I revisited my wedding weekend with a magical Malvern Hills getaway

A memorable getaway to celebrate our first wedding anniversary was in relate – and Elsie’s Cottage was calling my name. No longer completely did the charmingly rural abode near Ledbury search for appreciate the pastoral dream personified, nonetheless it surely happened to be stop to our Malvern wedding venue, making it the ideal mini-break destination for a suitably romantic occasion. 

Nestled at the foot of the rolling Malvern Hills and surrounded by lush vegetation and magical woodland, Elsie’s Cottage is each bit as idyllic as the photographs counsel. We packed up for a two-night stay at the country retreat, which is so off-grid that we struggled to get back on it (rather literally, thanks to a train strike).

Far flung retreat

If you’re purchasing for someplace to interchange off and unwind, Elsie’s is geared up for relaxation and relaxation. The beautiful two-mattress room abode is so hard to search out that it has a special postcode and a lengthy instruction information to facilitate access. I’d no longer imply attempting to search out it in the dark – unfortunately, many (non-romantic) arguments were had – and you absolutely need a car to get there.

But after we would bolted the entrance door, the lovable and cosy cottage had every part we wished at our fingertips. Probably the most placing factor about the Weekend Candy abode is how successfully-geared up it’s. From a Smart TV to Bluetooth speakers, yoga mats, rooster-watching books and binoculars, no longer to mention board games and foraging pointers, online page visitors’ huge-ranging pursuits are successfully and in reality lined. I want I may say we made the a lot of the intensive offerings, including a sketchbook for the artistically minded, nonetheless it surely was the copious cocktail-making utensils and the generous stash of booze left for us that piqued our curiosity.

Elsie’s has nature at the forefront of the invent; the small space overlooks a large terrace entire with a fire pit, al fresco seating area, giant barbecue and pizza oven, plus a wood-fired sizzling bath. The belief over the tiered, wild garden was unmatched for unhurried waking up to the sound of birds with a morning espresso. Our phones were barely touched over the weekend, and we enjoyed sitting originate air in companionable silence.

The wood-fired sizzling bath was bliss, adding to the charm of the location as it bubbled away. Note of warning – it can get particularly warm, so make certain you practice the (incredibly detailed) guidebook’s directions to the letter to avoid being boiled alive. The twinkling, fairy mild bedecked environment also boasts a wooden division to defend bathers from the nearby walking path, providing extra privacy.

Internal, the property is impartial as successfully geared up, with a beautiful freestanding bathtub providing the ideal area to unwind with a candlelit glass of wine. The kitchen is packed with each mod con you may want, without spoiling its country charm. The two bedrooms were adorably quaint (although the upstairs room wouldn’t swimsuit anyone with mobility concerns), while the cosy residing room became our main hub for the weekend with a roaring fire and a valid ebook.

Local treasures

Malvern as an area means so great to us; or no longer it is the place my husband’s family hails from and we’ve shared many fine memories exploring the hills, including a morning hike with my father-in-law the day ahead of our wedding, and countless dog walks with my sister-in-law.

However the real magic of Elsie’s is bringing the cherish of the local area to online page visitors. From the 2nd we stepped over the sting, we were struck by the amazing regional construct awaiting us. A smorgasbord of fabulous cheeses (including Hereford Hop, Perroche, Wigmore), cured meats, sausage and apple rolls, Scotch eggs, pear juice was laid out on the table – all locally sourced, unique, and severely moreish.

We barely touched our possess meals store as the providing was so generous. The gooey chocolate brownies and palatable pastries made for the ideal mid-hike snack on the hills. I opted for the English breakfast package as a foodie extra: the locally farmed sausages and bacon were among the most finest we’ve had.

Lovingly restored by couple Charlotte and Steve, the cottage champions local distributors in other ways too, from incorporating Malvern Stone walls to utilizing Denby crockery and reclaimed furniture. After cooing over the sumptuous furnishings including a deep-station mustard sofa, pastel bedspreads and bohemian rugs, we were overjoyed to behold great of the decor hailed from nearby retailers (bawl out to my mom-in-law’s favourite, Ceci Paolo).

Walking on the Malvern Hills

Whereas we may rather easily have stayed locked away all weekend, we made up our minds to take advantage of Elsie’s hiking-friendly location on Ragged Stone Hill in the hamlet of White Leaved Oak. I was impressed with the amenities for walkers; from a stash of maps to binoculars for rooster-watching and an array of flasks, or no longer it’s station up so that you can arise and lag.

After stocking up on gives for the day ahead, we station out on a lengthy hike over the Malvern Hills, ending up at the summit of British Camp. Having never walked the ridges from the southern facet we weren’t prepared for impartial how steep the path would be – with certainly among the steepest routes impartial metres from the entrance door of the property (it turns out having access to a map doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to examine it neatly). The views across the rolling hills over Eastnor Castle were unparalleled, and I loved seeing the familiar nation-state in a fresh mild.

After conquering the hills – and a couple of false turns – we made it to the tip and managed to catch a seek of our wedding venue in the distance. It was a special 2nd and a reminder of the hike we would embarked upon the day ahead of our wedding, crammed with pre-vast day jitters.

One factor’s for certain – two nights at Elsie’s merely isn’t any longer really lengthy ample. We may well now not bear to leave (sadly, real lifestyles beckoned) and we left saying we would be back to celebrate extra anniversaries in the lengthy race.

DISCOVER: 14 of probably the most romantic accommodations in the UK you are going to want to take your apt appreciate to 

Elsie’s Cottage sleeps four in two bedrooms. Stays start from £440. Book your speak about with via weekendcandy.com.