Nestled in the lush green countryside of the Peak District, Losehill House Hotel and Spa is the kind of place that makes you feel as though you've properly escaped.
It's a beautiful building in a stunning location, intimate without feeling too small, and it's easy to understand why people choose it as a wedding venue.
Yet despite feeling tucked away from everyday life, it's surprisingly accessible.
I reached it in around an hour and 10 minutes from Manchester city centre by car before rush hour on a Friday.
The pool at Losehill House Hotel & Spa (Image: Richard Duggan)
It would take around two hours by car from Blackburn, with the nearest station to Losehill being Hope, around seven minutes away by car.
The welcome set the tone for my stay. Staff were warm and helpful, explaining the facilities and booking me in for dinner.
They had also arranged an early check-in so I could spend a few hours working and attending meetings before officially signing off for the weekend.
My bedroom was spacious, beautifully appointed and spotlessly clean, with an extremely comfortable bed and a huge bath.
Better still, there was virtually no noise, making it incredibly peaceful.
The sauna at Losehill House Hotel & Spa (Image: Richard Duggan)
Once work was done, it was time to put on the fluffy white robe and flip-flops waiting in the wardrobe and head to the spa.
A member of staff handed me a locker key and, with it being early on a Friday evening, it was wonderfully quiet.
The pool isn't enormous, but the hotel limits the number of people using the spa at one time so it doesn't feel overcrowded.
There is enough room to swim lengths, although you'd naturally need to be considerate of other guests.
On my visit, however, there wasn't anybody else in the pool.
I spent an hour swimming completely alone and, frankly, it felt like being a millionaire.
There is also an outdoor jacuzzi overlooking the gorgeous green Peak District hills, as well as a sauna.
Wine and canapés to start (Image: Richard Duggan)
The jacuzzi was being enjoyed by other guests during my visit, so I didn't try it myself, but what a setting in which to sit and relax.
There are also seats around the pool, meaning you can simply settle down with a book or sit and chat with the people you're visiting with and enjoy some fizz.
Afterwards, I returned to my room for a long soak in that enormous bath, put on a face mask and got ready for dinner.
And dinner proved to be one of the highlights of the stay.
The three-course menu was £72.50, with cheese available for an additional supplement.
Alternatively, there was the six-course 'Taste of Losehill' menu for £95, with the option of adding a wine flight for £42.50.
Before my meal arrived, I was served homemade beer and treacle bread with Henderson's Relish butter, which was incredibly tasty.
I started with beef tartare with crispy potato, black garlic emulsion and hazelnut.
It was simply divine, beautifully presented and the sort of dish you'd expect to see filling the Instagram reel of a top-end restaurant.
For my main, I chose Creedy Carver duck breast with confit glazed duck leg, salt-baked kohlrabi, duck fat hash brown, cherries, shiso and duck and cherry sauce.
The duck was beautifully succulent, but that duck fat hash brown was out of this world.
Instead of a traditional dessert, I opted for the cheeseboard.
Rather than simply being presented with whatever cheeses happened to be available, I was able to choose a selection, and every one I tried was excellent.
The entire meal was 10 out of 10. The portions were also judged perfectly.
Three courses felt indulgent without leaving me overwhelmingly full.
The main (Image: Richard Duggan)
Just as importantly, I never felt rushed.
Dining alone can occasionally mean feeling as though a restaurant wants your table back as quickly as possible.
There was none of that here.
My meal lasted more than two hours, and I felt every bit as valued as the larger groups around me.
The restaurant was full of chatter; people were clearly enjoying themselves and the atmosphere was excellent.
After a fantastic night's sleep, I woke genuinely refreshed and headed back to the pool for another 40-minute swim before breakfast.
When I went down to eat, staff offered to clear a window table for me.
The view from behind Losehill House Hotel & Spa (Image: Richard Duggan)
With the morning sunshine pouring through and the Peak District hills stretching out beyond the glass, it was a lovely way to start the day.
There were plenty of options, but again the portion sizes were spot on.
I started with berries and yoghurt before moving on to scrumptious eggs Benedict.
If I'm being extremely picky, I'd have preferred my eggs a little runnier, although I probably should have made that clear when ordering.
And that really was the only slight criticism I could find.
Eggs Benedict (Image: Richard Duggan)
Losehill House is somewhere I could happily return to.
Whether you're going away with a partner, friends, a larger group or, as I did, travelling alone, it manages to feel welcoming.
With beautiful surroundings, excellent food, relaxing spa facilities and genuinely attentive service, it provided everything I wanted from a weekend retreat.
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