There is something about escaping to the countryside in summer that makes everyday life feel very far away. Long evenings outdoors, breakfast overlooking the water, marshmallows toasted over a fire and nowhere you particularly need to be. At Bainland Lodge Retreats in Lincolnshire, this slower pace comes with all the comforts of a luxury escape.
Set within 45 acres in Woodhall Spa, Bainland is home to a collection of lodges and cabins tucked among woodland and landscaped grounds. Accommodation ranges from intimate shepherd’s huts and a striking treehouse to expansive lodges made for groups of up to 20, many with their own private hot tubs.
The lodges feel remarkably private, with space to switch off without feeling overlooked. For a summer escape, Curlew – one of the four-bedroom lakeside lodges that make up The Cove – became home for a group of six adults and a one-year-old.
Arrival is refreshingly straightforward, with a quick and easy check-in that means you can settle into the slower pace almost immediately. There’s a shop on site for essentials too, another small detail that makes it easy to arrive, unpack and stay put for a while.
Set on the edge of its own private lake, Curlew makes an impression before you even step through the door. The distinctive contemporary lodge looks out across the water, with a large terrace, hot tub and small sandy beach creating an idyllic backdrop for a few days away.
Inside, four en-suite bedrooms are complemented by a generous open-plan kitchen, dining and living area that quickly becomes the heart of the lodge. Each bedroom has a king-size bed and soft, coastal-inspired interiors, while oversized Velux windows above the beds invite you to look up at the night sky before remote-controlled blackout blinds ensure a good night’s sleep.
For a group stay, it is the communal space that excels. The kitchen, dining and living areas flow into one another, with plenty of room for everyone to gather. Expansive bi-fold doors open onto the terrace extend that space even further in summer, so days naturally move between indoors and out.
There is a sense that the practical details have been given just as much consideration as the aesthetics. Robes and flip-flops await guests, bathrooms are stocked with Elemis toiletries and the kitchen is equipped for far more than simply making the morning coffee. There are double ovens, Le Creuset cookware and a dedicated wine fridge – small touches that elevate Curlew beyond the usual self-catering stay.
It strikes an appealing balance. There is all the independence of having a place to call your own, but many of the thoughtful details feel closer to those of a boutique hotel.
In summer, however, much of life at Curlew happens outside. The large private terrace looks directly over the lake, with loungers, outdoor dining and a fire pit alongside the hot tub. At the water’s edge, a small beach became a favourite with the youngest member of the group, who was more than happy playing in the sand and making friends with the resident ducks.
Mornings began slowly with breakfast at the lodge before deciding how to spend the day. And there is plenty to choose from without ever leaving Bainland.
For those in search of something more energetic, activities range from tennis and Segways to archery. The latter proved one of the highlights for the group, helped in no small part by instructor Alex, whose infectious energy and encouragement made the session as much about having fun as hitting the target. Different rounds kept things interesting before balloons were added to the targets for an extra challenge.
At the opposite end of the spectrum is The Spa at Bainland, a new addition to the retreat and a very good reason to disappear for a few hours.
Treatments including a 60-minute deep tissue massage and an Elemis facial offered a welcome change of pace. With three private treatment rooms, the menu spans everything from Swedish and hot stone massages to facials designed to hydrate and revive the skin. Afterwards, there is nowhere to rush to, so time can be spent lingering by the heated indoor pool before heading back to the lodge.
The spa itself feels in keeping with Bainland’s unhurried atmosphere. Alongside the treatment rooms and indoor pool are outdoor hot tubs, ice tubs and loungers, making it somewhere you can easily spend a few hours.
While the nearby village has its own restaurants, there is little need to venture far for dinner. The Nest, Bainland’s relaxed restaurant and bar, is made for easy evenings and works particularly well for groups and families.
The menu is full of crowd-pleasing favourites, from classic fish and chips to pork cutlet schnitzel and dry-aged steaks, alongside a tempting cocktail list. One of the highlights is the Double Smash Burger with Koffmann skin-on fries. Generous and satisfyingly indulgent, it is exactly the kind of food you crave after a day outdoors.
Families have another advantage just outside, where an enormous wooden adventure playground gives younger guests plenty of space to burn off some energy.
But some of the best moments of the trip happened back at Curlew. As daylight faded over the lake, evenings were spent outside around the fire pit, toasting marshmallows and making s’mores before moving into the hot tub beneath the stars. Later came games around the table, with the lodge’s generous open-plan living space coming into its own.
There is something wonderfully nostalgic about evenings like these. For all the beautifully designed interiors, spa treatments and thoughtful details, the real luxury is having the time and space to simply be together.
Beyond Bainland, the Lincolnshire countryside and nearby villages offer plenty more to explore. But with a restaurant, shop, spa, swimming pool and activities all within the retreat, staying put is equally tempting.
That sense of seclusion is perhaps what Bainland does best. Surrounded by woodland and water, days seem to take on their own rhythm, dictated less by a schedule and more by what everyone feels like doing next.
A few days here pass quickly – the mark of a really good escape. You might arrive with plans to do everything, but leave remembering the moments that required very little planning at all: drinks overlooking the lake, sandcastles on the beach, marshmallows around the fire and evenings beneath the stars.
For a summer escape made for switching off, reconnecting with nature and spending proper time together, Bainland is somewhere memories are made almost without trying
Bainland Lodge Retreats, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
@bainland_lodge_retreats
bainland.co.uk
