Hotel review
Saltmoore styles itself a ‘wellness sanctuary’. And the approach is certainly calming. Tucked down a private drive, in a wooded ravine, it feels deep in the country yet is only a 10-minute walk from the beach between Whitby and Sandsend.
Admittedly, the exterior is unremarkable. The original Victorian hall is now enclosed by modern stone extensions, and there’s a stand-alone brick, faux-battlemented affair – the Beach House - which sits rather oddly. But step inside and interiors are smooth, light and beautifully relaxing: polished-wood floors, sleek furnishings, sculptural heather-and-twig hanging decorations, and colours ranging from creamy corridors to moorland greens and sea-blues in lounges and restaurants.
Bedrooms have a low-key elegance with sisal rugs on dark-wood floors, painted panelled walls, sliding-door wardrobes, an occasional vintage piece and a refreshing lack of clutter. Colours are rich but calming, from sky-blue and moss-green to gorse-yellow and heathery-pink. Soft-coloured tiles glow in generous, well-lit bathrooms. There’s a wide choice with Beach House rooms often larger, yet cheaper, than the main house rooms.
The (soon-to-be) three dining options – fine dining, brasserie and pizza restaurant – offer Modern British menus developed with Yorkshire-born consultant chef (and Michelin-starred) Tommy Banks. The brasserie menu, for example, might include cod with clam and mussel chowder, and pork belly with black pudding and pomme purée.
Although a breezy walk on the beach beckons or Whitby with its fine abbey, you might find yourself equally happy to wander the 85 acres of gardens, woodland and lake. Or to submit to a spa treatment and dip in the pool. My tip is to linger over coffee and a book in the light-filled Orangerie or, if it’s sunny, on the terrace.