Sometimes you don’t need to fly halfway around the world to feel like you’ve properly escaped.
I recently spent a night at The Goose Lodge in Cheshire and it was exactly the kind of little getaway I love. Somewhere that feels far enough away from normal life to switch off, but is actually really easy to get to. In fact, The Goose Lodge is just outside Tarporley, around 40 minutes from my home in North Wales and within easy reach of Chester.
Set in the Cheshire countryside, The Goose Lodge is a luxury glamping retreat with all of the things I want from a relaxing escape: beautiful views, a gorgeous private hot tub, somewhere cosy to sleep, lots of places to visit nearby and, perhaps my favourite part, on-site beauty treatments.
And then there were the sunsets.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting the sunsets to be such a highlight, but sitting outside with a drink, watching the sky change colour over the fields, was one of those very simple moments that makes you realise how badly you needed a break.
First impressions of The Goose Lodge
The Goose Lodge is tucked away on a beautiful smallholding surrounded by fields. The gardens were exploding with flowers during my visit as the owners grew their own wedding flowers the previous year and the colourful annuals were back to show off their beauty. I’m not sure if the house was once a farmhouse but it has that storybook farm house vibe – only it’s impeccably well-kept which you don’t normally see in the real world!
The Goose Lodge isn’t camping in the traditional sense. This is very much glamping, with a beautifully designed lodge, a king-size bed, proper bathroom facilities and all the little touches that make it feel more like a boutique hotel than a camping experience.
There are horses and hens and, of course, the resident geese Muddle and Puddle, which add to the magical, storybook countryside setting.
I loved that the lodge feels private and peaceful without feeling completely cut off from civilisation. You can spend your entire stay doing absolutely nothing, or use it as a base for exploring Cheshire if you fancy getting out and about.
For me, though, doing absolutely nothing sounded pretty perfect.
The Goose Lodge
Inside, The Goose Lodge is cosy, stylish and surprisingly luxurious for a glamping stay.
The bed is a proper king-size bed, and there is a lovely seating area where you can sit with a coffee and look out over the countryside.
This was one of my favourite things about the lodge because the view is right there. You don’t have to go anywhere to enjoy the setting. You can literally sit inside with a cup of coffee and watch the countryside outside.
There’s a small kitchenette with a coffee machine, small fridge and a hob so it’s perfect for making easy meals.
There is also a luxury ensuite bathroom and shower, so you get all the comfort of a hotel stay without losing that feeling of being immersed in the countryside.
But the real magic happens outside and your private outdoor area at The Goose Lodge is what makes it so special.
The sunset views were incredible
If I had to choose one thing that made my stay memorable, it would be those sunsets and the fact it was such a lovely space to sit and enjoy them.
There is something about watching a sunset when you’re somewhere rural and peaceful that feels completely different to watching one from home. I could honestly swap Netflix for sunset views every evening!
At The Goose Lodge, the countryside stretches out in front of you and the evening light seems to go on forever.
There’s a lovely seating area around a fire pit with a hammock and comfy chairs covered with cosy throws. As it got darker, the twinkly lights came on and made it even more magical.
The outdoor hot tub
Then there’s the hot tub. Because obviously, a luxury countryside lodge with a private hot tub is going to get a big tick from me!
This hot tub is the perfect size for two people and we found it incredibly easy to heat up. I’ve stayed at a lot of places with woodfired hot tubs and you end up spending your whole evening maintaining the hot tub and trying to get it up to temperature. Thankfully, this wasn’t like that! Paula had already got it started for us and we continued to add a few logs to get it hot.
It was hot by the time we’d eaten our dinner and I could have happily spent the entire evening here. Actually, I did spend most of the evening in it! We were able to sit outside, soak in the warm water and enjoy the countryside around us.
And this is where the sunset really came into its own.
Getting into the hot tub as the evening cooled down, watching the last of the sunlight disappear across the fields, felt like peak glamping luxury.
It’s the kind of experience that makes you want to slow down and stay outside for just a little bit longer. Even when the sun had disappeared, there was something lovely about sitting outside in the cool quiet.
An on-site beauty treatments
But possibly my favourite luxury at The Goose Lodge was something I wasn’t expecting from a glamping stay: the on-site beauty treatments.
The owner, Paula, is an experienced beautician and offers treatments right on site. The lodge is connected to Beauty at The Goose House, a retreat where guests can book massages and other treatments during their stay.
And this is such a brilliant idea! There’s something about having a treatment without needing to get in the car afterwards that makes it feel like a proper retreat.
You can have your treatment, wander back to your lodge and you’re immediately back in your little countryside bubble. For me, this was what took the experience from simply being a nice place to stay to feeling like a proper wellness escape.
I was treated to the most incredible facial massage I’ve ever had in my life (no exaggeration!) and my skin was glowing all week after it.
If you’re taking someone to The Goose Lodge as a treat or a surprise (such as a birthday or anniversary) I think these beauty treatments are what can make this surprise trip REALLY special.
It felt like a proper escape
I think the thing I liked most about The Goose Lodge was that it didn’t feel like I needed to have a plan.
There are plenty of things to do in the surrounding area if you want to explore, including walks from the lodge and attractions such as Beeston and Peckforton Castles and Delamere Forest. Chester and Nantwich are also within easy reach. The village of Tarpoly is also lovely and there are plenty of nice places to eat and drink nearby too (the kind of places you won’t need to research and book in advance!)
But you don’t have to do any of them.
And sometimes that’s exactly what I want from a weekend away.
I spend a lot of my life travelling, planning trips, researching places to visit and trying to squeeze as much as possible into every adventure. So there’s something wonderfully indulgent about going somewhere where the main activity is simply enjoying where you are.
The Goose Lodge is made for that.
Is The Goose Lodge worth staying at?
With so many glamping options popping up everywhere, is The Goose Lodge worth adding your glamping list?
Yes! Absolutely yes! Particularly if you’re looking for a romantic or relaxing escape in Cheshire with the added bonus of beauty treatments and an easy hot tub.
I’d especially recommend it for couples who want somewhere peaceful and private, or anyone looking for a little reset.
The combination of the countryside setting, private hot tub, beautiful sunsets and on-site beauty treatments makes it feel much more special than a standard overnight stay.
And the location is another big bonus. You’re surrounded by countryside but still within easy reach of Tarporley, Chester, Nantwich and North Wales.
For me, though, it was the simple things that made the stay.
Sitting outside watching the sunset. Getting into the hot tub as the evening cooled down. Having a beauty treatment without needing to leave the property. Waking up somewhere completely peaceful.
It was the kind of stay that reminded me that you don’t always need a big adventure to feel like you’ve been away.
Sometimes you just need a gorgeous little lodge, a hot tub and a really good sunset. And The Goose Lodge has all three.
