remaining polished and beautifully maintained.

Our rooms continued that feeling; spacious and extremely comfortable, each had its own gas fire, a separate living area and a luxuriously sized bathroom with both a bath and shower. Returning to our rooms in the late afternoon was particularly lovely: the fires were already lit, and the electric blankets switched on, so there was nothing to do but settle in, catch up and relax.

The warmth extended beyond the rooms. Every member of staff we encountered was notably kind, attentive and professional, with a genuine friendliness that never felt forced. We felt personally accommodated throughout our stay, with our preferences catered for and every detail handled with an ease that made us feel thoroughly looked after.

The misty weather gave us even more reason to enjoy the interiors, and the library and games area quickly became one of our favourite spaces. There were books to browse, a piano to play and comfortable places to sit and talk. The bar was another favourite: cosy and wonderfully old-world, with comfortable seating, dark timber, a fireplace and DSTV. We settled in to watch the rugby together, and it was easy to imagine spending an entire winter evening there. The area also has a bit of film history; the bar was used as John Cleese’s office in the first Spud film, adding an unexpected layer of charm to an already nostalgic space.

We did, of course, make the most of the grounds. A late-afternoon game of croquet led to glasses of wine on the lawn, looking out across the surrounding farmland and hills and admiring some particularly handsome cows in the neighbouring fields. As the mist began to settle over the landscape, we eventually headed back inside, looking forward to the fire, a book and more time together in the library.

Food was another highlight. Saturday’s full English breakfast was generous and satisfying, while Sunday morning’s buffet offered a full spread. Both dinners were three-course meals, and seeing the menus earlier in the day meant that we could look forward to dinner with considerable enthusiasm. The cooking was impressive, yet satisfying and wholesome, with beautifully presented dishes that never felt unnecessarily complicated.

We also took time to explore more of the property’s other facilities. Lythwood offers a range of accommodation and spaces for everything from weekends away to weddings, conferences and private gatherings. We saw the impressive wedding venue and marquee, as well as the small stone chapel, which was one of the most charming surprises. 

The chapel is a beautiful little stone building, its white stone walls framing a striking central blue stained-glass window. Surrounded by greenery, it has an almost Mediterranean feel – just enough to make us think of the Greek island setting of Mamma Mia! – while remaining completely at home in the surrounding green Midlands countryside.

For us, the real pleasure was the combination of character, elegance and exceptionally thoughtful service. Lythwood feels like a property with history and a strong emotional influence, while offering the comfort, food and attention to detail that make a modern stay feel special.

We left after two nights feeling genuinely refreshed and peaceful. We had eaten extremely well, laughed a lot, slept wonderfully, spent time outdoors, watched rugby by the fire and, most importantly, had two unhurried days together. There is something particularly restorative about a girls’ weekend where nobody has to cook, clean or rush off anywhere, and Lythwood gave us the perfect setting for it.

By the time we left, we were already wishing we had another night.

https://www.lythwood.com