We try the four-star spa hotel that's just an hour from West Yorkshire

For some, the idea of leaving your Yorkshire can come as an unappealing prospect. Although, if you have a hankering for indulgence and a lavish break then a trip to Cottons Hotel and Spa might change your perspective.

If you live in West Yorkshire, you only have to travel about an hour to get to the destination in Knutsford - based in the heart of Cheshire. During our visit, we got to relax enjoying their spa facilities, with accompanying treatment, and culinary delights.

There’s a host of accommodation options to choose from. For most people, little touches are important, and Cottons’ cute greeting plate, when arrived in our suite, really helped set the tone for our stay. Spacious and stylish, our room provided a luxurious setting to switch off during the mini-break.

Read more: I visited the 'unrivalled' Huddersfield spa in the running to be crowned the best in the world

This feeling was further complimented by a visit to the destination’s spa. You have a choice of a spa break or pamper day options.

Pitched as: "For that amazing moment when you realise, that for now, it’s all about you." It is doubtful many will need more convincing then that to be honest.

There’s a wealth of treatments to choose from. Alongside signature staples, you can savour wellness therapies, facials and body rituals. During our visit, I gleefully received a much-needed temple spa body massage. By the end of it, I was so zen I almost fell asleep.

In many ways, that would have been no bad thing but it might have felt a real shame to waste an opportunity to test out the pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi facilities. Please forgive the sunnies at night but the setting felt like the right place to pose outdoor with a glass of bubbly (see photo at the top of this article) to really celebrate a day of lavish self-care.

Of course, if you don’t want to take this route, it is only right of me to inform you that Cottons has a fully-equipped gym area. Should you venture inside, you’ll find state-of-the-art running machines, cross trainers, weights and a studio where there’s a wide range of daily classes.

If you’ve done a workout, you’ll have likely worked up a fair old appetite. In terms of food, there’s various menus to cater to the type of visit you are after. Afternoon tea will likely catch the eye for many.

While there’s a vegan menu and a rather delicious sounding Sunday lunch selection - should you visit on a weekend. During our stay, we ate between dishes from the main menu and lounge offering.

On the lounge menu, you’ll find steak, fish and chips as well as bangers and mash. The main menu, at the hotel’s award-winning restaurant, boasts butternut squash and sage risotto, confit duck leg and a range of pies among other tantalising picks.

And, a pud to finish? Why not? Much-deserved, surely. We went with the chocolate brownie and sticky toffee pudding but you can also have caramel tart, knickerbocker glory and clementine posset as part of a range of sweet treats.

For when you have finished dining, there's an inviting bar on-site where you can lounge. Heading back, after a cocktail, there’s those noticable little touches once again. Between the reception and the hotel rooms you'll discover a huge info board, put together in rather fetching fashion, at Cottons.

It informs guests of local attractions, the weather for the week ahead alongside the Cottons social channels, so you can tag those all-important Insta selfies.

After a faultless sleep in the rather comfy mammoth bed, we headed for the waiting service breakfast where guests can start their day with the all-in northern breakfast (there’s a veggie alternative present and correct), waffles, smashed avo on toast and a variety of egg dishes - depending upon your preference. Filled up on pancakes, we said our goodbyes, leaving the tranquil Cottons setting and returning to reality.

It is actually a five-star experience. One you deserve.

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How to book

If you'd love to pay a visit, you can find the starting booking prices below:

• Spa days start from £55

• Spa breaks start from £79

Cottons Hotel and Spa - Manchester Road, Knutsford, WA16 0SU. You can book by calling 01565 650333 or visiting their webiste.

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