- Feel Good
- 19th Aug 2026
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Romance at Saltmoore this summer: A new lakeside sauna, spa and wine tasting experience
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There is a particular kind of quiet that settles over Saltmoore on a summer evening – the kind that makes you lower your voice without noticing, and reach for the hand next to you without thinking.
This is the atmosphere Saltmoore has built its reputation on, and this summer, the North Yorkshire retreat is adding a new reason to fall for it: a Lakeside Sauna, set to open beside the estate’s still waters, promising to become the most romantic seat in the house.
Nestled outside Whitby, where the coastline turns dramatic and the moors roll on uninterrupted, Saltmoore occupies 80 acres of woodland, lakes and landscaped gardens. It is the sort of place that seems designed less for sightseeing than for slowing down – for long mornings, longer dinners and the sense that the outside world can wait.
With two MICHELIN Keys and a warm reputation for hospitality, the estate has been recognised in the 2025 hotel selection, and it is easy to see why: everything here, from the interiors to the itinerary, seems arranged around the idea of connection.
A RITUAL FOR TWO, STRAIGHT FROM THE WATER’S EDGE
Beside the tranquil lake, the new Lakeside Sauna is a private retreat worth seeking out. Floor-to-ceiling glass fronts the timber-framed structure, framing peaceful views across the water while the heat does its work. Step outside to the adjoining shower, and you’ve got the full hot and cold ritual, whether you’re going it alone or bringing up to six friends along.
Sessions run for 45 minutes and cost £65, with exclusive use of the sauna and outdoor shower included throughout. It’s an idyllic little escape, and one of the more memorable ways to spend three-quarters of an hour on the Yorkshire coast.
It joins The Sanctuary at Saltmoore, the estate’s existing spa, which has already earned five bubbles from The Good Spa Guide for its facilities. Move between the sauna, the steam room and a heated indoor pool that overlooks the landscaped gardens, or ease into the bubbling spa pool as afternoon turns to evening.
And if you’re seeking something more invigorating, a Brass Monkey ice bath and a three-minute cryotherapy chamber offer a jolt of shared adrenaline – the kind of thing that tends to end in laughter and a race back to the warmth. Plus, if you book direct, you’ll receive complimentary access to The Sanctuary, folding wellness seamlessly into a stay that already feels indulgent.
WINE, UNHURRIED, AS THE EVENING SETTLES IN
If the sauna is Saltmoore’s newest romantic gesture, the Wine Tasting Evening is its most sociable. Held every Thursday and Sunday at 4pm at the Lounge Bar, the tasting guides couples through five wines – two whites, two reds and a rosé – each poured with enough care that conversation naturally slows to match it.
Seasonal nibbles accompany the pours, and those wanting to linger longer can add a charcuterie board of artisan meats and cheeses, turning a tasting into something closer to an early dinner. It is a signature experience built for shared discovery: comparing notes on a glass, disagreeing gently about a favourite, and ending the evening a little more attuned to each other than when it began.
If you’d prefer something more hands-on, the Cocktail Masterclass Experience runs on Wednesdays and Fridays in the same bar, with Saltmoore’s bartenders teaching the techniques behind three signature drinks before guests shake and stir their own.
DINNER AND THE REST OF THE STORY
Dining remains the emotional centre of a Saltmoore stay. The Michelin Guide Recommended Brasserie at Saltmoore House serves seasonal plates built around North Yorkshire produce, with Executive Chef Adam Maddock crafting a menu that leans toward sharing.
Think venison Wellington finished with ruby port butter sauce, or a Chateaubriand carved for two, alongside lighter options like focaccia and Stonebeck cheese croquetas if you’d rather graze your way through an evening. It is food designed to be passed across a table rather than eaten in silence – another nudge toward togetherness.
Beyond the estate’s boundaries, summer opens up the rest of North Yorkshire’s romantic possibilities. The Cleveland Way traces the cliffs just beyond Saltmoore’s grounds, ideal for a slow evening walk before dinner, while a picnic basket curated by the team can be carried down to Sandsend Beach to watch the sunset over the waves.
And if you’re brave, why not sea dip or saddle up for a trek across the moors on horseback – each one a small adventure to share before returning to the comfort of a room with its own balcony, watching the light fade through the trees.
Saltmoore’s real skill lies in this rhythm: adventure by day, and something slower – warmer, quieter, more deliberate – once the sun starts to dip.
The Lakeside Sauna simply gives that rhythm its newest, most romantic pause, a place where two people can sit in silence, steam curling around them, and feel entirely apart from everything else. This summer, that might be reason enough to book the trip.
Saltmoore, Sandsend Road, Whitby, YO21 3ST
Rachael Ellis
Head of Content
After gaining a first in her BA Media and Journalism degree at Northumbria University, Rachael worked at Newcastle’s leading regional newspaper with her stories being picked up in national and global newspapers. She spent two very successful years giving a voice to those communities across the North East who otherwise…
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