Boutique Cumbrian Escape
Location: Sedbergh, Cumbria
Style: Country chic with homely touches
Budget: ££
For a luxurious and tranquil escape head to the The Malabar, a stunning barn conversion nestled amongst the rolling Yorkshire Dales in Cumbria. Boutique in every sense of the word, here you can hide away in the cosiest of retreats, indulging in delightful Cumbrian food and relaxing in roll top bubble baths, with all your needs attended to by your impeccable hosts, Graham and Fiona.
Staying at The Malabar
Within the barn are six incredibly well proportioned rooms, each with their own individual style and charm, and all offering large en-suite bathrooms with both roll top baths and spacious walk in showers. The rooms are all named after places close to the couple’s heart, such as Tregenna, after the hotel Fiona’s father managed in the 1970s, and are finished off with lovely touches from their life in India.
We stayed in the incredibly beautiful Camellia room, named after the tea plant, with French doors out onto the garden and terrace that look out to the picturesque fells beyond. Exquisitely decorated throughout with a king sized bed, and delightful sitting area facing across the Dales, we fell in love with this home away from home.
If you’re anything like us, a bath is one of the main requirements for a cosy country retreat and we’re not sure whether we’ve ever come across a hotel which quite matches The Malabar’s bath. As you step through the gorgeous sliding barn doors you’ll enter a bathroom to die for. If you have any sense during your stay, you’ll order a bottle of champagne from the excellent wine cellar, fill up the bubble bath and soak away the stresses of everyday life together (yes, there is more than enough room for both of you!).
Dining at The Malabar
Although The Malabar does not have a dedicated restaurant your hosts work hard to make sure you experience the best of Cumbrian food, from snacks and breakfast to finding you the best local restaurants to explore.
Afternoon Tea at The Malabar
On your arrival at The Malabar, you will be greeted with an invitation to tuck into a delightful afternoon tea, either alongside the cosy fire or looking out onto the fells of the Yorkshire Dales. With a nod to the tea plantations that Graham’s family owned in India where he grew up, pick from an incredible selection of a dozen different teas before indulging in a wonderful platter of goodies.
As the light begins to fade over the horizon, tuck into a selection of sandwiches, home made sausage rolls as well as several of Graham’s yummy homemade cakes including a chocolate brownie and a lemon and blueberry tart.
Dinner at The Malabar
The Malabar is well located to venture out for a great dinner, with several excellent gastropubs and even a couple of Michelin starred restaurants not far away, including The Forest Side and L’Enclume. With Graham and Fiona’s recommendation, head to The Three Hares, only 5 minutes drive away in the town of Sedbergh. Another delightful family run institution, this bakery transforms into a wonderful restaurant in the evening serving British classics with the occasional Japanese twist!
If you don’t feel like heading out, your hosts are more than happy to provide a platter of local cured meats, homemade soup and bread, accompanied of course by a(nother) good bottle from their cellar. Although we didn’t get to try this during our stay, we can only say that if it was anything like the breakfast, expect top quality produce and some wonderfully cooked delights.
After dinner, retreat to the cosy lounge for a night cap from the honesty bar including a great selection of small batch gins or a Scotch whisky. Curl up next to the fire with a super fluffy blanket and challenge your strategic skills with a classic game of chess before turning in.
Breakfast at The Malabar
Breakfast at The Malabar is something to eagerly look forward to when you wake up. Firstly, begin with ‘morning bed tea’, starting the day properly by enjoying the stunning colours of the morning Cumbrian sun from the comfort of your room.
Breakfast is served around the solid oak communal dining table; starting with coffee, fresh orange juice and a choice of ‘starters’, including granola or porridge with seasonal fresh toppings. The main event is a serious homage to great Cumbrian produce and you can’t go wrong with a cooked breakfast, including wild boar bacon and rare breed pork sausages, of course with all the trimmings! You’ll be set up for the day after breakfast, ready to explore the surrounding fells or hop over to the nearby Lake District.
Our final thoughts on... The Malabar
Beautiful furnishings, homely service and a cracking breakfast – this is what we always look for in a good B&B and The Malabar smashed it on all fronts. From the gorgeous bath to the well stocked wine cellar and the mouth watering wild boar bacon to the Lappin’s warm welcome, everything was spot on during our visit. The Malabar has won several awards in the relatively short time it has been open and we can see exactly why, and why it should definitely be on your shortlist to visit during your time in Cumbria.
Find Out More…
The Malabar – http://www.themalabar.co.uk
Many thanks to The Malabar for hosting us during our time in Cumbria. As always, all thoughts and opinions expressed here are entirely our own, we wouldn’t recommend something if we didn’t love it!
