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girl in white dress walks along road bordered by tall green trees

gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - day with tregothnan estate and gardens is a gifted collaboration 



Tregothnan’s beautiful and mysterious gardens are only open to the public once a year each spring, though you can book a private tour throughout the rest of the year – and it is absolutely worth a peek…

Not only are the Estate’s endless gardens home to some of England’s rarest plants, a private deer park, ponds, and bee hives, but it also houses England’s only tea plantation! My tour of the garden was so fascinating, every corner hid a snippet of thrilling history or plant-magic. I truly do love exploring hidden gems like Tregothnan, and learning as I wander.

girl in white dress walks along road bordered by tall green trees

People travel from all across Cornwall to purchase Christmas trees from Tregothnan in the winter time, but there are so many secrets tucked away behind the closed, white gates. You begin your journey by strolling along a winding road framed by impressively tall trees, before finding yourself at the welcome area and mini coffee shop/store (Christmas trees on the left!). Naturally, when visiting a tea plantation, you need to start the experience with a cuppa, and so I trialled a cup of Tregothnan’s home grown Early Grey. What really caught my attention about their blends is that they use no oils and no nasty tannings… these tend to leave that filmy residue on the top of your tea, like many major brand’s tea bags do! Tregothnan’s produce is all natural. The tea leaves are picked from various spots around the estate at dawn, dried, blended with other home grown herbs and florals, and boxed with their chic and classic packing. Perfect!

I have previously sampled their English Breakfast blend, and on the way back I tried their Afternoon blend. Their teas are so natural and fresh that you really don’t need to add sugar or milk to enhance the flavour. The reason we add sugar and/or milk to tea at home, is because the vastly commercial tea bag blends can be pretty bitter, in fact, I learnt that sugar and milk were introduced to tea many many moons ago when tea first became popular in England. It was such a luxury product that cheaper, faux, disgusting, concoctions were made and sold unknowingly to customers, and these not so nice ‘blends’ were mixed with milk and sugar to cover up the grim flavours. If you didn’t know, we pinched tea from China, and their blends are so pure, like Tregothnan’s, that no flavourings are needed to soften bitter vibes, and after travelling to many spots around the globe I very quickly realised that England seems to be the only place that adds milk to tea. Asking for milk has gifted me with some very, very odd looks in other countries, especially elsewhere in Europe.

a girl in a white dress stands in a bluebell field (without flowers), with tall, green trees on either side

From here, the guided tour of the gardens begins, and you’ll find yourself walking along just a fraction of Europe’s longest driveway, toward a grand, seemingly never-ending house… it was truly like stepping into a period drama. As I glanced right, some horses appeared from the adjacent stable garden – hello Hallmark romance movie! The house itself is home to the Boscawen family, and is entirely private… no photos allowed! The estate dates all the way back to 1334, and is located near the sea port of Falmouth.

Lots of ocean expeditions to other lands used to carry plant specimens back to Tregothnan via Falmouth, and the grounds house some of the world’s largest camellias and rhododendrons dating back to over 200 years ago. Tregothnan is also home to the world’s only camellia labyrinth, which you’ll find hidden away between sections of the garden. Apparently deer do love to wander into the labyrinth, so take care when exploring!

girl in red dress stands above still pond, surrounded by green trees, grass, and yellow and white flowers

So why is Tregothnan the only tea plantation in England, what’s the secret? Ok, so here’s where my inner nerd and outer tea lover can get super nerdy and excited together…

Tea is a type of Camellia, the Camellia Sinesis to be exact, and as we already know, Tregothnan is pretty well established in growing and caring for the ornamental variety. 200 years of practice comes in handy. In 1999 the head gardener at the time planted an experimental tea garden in a sheltered area of the estate. It took six years of love and care before the plants could be harvested… the longest ever wait for a cup of tea, surely?! But worth it! Tregothnan is now home to around 150 acres of tea plant. Now here’s the magical part…

As you explore the gardens you may notice a little shift in the atmosphere! I stepped from one section of the garden to another, and it genuinely felt a little warmer. The river Fal runs through the estate and gardens, and provides Tregothnan with some interesting, unique, pockets of atmosphere – they have their own micro climate! Whilst the ornamental variety of camellia are found across many English gardens, different varieties of the tea plant thrive in climates best suited to them… so as the climate varies from spot to spot, you have to plant tea that is best suited to each climate. Tregothnan’s team of clever, clever botanists and gardeners now care for a range of tea plants that can be found across the gardens. I’d love a little tea bush amongst my vegetable and herb garden!

But wait, it gets better… not only do they grow tea plants, but they also grow a wide range of plants, flowers, and herbs that are blended with their tea leaves, and can create bespoke blends on request. Some of the tea plants are even surrounded by Manuka bushes, and are also blended with the tea leaves, and the flowers for honey!

a girl in a red dress stands in the middle of a tea plantation, surrounded by tall, green trees

Tregothnan really is one incredible, self-sustaining, working estate.  If you have a plant lover or botanist in the family, or simply love roaming around pretty gardens in any season, Tregothnan is such a unique spot to explore. The estate allows bookings for private tours of the grounds, bee-keeping classes, flower arranging workshops, and in depth tea workshops. Thank you so much for having me!

Claudia xo

Tregothnan Estate & Gardens: tregothnan.co.uk



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girl in a yellow dress and beige hat walks up the steps to the white Cornwall hotel

gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - experience with the cornwall hotel & spa is a gifted collaboration 


The Cornwall Hotel is a beautiful Estate, hidden away in the little market town of St Austell…

You’ll need to keep your eyes peeled for the turning, but the drive into the Estate is dreamy - greenery surrounds you, with a natural pond to the right and tall trees ahead. The Hotel itself is tucked away behind the views, and there are an array of large, self-catering lodges even further back (I love the outdoorsy modern chalet vibe of these!). There’s even a pet-friendly cottage!

a girl sits on the steps on the terrace, behind her is the white Cornwall Hotel

I visited the Hotel many years ago, but the community areas have recently had a very exciting revamp – with the launch of Cornwall’s first Laura Ashley ‘The Tea Room’. The vibe in these areas is now completely different, with beautiful open spaces, lots of light flowing in, easy access to the terrace and garden area, and a chic Laura Ashley design that winds its way from the dreamy Tea Room (once the ‘lounge’ area) through to the restaurant rooms.

The Tea Room itself is a great space, perfect for a girl’s lunch or brunch, birthday parties, hen do’s, baby showers, and more. You can even do as I did and start your experience with an afternoon tea before heading to the spa. The room has been redecorated from top to bottom, in a beautiful, chic Laura Ashley style. It’s modern but classic, with perfect finishing touches from geometric lights to china on the walls – everything is perfectly colour coordinated. The quiet and cosy bar is right next door, and follows in a similar vibe and colour scheme… there’s even a log fire tucked away in one corner!

the Laura Ashley decorated interior of The Tea Room at The Cornwall Hotel

The Team Room is open for brunch and for afternoon tea… and the menu really does cater for all. There are amazing vegan dishes, and a brilliant child-friendly afternoon tea option. Everything really is so yummy… I was lucky enough to taste a little of everything at the open event, and to try even more on my revisit! The best part? If you can’t finish it all, there are pretty Laura Ashley boxes available to take home your leftovers. There really is an array of wonderful food!

The tea is locally sourced from England’s one and only tea plantation, Tregothnan! I absolutely recommend the ‘afternoon tea’ blend – it’s wonderfully light, and pairs so well with the afternoon tea dishes. You can also swap the tea for Prosecco… or, far better idea, have both!

the tasty scones, jam, and cream from an afternoon tea   a cup of tea and dessert plate from an afternoon tea

The spa is just a short walk away, and has a beautiful entrance… with a lovely courtyard spot surrounded by stone buildings. The gym is to your left, with the spa entrance straight ahead. The spa itself is made up of an indoor pool and adjacent bubble pool, a steam room, a sauna, and an additional open shower area. The magical feature are the concertina windows that open the pool up to the outside garden area – for summer sun only! Upstairs you’ll find a little waiting area and the quiet treatment rooms.

Sadly the bubble pool wasn’t working on the day I visited, but having experienced it on a previous visit – it is relaxing! The pool isn’t overly warm, so quick dips into the sauna were definitely welcomed.

I was treated to the wonderful ‘Vino-Perfect Radiance’ Caudalie facial, which I highly recommend! It’s a sixty minute facial that utilises a variety of Caudalie products, cool mists, and both hot and cold basalt stones. My face was so soft, and it felt so refreshed and revitalised! The perfect way to end a lovely day.



The Cornwall’s spa has a wide variety of treatments, breaks, and spa days available – they also offer a local’s Spa package, which is available to those living in PL and TR post codes… it includes a forty-five minute massage, a spa lunch to share, and use of all the spa facilities.

A lovely little Hotel and Spa combo to have right on my doorstep, I can’t wait to see what else is to come! Laura Ashley’s addition of the ‘Tea Room’ really has begun a wonderful change to the hotel’s atmosphere, and is becoming a popular feature already! Thank you so much for having me for the day!


Claudia xo

The Cornwall Hotel & Spa: thecornwall.com




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gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - day with saint michael's mount is a gifted collaboration 



I love a little mythology and folklore, a little unusual history, and St Michael’s Mount has it all…

Twinned (though smaller) with Mont Saint-Michel in France, St Michael’s Mount in Cornwall is surrounded by mysterious tales… and lots of beautiful ocean waves. There is so much history to this incredible tidal island, it has worn many faces throughout the years, and I’m excited to share a few of my favourite tales with you. Let’s jump right into it!

It’s said that the Mount is named in honour of Saint Michael, the patron Saint of fishermen. Tales that date as far back as 495 AD mention hypnotic mermaids luring sailors toward treacherous rocks around the Mount, but that these sailors were guided safely away by a vision of Saint Michael himself. Four miracles are also noted to have happened at the Mount in the years 1262 and 1263. These events and visions of course drew religious attention, and people began to make the pilgrimage to Saint Michael’s Mount. If you time your visit right, you can walk along the impressive man-made causeway and follow in the footsteps of the many, many pilgrims that once, and still do, walk the causeway.

Another exciting draw to this tidal island is the energy! The Mount is said to be built above ancient ley lines, which are lines of energy running beneath the land, or in this case - the sea bed. These ley lines cross at the heart of the Mount, and if you sit patiently enough in one perfectly positioned seat within the church (that can be found at the highest point of the Mount), you may feel an energy circling your legs. I of course had to take a seat and feel the energy for myself. I wasn’t told where or what I’d feel before sitting down, but after a few moments you can feel a warm pull around your legs, almost like pins and needles (and no, it wasn’t poor circulation!). There is usually a guide in the church, and his tales of the ley lines, and the religious ties to them, are so captivating! They also say that where ley lines cross, you can often receive messages from the other side. Ooooooh!

Saint Michael, mentioned above, is also known as the archangel Michael. Places of worship devoted to the archangel Michael were built across ley lines all around the world, hence another reason for the Mount's biblical name. The castle on the Mount was once a monastery from the 8th to the early 11th century, and if you take peek on an external door on your right before you enter the castle, you'll see the date 29 September inscribed on it - the date of Michaelmas!

A girl stands on an empty beach, with a view of St Michael's Mount ahead of her.

The Mount’s next little tale for you is a great one, and a fairly well-known local legend. The legend of Jack the Giant Killer! The tale tells that an enormous, eighteen-foot tall, giant named Cormoran once made the Mount his home. He used to terrorise the land, and at night would wade across the waters and steal cattle from the local farms. One moonlit night, a local boy named Jack made his way across the infamous cobbled causeway to lay a trap for Cormoran. He dug a pit big enough to engulf the giant, covered it with sticks and foliage, and waited, hidden from sight, for dawn. As dawn broke, Jack blew his horn and woke the giant, who, as planned, came chasing after him! Jack lured Cormoran to the pit, where he fell! Success! The tale ends in many different ways, the nicest end being that Jack covers the trapped giant in debris, and he becomes a part of the Mount itself!

Shortly after you begin your walk up the cobbled path of the Mount, you may be lucky enough to spot Cormoran’s stone heart beneath your feet – I always miss this sneaky little stone! Clearly I’m not ready to hear his heart beating away just yet.

a girl stands on the cobbled pathway, with a view of St Michael's Mount ahead of her.

There is so much history to be found at Saint Michael’s Mount… once a Monastery, it has also seen its fair share of military thanks to Napoleon and the Spanish Armada, and is still home to the St Aubyn family who live in the magnificent castle on the Mount (you can read all about the St Aubyn family history here). Many parts of the castle are open to the public, including some beautiful rooms and a small armoury, and the views from the very top are mesmerising. On a sunny day, you can see that beautiful blue of the ocean stretching for miles and miles. You can see the causeway beneath the waves too! The island itself is also home to a few residents, so do take care to be considerate when exploring the mini harbour area.

The walk up to the Mount can be a little taxing, especially on a hot day, but there are a few spots to stop and take in the view. It really is worth making it to the top. You’ll even spot an array of small cannons lining the outer defence walls. As you wander the one-way route around the public parts of the castle, you’ll see the history of the people who once lived here, with photographs and furniture and tapestries – the library is pretty impressive too! Beside the church you’ll find the highest point of the Mount, and if you make a little wish for romance whilst touching it, the legend states that your wish for love will be granted!

Back at the bottom of the Mount is the garden. It is a separate fee to enter, but it is a beautiful spot to explore, and you’ll also be gifted with some unique views of the castle. Did you know that to reach and tend to part of the garden, the gardeners have to abseil the walls?! Not for the fainthearted!

a view of a pinky sunset over the ocean, and sea-weed covered rocks.   a girl walks across a cobbled causeway, wrapped in a blanket and carrying a lantern. St Michael's Mount and a castle is ahead of her.

It is utterly enchanting to walk across the causeway at low tide. I once found myself wading ankle-deep across the cobbled path, with fish swimming amongst my feet! What magic! The tide does change from day to day, and it’s such an experience to visit at low tide, even if you have to take a boat in one direction and walk on the return. It's pretty magical at sunset too, with pink hues framing the castle itself. 

Claudia xo

St Michael's Mount: www.stmichaelsmount.co.uk
You can check the tide times on the Saint Michael’s Mount website.




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a girl stands waist-deep in a crystal clear indoor pool.

gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - experience with bedruthan hotel & spa is a gifted collaboration 

The Bedruthan Hotel boasts a relaxing little spa, with a beautiful, peaceful sensory spa garden, and views of Mawgan Porth and the surrounding area…

A little while ago I was invited to spend the day relaxing at the adults only Scarlet Hotel & Spa (you can read all about it here), well Bedruthan Hotel & Spa is their family-friendly sister hotel, and you’ll find it tucked away behind the Scarlet.

As you enter you do take a little moment to find your bearings, the bar is in front of you, the restaurant to the right, and the reception for the hotel is tucked away down a little corridor to your left. The vibe of the hotel is quite a superior seventies style, even down to the mugs in the bar area. Eventually we made our way to the Spa, which is a short, sunny walk from the hotel. We even passed a door labelled ‘Cinema’, which was quite exciting!

a girl sits in a large hydrotherpay pool, surrounded in white and grey tiles, and clear blue water.

The spa staff were so friendly and welcoming, and kindly gave us (and any other new guests or visitors throughout the day) a tour of the facilities. From the reception desk there are three doors… one leads to the relaxing treatment rooms, the second to the warm indoor pool, and the third to the dreamy saunas, steam room, and mini balcony area – which has amazing views of the ocean. We made quick work of the changing rooms, before wading into the beautifully decorated, and enormous, hydropool… you can find this in the sauna/steam room area. It really is beautifully decorated, and the entire room is so warm and relaxing. There’s even a tucked-away, comfortable seating area with a daily hot tea on hand. Water can also be found around the spa.

We loved the lavender infused sauna, though we couldn’t smell much lavender, it was very soothing – and decorated in matching violet tiles! We did venture into the indoor pool room, and the shower area in there is beautiful! It matches the rest of the pool area. It is an open shower, so bathers on please, and the complementary shower products are unique to Bedruthan.

a girl sits inside a stone room, with a little bowl of home made skin scrub.

After a warm cup of peppermint tea, it was time to head to the Sensory Spa Garden. You’ll find the garden tucked away behind a wooden gate, on the path between the hotel and the spa, and is available by booking only! It was fully booked that day, with another couple or group entering every 15 minutes, and though it was busy, the team ran the Sensory Spa Garden like clockwork.

Your booking is for one hour, and you work your way around the seven spots of the garden… the first is a dry scrub, which is made in front of your eyes in the garden with a mix of home-grown herbs. You then move to the open showers to rinse, before taking in the view from the very, very hot barrel sauna. The dry scrub truly made my skin so, so soft! Your fourth point is a cold bucket challenge! If you’re feeling brave enough, you pull the cord and some very refreshingly cold water will definitely cool you down.

The fifth point is the hot tub… relaxation time! There are three wooden hot tubs in the Sensory Spa Garden, and they are very thoughtfully partitioned off from one another, so even though there were other guests around, we felt fairly concealed! This is your moment to really take in the garden. It is beautiful. There are flowers and herbs growing all around, with trees sheltering the view of the pathway to the hotel/spa, and a large wall to separate you from the outdoor pool. It is very cosy, relaxing, and private. A quick essential oil and herbal scrub in the shower area (again, made from home-grown ingredients found around the garden), and you’re smelling like invigorating lemon grass.

Last, but by no means least, is a hot cup of herbal tea whilst you dip your feet into some warm water and sit by the crackling log fire. Blankets are provided, and this would be so perfect on a summer’s eve. An hour is definitely a good amount of time for the garden experience, and you can cool off in the outdoor pool afterwards, or do as we did and head to the bar/restaurant for lunch. The restaurant is closed between lunch and dinner servings, but the bar offers some cakey delights or olives to snack on!

a girl sits inside a wooden hot tub, in a pretty garden area.

The day ended with truly thee best massage I’ve ever had. I was lucky enough to try the hot poultice massage, and the poultices are a mix of herbs, roots, and flowers – they smelled like a really yummy tea infusion. It is an all over body massage, and was blissfully relaxing. My therapist took the time to ask if I had any areas that I felt needed work, and not only did she take extra care to work on them, but after my massage she was also kind enough to tell me where my body holds a lot of stress and tension – which no therapist has ever explained before! It was really interesting to hear. You also get to take your poultices home with you, and they can be used to massage your shoulders, or can soak alongside you in the bath (do keep them refrigerated before use). I also got to try one of the Spa’s Oula facials, which left my skin feeling so refreshed and soft! The products are all so gentle, and smelled wonderful.

The treatments at Bedruthan’s Spa are sublime, they all sound as exciting as the next! You can find a list of Bedruthan’s Spa treatments here.

a girl wades in a crystal-clear hydropool.

Bedruthan Hotel's Spa really is a dreamy escape for anybody looking for a little relaxation. Whilst the Sensory Spa Garden is fairly fast paced, you do come away feeling rejuvenated, and can unwind beside the secluded outdoor pool or by sitting in the warmth of the hydropool room. The Spa and therapist team are a real dream, and were so friendly and kind. Thank you so much for inviting me! 

Claudia xo

Bedruthan Hotel & Spa: www.bedruthan.com




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lots of reindeer are walking and grazing across a snowy landscape
gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - tromsø trip with tromsø arctic reindeer and northern shots are gifted or part-gifted collaborations


Tromsø can be found upon, and around, a little island that sits to the north of Norway...

In the summer the northern parts of Norway witness the midnight sun, which leaves them with twenty-four hours of day light. I was lucky enough to see this a few years ago when I visited Norway and saw the midnight sun barely dip beneath the horizon in Nordkapp, but on this trip to Norway I visited toward the end of their winter season, and experienced the shorter days that came with it... and a whole lot of magic.

I love the snow, I'm always happy to visit a country in its wintry months, and Tromsø does winter so well. I stayed in a great little Airbnb, a short walk from the centre of Tromsø... everything does get a little icy, so I highly recommend a pair of crampons if you want to explore on foot (I bought a cheap pair on eBay). The city centre itself is an array of grocery stores, general goods stores, and restaurants; there isn't too much to do for an explorer - but a walk along the waterfront is pretty, with rows of traditional Nordic buildings to admire. There is also plenty to do and see in the surrounding areas!

If you take a few moments to walk across the bridge that leads away from the city centre, you'll find the cable car that takes you to the top of Floya Mountain. This one was a little much for me to take on, so I didn't make the trek to find it (if you've followed me for a while, you'll know that I am not ok with heights... at all) - but I have seen lots of photos from the top and it looks beautiful. You can apparently also see the northern lights from up here in the winter if you're lucky enough, and the midnight sun 'set' in the summer.

Back to what I did get up to... my first full day had an early start - but an exciting one. A short coach ride through the beautiful snowy landscapes of Tromsø and I was being warmly welcomed into a traditional Sami camp that hosts the Tromsø Arctic Reindeer tours. This was definitely one of the experiences that I was most looking forward to on this trip, even the sudden blizzard wasn't going to stop me from attempting to cuddle a reindeer.

a roaring wood fire inside a sami lavvu (or yurt) with lots of seating

The day began with a welcome inside a large lavvu, which is a traditional Sami version of a yurt. It was so cosy and warm inside, with a log fire burning and an array of cosy benches. After the brief introduction of the Sami people on hand for the day, I braved the increasing blizzard and headed out to meet and feed the reindeer. What. A. Moment.

Now, before we go any further... I want to express that these reindeer are entirely wild reindeer. They are cared for by the Sami people, who have been living at one with nature and caring for reindeer for over 5,000 years. There are Sami people all across Scandinavia, who all have different ways of living with the land, but the tribe in Tromsø are reindeer herders.

The reindeer are kept in an enormous enclosure over the winter months (which is when the Tromsø Reindeer experiences are open to the public) for the sole reason of keeping the reindeer safe. The predator number is on the rise in Tromsø, and every year the reindeer number was rapidly dropping - with pregnant female reindeer being the main targets. The Sami people in Tromsø wanted to do something to protect the reindeer, and this is their answer. The reindeer numbers are back up, they are incredibly well cared for, and they are still entirely wild animals. After their brief few months in the enormous (it really is enormous!) penned area, the reindeer are released back into the wild to continue their lives as normal - and the Sami people follow them around the landscape, caring for them and working with them. It really was so interesting to learn all about it, and to understand how the Sami peacefully live from the land and with the reindeer. I feel like I have to express this, not only because I found it so fascinating, but because there is such a strong concern for animal warfare (and rightly so!).

an antlered reindeer up close   antlered reindeer peacefully graze on a snowy landscape

It was absolutely incredible to be amongst so many reindeer, there are so many beautiful colours, and they have such a calm temperament... of course, they all want to be your friend when you have a big bucket of food. The tours are twice daily, once in the morning, and once in the afternoon, which is when the reindeer would usually feed. Booking onto these tours helps the Sami people to feed the large amount of reindeer - and it really is such an exciting and beautiful thing to experience!

The reindeer are strong, beautiful but strong, and they'll really want to get into your bucket of food haha. I did have to drop the bucket at one point when two pretty bulky beasts were battling their way into it at the same time, but it was so mesmerising to step back and just watch. I was lucky enough to be graced with a few magical moments of just sitting in the snow amongst them. You get to spend an hour or so outside with these beautiful creatures, and it is honestly worth every moment, I would absolutely go back and live this experience all over again.

perfectlyclaudia (a girl) sits amongst feeding reindeer

Reindeer sledding is a part of the day, and wow was it cold in the icy winds and snow, but I was assured that sledding is something that the Sami have done with the reindeer for thousands of years, and that the reindeer need to be exercised over the winter within their contained environment. After a brief sled around the reindeer's temporary home, I was invited inside to warm up by the fire and enjoy a bowl of vegetarian soup and a yummy cup of hot chocolate.

I love learning about the culture, traditions, and folklore as I travel, so this experience was a real treat for me. As I mentioned earlier, I got to learn all about the Sami culture and how they live with the land and the reindeer. The Sami people also shared some of their traditional outfits and explained how they interact with the more modern world in twenty-nineteen. The Sami people also have traditional songs, called yoiks, and I was lucky enough to hear one on the day. It's such a haunting sound, absolutely beautiful, have a peek on YouTube if you're interested! Each song has a meaning and is sung for a purpose or person, which means that every yoik is unique.

Tromsø Arctic Reindeer also have an array of eco-friendly tours, you can find out about these here. The best part is, for every booking, 10% goes back into supporting the ecosystem, local land, and local wildlife.

a cute reindeer face up close in the snow

The magic really didn't stop on this day. I headed back to Tromsø for a quick dinner before jumping back onto a coach and riding off to chase the northern lights. As the blizzard was still going, it was difficult to find a tour that was happy to chase the lights, but I went with a company called Northern Shots who were happy to drive as far as Finland if they had to.

There are so many factors to consider for viewing the northern lights. The common misconception is that you chase the lights, but you actually chase the weather conditions. The lights will appear no matter the weather or time of day if the science is right, and so you need to find the perfect conditions to see them. The most ideal conditions are when it's pitch black, no cloud cover, completely clear skies, no light pollution, and no strong moon light... so checking the weather throughout the day, and knowing when the sun goes down, will help you nail all of these factors. There are also lots of apps that determine your success rate of seeing the lights, and tell you where the best locations are.

Even if you do have the most ideal viewing conditions, the lights are still a rarity to appear, and usually they're visible as a grey cloud, or very dull glow across the sky, so I wasn't expecting any more than that. An enormous misconception about the aurora borealis is that they're visibly green in the sky every single time... but usually what we see on a screen is vastly improved by photo editing.

a starry sky above mountains and a fjord
...can you see that shooting star?!

I was really impressed the tour, the guide was seriously reliable. She had done oodles of research into the weather conditions, where was best to take the group, and even went through the camera settings that we'd need to shoot the lights. I shot the lights in Iceland one winter, so I was ready to go, but if I hadn't known the settings her tips would've been enormously valuable. She was even kind enough to walk up and down the coach checking settings. Tripods were also provided for those who didn't have them, as well as hot chocolate and cookies to keep us warm throughout the evening!

So... did I see the lights?


...well. I absolutely did see the aurora borealis, and I can honestly say, I've never seen anything like it. I was so lucky in Iceland to see the lights three times, but they couldn't compare at all to what I saw on this one night in Tromsø. It was pure magic. I barely edited the photo above. The lights got brighter and brighter, and graced the skies with their presence for two whole hours. You could visibly see the colours vividly in the sky dancing around the stars. At one point I remember staring up at the sky and just saying 'holy shit, this is insane'. The fjord was glowing green with the reflection, the sky was bright with greens, purples, light reds, it was mesmerising. I almost lay on my coat on the floor to watch it. There really are no words for what I saw that night, it's a moment that I will never ever forget. An absolute rarity.

I tucked myself away from the other cameras to get some great snaps... stay tuned for those. They'll be appearing over on my Instagram @perfectlyclaudia soon.


Tromsø was an absolute dream. From magical moments in the blizzard with reindeer, to completely magical lights dancing away in the sky, it was just something else, and I absolutely recommend a visit if you're heading to Norway. Have you seen the lights before? Comment below and let me know! 

Claudia xo



Travel Tip
The Radisson Blu Hotel is right in the centre of Tromsø, and is the main pick up point for the oodles of tours in the area, so if you do book any day trips you'll need to get familiar with this spot. 



Travel Details
Accommodation: Tromsø Airbnb
Reindeer: Tromsø Arctic Reindeer
Northern Lights: Northern Shots




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gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership #presstrip - bergen trip with visit bergen, visit flam, and fjord tours is a part-gifted collaboration


Bergen is a pretty little Scandinavian city, sitting amongst the mountains and along the fjords of Norway…

Bergen is known as the gateway to the fjords, it’s Norway’s second largest city, and it’s definitely livelier than you would expect from the oodles of Instagram photos you may have seen. It was founded over 900 years ago, and its old Bryggen area is definitely a beautiful testament to its history. I spent just a few days exploring Bergen, and I fell in love with its charming, bustling atmosphere, cobbled streets, and colourful houses.  

Day one was arrival day, and it was a little wet, so a little explore of the surrounding streets was in order, mostly to find the nearest food store. I stayed at a little Airbnb just a short walk from Bergen’s bustling restaurants, fish market, and Bryggen. The cobbled streets around the Airbnb were charming, and every house was as beautiful as the next. There are so many little twists and turns, with new surprises around every corner, it’s easy to lose yourself amongst the beauty of these Bergen streets. In one direction you have wooden homes in whites and pastel shades, and in the other direction you have more colourful stone homes with incredible views of the fjords and endless mountains. It really is a dreamy city.

From all the photos that I’ve seen of Bergen’s Bryggen, I expected a small little town – when I started walking around and exploring I really was surprised at just how large this city was. Bergen definitely has that cosy town feel, but the endless streets of beautiful houses really show its size.


My second day in Bergen was exciting. If you’ve been following along with my previous travel posts, you’ll know that I love staying in a base location and booking lots of day trips, so naturally I had to make sure I picked the perfect day trips for my short stays in each spot around Norway. The Norway in a Nutshell tour hosted by Fjord Tours is ideal if you’re short for time and want to see what Norway has to offer, it’s also ideal if (like me) you don’t have/book your own transport as you travel. You can choose to start the tour from a number of spots around Norway, and leave the tour at a number of spots. As I was in Bergen, this is where my tour started and finished. The Norway in a Nutshell tour is self-guided, and includes a couple of scenic train journeys, one beautiful fjord ride, and a trip on the infamous Flåm railway. It’s very easy to follow once you have an itinerary!

   

I boarded the train in Bergen… be sure to ask the conductor if you’re on the right rain! I almost had a little mishap here thanks to incorrect boards and train listings, and early ended up on the wrong train. Oops! Mini panic moment over, and the journey began. The long train from Bergen takes you to the little town of Voss, and from there you take a beautifully scenic coach ride to Gudvangen. Gudvangen is right on the fjord front and has amazing views of the mountains and the water. It’s a quiet little spot, with a few wooden Nordic houses, and a little shop attached to a coffee shop.

The fjord ride was definitely one of my favourite parts of the day. I’ve taken a fjord ferry once before, on my last trip to Norway in the summer of 2017, but this time I got to see the fjords in all their wintry glory. Snow snow and snow everywhere! This ferry ride takes you across one of Europe’s most narrow fjords – Nærøyfjord; it’s excitingly included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List! The second fjord you venture onto is the equally exciting and picturesque Aurlandsfjord. For a snowy day, it wasn’t too cold of windy on these mountain-encased fjords, and so there were lots of moments for picture taking, and simply enjoying the snow-capped mountain views with a hot chocolate in hand.


The fjord ferry drops you off in the very quiet but scenic town of Flåm. If you do ever stop here, definitely have a little wander around – I found some great spots hidden away behind the initial buildings along the fjord front. There’s also a fabulous bakery, perfect for a quick photo op and another delightful hot choc… pastry and all.  

The infamous Flåm Railway ride was up next, and the train is just a step or two away from the fjord front. You can even see the railway line, and probably the train ready and waiting, from the moment you disembark. The train is that perfect green, older, train, with spacious compartments inside. The whole vibe is that luxurious old train feel, it’s perfect! The ride itself is only around 35 minutes; I definitely wanted it to last a little longer… or maybe go just a tad slower so that I could take it all in for a few extra moments! But it was absolutely worth the experience.

As the journey began, I honestly felt like I’d sat on the wrong side of the train… so many people were oohing and ahhing on the other side, and my view was an incredibly close look at the mountain sides. Do get up and take a peek! Here’s a tip – if all the spots are full, head to the doors. They have big windows, perfect for a solo sight-see. Your time will come though, the views do change and your side of the train will have its day. Everything was covered in layers and layers of untouched white snow, even the mountain peaks were peppered in it… the scenery was one magical fairy tale view of snow and ice.

You are treated to a little stop along the way, at a fabulous but small view point. There is a bit of a gap between the train and the platform’s edge… errr, not for the faint hearted (or maybe I just thought it was bigger than it actually was!) There’s also a little waterfall here, which was hard to spot amongst the snow; definitely a journey I’d love to retake one summer! A few moments to take in the view, or to snap a photo, and then it’s a quick hop back onto the train. I was surrounded by even more endless seas of snowy white backdrops as the train headed towards its tiny station in Myrdal. The snow was falling in Myrdal and it was completely magical, though very windy and cold, but it was such a beautiful sight… a tiny little Nordic station, covered in snow.

From here I caught the train back to Bergen, where my Norway in a Nutshell journey began. There are plenty of stops along the way, or you can even take a train to Oslo and continue your adventures there. But it was back to Bergen for me, for a few more days of exploring cobbled streets and admiring colourful pastel homes. A big thank you to Visit Flåm who were so incredibly helpful in putting an itinerary together.


My last full day in Bergen was spent with a late morning ride on the Fløibanen funicular up to Mount Fløyen. I’m not one for heights, but as the funicular is an enclosed train ride that runs up and down the mountain, I had no problems, phew. The funicular runs every few minutes, and is a quick six minute trip. You can even walk the winding roads up the mountain to reach the top of Mount Fløyen. Lots of people live along the route, with houses covering the side of the mountain.

The view from the top was absolutely amazing. It’s a perfect overview of Bergen below, and you can see how enormous the fjords really are. The viewing area is right next to the entrance, so it is a little busy, but you don’t miss out on seeing the view due to the crowds. There are built-in stone seating areas too, so if you want to sit and admire the views were city meets fjord, you have all the time in the world (well, until it closes at 11pm). I expected to get the train to the top, see the view for a little while, and head back down again, but there is so much more to see and explore!

At the top of Mount Fløyen surprisingly sits a beautiful hotel, a fabulous woodland area, a small restaurant, public toilets, and a souvenir shop. There are even mountain sheep to be spotted every now and again. Everything was a little icy at the top, which proved difficult for walking around the pathways, but it was so much fun to see people tobogganing down the short, snowy slopes. The view of Bergen follows you around the mountain side too, with plenty of benches to stop and stare out over the mountains and fjords below.

From here you can also hike to Mount Ulriken, following the hike route of ‘Vidden’. It takes around five hours to walk it, but think of the views! I decided to head back down on the funicular, and spend the rest of the day exploring Bergen’s Bryggen.


The fjord front of Bergen is called Bryggen (‘the dock’), and it’s been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1979! You can’t miss eye-catching Bryggen. It architecturally takes you back hundreds of years, and surprisingly it’s not just the few buildings that you see on the gram either, you can walk around the many many buildings that make up Bryggen. Most of the buildings are now commercial, housed by little coffee shops, artists, restaurants, and bars. There are a few pricey hotels along this strip too. It’s still a very active dock, with the fish market just a few steps away, and lots of boats moored around the waterfront. A dock to fall in love with! Even in the rain.



I absolutely loved exploring the wonderful, storybook streets of Bergen, and it’s beautiful Bryggen. I felt completely safe in this history-rich city, even with its bustling atmosphere. I’m sure there was so much more to explore too, but I’m thrilled with what I experienced! I’m not usually a city girl, but when there are magical pastel houses and fjords to view, and street after street with that old town vibe, I easily found myself falling in love with Bergen.

Claudia xo



Travel Tip
If you head to the Visit Bergen website, you’ll be able to find their Bergen Card (click here). These little gems earn you discounts in an array of restaurants, discounted or free public transport (including to/from the airport), and allow free or discounted access to lots of great things – such as the Fløibanen funicular up to Mount Fløyen. 



Travel Details
Accommodation: Bergen Airbnb
Fjord Tour: Norway in a Nutshell
Visit Flåm: Flåm Railway
Visit Bergen: Bergen Card




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gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - spa day with carbis bay hotel & spa is a gifted collaboration 



I don't find wintry blues a bad thing, especially when you're gifted with the dreamy, endless ocean views at Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate and their C Bay Spa…

You may have seen an array of stories on my Instagram (@perfectlyclaudia) from my day at the C Bay Spa; it really was a relaxing day with all the views... let me tell you all about it. We arrived at the Hotel at 11am, and were very kindly shown to the Spa - it's tucked away at the back of the hotel, and you can either walk around the hotel to get to it, or wander through the beautifully decorated hotel and restaurant.


   
  

The spa itself is small, but has that boutique feel, so the size wasn't at all bothersome when sharing with only a few other guests - there are many little spots to hide yourself away. Internally, everything is so well decorated, and there are a few corners of the relaxation/lounge area that I wouldn't mind recreating at home. 

Though small, the C Bay Spa spreads itself over two floors. Reception is on the ground floor and meets you as soon as you enter. Also on the bottom floor you'll find a well stocked nail and beauty area, a few cosy tables for lunch, and a fabulously eye-catching champagne bar. You can also see out to the pool area from here. The very snug fitting rooms are also on the ground floor, with one toilet and one separate shower area. We did find this a little tricky to manoeuvre around as the day became busier, but we patiently waited our turn and all was well. 

A short staircase to the second floor and you find yourself in the cosiest of lounge areas. There are three little sofa areas to relax amongst... one area is sat beside a beautiful feature wall with a built in faux fireplace, and the second and third areas have mesmerising views of that endless blue ocean. If you look close enough, you can even see Godrevy lighthouse in the distance. Dolphins and seals are often spotted here too... I'd gladly take my time relaxing in here to ocean watch.

Just behind this relaxation lounge are the beautiful treatment rooms. These are just as well decorated as the rest of the spa, and even house individual showers.


   



Our day started with a quiet hot drink in the relaxation lounge, before we were shown to the Hotel's new beach lodge area. These lodges are honestly beyond luxurious. From the outside they look fairly small, but as soon as you open that door you realise how endlessly vast they are - with enormous shared rooms and brilliantly sized double rooms, the lodges house between 4-8 people. Though they vary in 'luxury rating', each of the beach lodges is decorated as perfectly as the next. If I could live in one of these, I would. Most of the bedrooms and bathrooms in each lodge boast an amazing a sea view, and the shared kitchen and dining areas are also all sea-facing.

Each lodge comes with its very own private garden, which is a mere hop onto the sandy beach that it overlooks. One exciting thing to note is that these lodges were built into the cliff face... so as you walk into the lodge on ground level, you then cascade from floor to floor of bedrooms, eventually arriving on the very bottom floor which happens to again be ground level - and ocean adjacent.

...but can I just take a moment to talk about the bathrooms in these lodges?! All of the bathrooms in each lodge are incredibly glam, but the tubs are something else. They are enormous, beautiful tubs, and are often accompanied by (you've guessed it) an ocean view. Imagine soaking in a bubble-engulfed tub, watching a moody ocean storming away in front of you. Bliss.


   



Each lodge also has its very own hot tub. Some are positioned on a terrace area, some are sunken into the garden area - both types are dreamy, and both have perfect views of the beach and ocean. We spent a little time taking in the moody ocean views from one of the terrace tubs. I was hoping for dolphins, but no luck (I've been in Cornwall for twenty-three years now, and still no dolphins or seals have graced me with their presence)... we did spot a couple of brave swimmers though.

After our time in the warm and bubbling hot tub, we made our way back to the main spa to relax and take in the views. Almost level with the lounge, you'll find a cosy outdoor barrel sauna. There is also a hidden gazebo area that is tucked away right at the top of the grounds. The sauna area overlooks not only the ocean, but the spa's outdoor pool. The pool sadly is a little dated and doesn't live up to the rest of the spa's decor, it's also a little chilly on a cold day so we didn't venture in. On the same level as the pool you'll find a small hot-tub-sized hydrotherapy pool; prettier than the main pool, this was a popular spot - so much so that we didn't get a chance to take a dip, but we admired it from afar.




Soon it was lunch time, and we descended to the reception area to peek at the menu. There are a variety of dishes, each sounding as delicious as the next, with plenty of veggie and vegan options alongside a small array of meaty dishes. I opted for the saffron and cider-battered fish and homemade fries, and my guest opted for a boiled egg and feta cheese salad. Both were tasty, and definitely filling. The garlic ciabatta was pretty great too!

After lunch it was time for my spa treatment. I tried the 'head in the clouds' treatment, which is a forty-five minute back, neck, and scalp massage... and it was bliss. The massage room was perfectly dimly lit for that extra relaxation mode, with an array of luxurious products on display. I would happily recommend this massage if you have a little stress to release, it really worked out the knots - and who doesn't love a head massage?! There are a variety of treatments and packages  to choose from, and you can find them all here on the Hotel's website. A special thank you to the therapist, who asked if there were any areas in particular that I had trouble with, and then took the time to focus on those areas. She also chose the perfect products for my skin type.



The views are definitely the crowning glory for the C Bay Spa, and the interior decor is such a dream. The beach lodges are just a short walk from the spa too, an ideal little stroll if a pamper session is on the cards. The Hotel are currently building an extra block of sea-facing rooms, with a restaurant and shopping area... I can't wait to see how that building looks when it's completed. If it's anything like the lodges, it'll be pure bliss. Thank you so much for having us, I hope to come back for some cocktails on the beach when the sun is shining.

Claudia xo

Carbis Bay Hotel & Estate: www.carbisbayhotel.co.uk
C Bay Spa: www.carbisbayhotel.co.uk/spa



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perfectlyclaudia visit bath
gdpr note; #ad #giftedpartnership - bath trip with visit bath is a gifted collaboration (blog post was not required/paid for) 





I absolutely love Bath, it's one of my favourite cities, and I was lucky enough to be invited to explore it with Visit Bath...

It was a wonderful two day trip, with lots of fun activities and lots of yummy treats. I also got to spend the two days with seven other blogger and instagram gals - and that was a real treat (though challenging for photo ops as we didn't have enormous amounts of time to shoot!)


Day One 
Our first day began with a meet and greet at Visit Bath HQ, where one by one we arrived and gathered ...and chatted about the Fyre Festival (what else?!). Once all together, our 'feel good' adventure quickly began with a visit to The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. If you're familiar with Bath, you may have heard of the Royal Crescent. It's a dreamy row of beautiful stone houses that has a unique twist... the houses are set in a fabulous crescent moon shape. It really makes for a wonderful view - and great for photo ops! The architecture in Bath is mesmerising, and it's like this all throughout the city ...but more on that later.

Tucked away amongst the stately row of homes, The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa resides. It is pretty fancy, and it's as full of character on the inside as it is on the outside - with lots of older features being highlighted and maintained. We very sadly didn't see much of the interior, just the reception and the library, but we did get to stroll down their very pretty garden path to view their enchanting little spa. The interior of the spa is clean, fresh, and modern, but the pool area itself keeps a few of the older vibes with fabulous church-style windows and stone.

perfectlyclaudia visit bath
The Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa


Sadly we had pure moments to find our cameras and take snaps, but we did all get one or two for the gram. We quickly made the short walk over to our next stop... the wonderful Comptoir & Cuisine. This lovely little spot is tucked away, but inside you'll find floor after floor of fun interior, with a champagne room in the basement and a restaurant area higher up.

Immediately we loved this quirky little French-inspired spot, and the food was amazing. Comptoir & Cuisine is predominately a cheese, meats, and champagne bar, but there are seafood options (and amazing bread and spreads!). Being a veggie and non-dairy eater, there was a little moment where I sobbed whilst watching the other gals tucking in to all the cheesy and meaty goodies, but then the seafood dishes emerged, and all was well again in the world. The endless champagne was an absolute treat too! I would absolutely recommend this spot to anybody visiting Bath who loves a little quirky spot... or good champers.

perfectlyclaudia visit bath
Comptoir & Cuisine


A short taxi ride later and we were at our next stop of the day, Julia Davey Ceramics. Julia is absolutely lovely, and has the cutest little store front - with a fabulous workshop space that is just a hope and a skip away from the main shop floor. This little workshop caters for pottery classes, flower crown workshops, macrame workshops ...there are so so many more fabulous options.

We walked into her lovely little workshop and everything was already fabulously laid out for us... the clay had already been rolled, and the tools and necessities were presented for us to utilise. Julia was so clear and helpful, and each of us absolutely loved creating our pretty coasters and tea-light holders. She walked us through the process, from cutting the clay to decorating and finishing the clay. Julia has also been kind enough to pop all of our pieces into her kiln, and will be posting them out to us when they're ready. I would absolutely love to go back for a flower crown workshop!

perfectlyclaudia visit bath
Julia Davey


Our long day of activities wasn't over yet, we headed to our accommodation to get our first peek at the bedrooms. You wouldn't know the house was there unless you'd booked, but we were pleasantly surprised as we opened the front door and were immediately greeted by the first bedroom - it was beautiful. A quick right turn and there was a perfect little instagrammable flower wall spot. Downstairs in the basement area we found a fabulous, though dim, lounge area, and my favourite (en-suite) bedroom of the house. Another floor up and you'll find a small bathroom and two very large bedrooms, keep going and you'll find a beautiful, large, country-style kitchen and another large bedroom, on the final attic-style floor (where I was living) you'll find two more bedrooms and the dreamiest bathroom of the house.

I have to be entirely honest, there were ups and downs to this accommodation. It was cold, so cold. All of us realised we'd simultaneously woken up at around 4am because it was that cold. Also, not all of the rooms are decorated to the same fabulous form as the bedrooms on the lower floors, and so I had one of the least decorated rooms. Now I am absolutely not one to turn away less attractive accommodation, but when you've seen the best rooms in the house... ya know? The bathroom on my floor also didn't have a lock, so I had to announce an 'I'll prop the door open when I'm not in there' rule haha - a shame as the bathroom was seriously dreamy.

perfectlyclaudia visit bath
Bath Boutique Stays


I would however say that the accommodation is ideal for a large family getaway, where you can pop the kids in the attic area, and the adults can bag the best rooms. Or a girl's trip, and you can even share rooms if you wanted to as all the rooms have two to three beds. It's also only a quick walk, or taxi ride, back into Bath's centre - where we headed to the fabulous Abbey Hotel for dinner.

I stayed at the Abbey Hotel the last time I was in Bath, but they have now overhauled the restaurant and reopened it as Koffman & Mr White's - a beautiful standalone restaurant. The restaurant is perfectly lit with a great and busy atmosphere, it's chic and simple in it's design, and the food is honestly flawless. There are great veggie options on the menu, as well has an array of fabulous meat dishes. I opted for the blackened sea bass as a main, and the poached pears for dessert. Everything was cooked to perfection, very happy ladies all round! I'll absolutely be back the next time I'm in Bath... I need those poached pears in my life.

perfectlyclaudia visit bath   perfectlyclaudia visit bath
Koffman and Mr White's


...and that was a very busy day one over. Back to our accommodation for a good night's sleep, as day two began pretty early.


Day Two
Our second day started with a very quick cuppa before we donned swimsuits and jumped into taxis. Icy roads done, and we were walking toward the stop on the trip that I was most looking forward to... the Thermae Bath Spa. I've been to Bath a handful of times, but never to the Thermae Bath Spa, so was really excited to get in and take a peek around. After heading to Iceland in twenty-seventeen, I'm all about the geothermal pool.

We met the friendliest staff, who very kindly escorted us to the changing rooms and then onward to the elevators, but none of us were prepared for the magic... those elevator doors opened to a beautiful sunset rising over a dreamy and steamy rooftop pool. No other guests, just us and that colourful sky, with endless views of Bath. The sunrise definitely made the -1 degree weather far easier to take, and the naturally heated water was pretty great too. The spa actually have to cool the water to 33-35 degrees before it makes it to the pool! There's so much history to the spa, and you can read all about it and its natural thermal waters here on the Spa's website - it's genuinely interesting!

perfectlyclaudia visit bath
Thermae Bath Spa


The Thermae Spa recently revamped their spa area, also known as the 'wellness suite', where you can find an array of beautiful saunas and steam rooms below the rooftop pool. There's a pure Roman theme throughout the spa, which fits perfectly with Bath and it's strong Roman heritage.

perfectlyclaudia visit bath
Thermae Bath Spa


The lower floor has an indoor pool, and like the rooftop pool it's also filled with natural thermal waters. There are over 42 natural minerals in the water, which makes it a little difficult to swim around... but it's perfect for floating and relaxing. There's also a little jacuzzi area within this pool, with bubbles that intermittently appear. In between it all a final floor hosts the massage rooms and a café. After a relaxing and warm float in the indoor pool, tummies were rumbling and so we stopped for a quick croissant in the café, and it has great views of the streets below.

But here's where it gets even more exciting... peering out of the café's windows you may see another little pool hidden away behind even more Roman architecture. A quick hop and a step away from the main Thermae Bath Spa and you'll find a private pool area - the Cross Bath. It has its own bathroom and locker facilities, so no need to change in the main spa and run over in robes. I nipped back at the end of our press trip to find out a little more about the Cross Bath, and I was not disappointed! Not only is it a beautiful private pool area with oodles of history, but the Cross Bath is where you'll find the little hot spring responsible for heating all of the pools. This part of the spa can be rented out for private sessions, and hosts up to ten people - perfect for a girly trip away, birthdays, a hen do, or a more chilled stag do... anything really! I could definitely see myself and my gal pals basking in the warmth of the pool with a bottle of prosecco or two.

perfectlyclaudia visit bath
Thermae Bath Spa - Cross Bath


But back to the press trip... after our relaxing morning at the Thermae Bath Spa, we finally headed to the newly opened (October twenty-eighteen) Good Day Café for brunch - hurrah, food! Just a short walk from the spa, tucked away on the corner of a walkway, the Good Day Café has a great interior - it's so trendy, and absolutely instagrammable. Downstairs is a quick in/out order your drinks here area, and upstairs there are succulents, a breakfast bar, and a handful of tables.

There are plenty of veggie and vegan options, and of course plenty of meaty options. I opted for the veggie breakfast with poach eggs - yum yum. The food was great, the drinks were super cute... served on wooden boards and with milk in mini milk bottles. I will absolutely be back when I'm next adventuring around Bath, and I so wish it had been open when I last visited! It's the perfect spot to take your laptop and get on with some work whilst you enjoy a good cuppa or coffee.

perfectlyclaudia visit bath   perfectlyclaudia visit bath
Good Day Café


We had a little free time after brunch, so we all went on mini adventures and explored a little more of chilly Bath. I visited the Roman Baths, which I have explored before but love. We also came across a few cute and trendy shops and pretty florists. Unfortunately most of the Abbey was blocked off for work to be done, but we had plenty of time to slowly explore, before heading off to taste gelato at our last stop on the trip - Swoon.

Swoon has a store in Bristol, but is fairly new to Bath. It is super chic on the outside and the inside, and even has a little seating area. They have a great variety of flavours, some change each month, and they also house a few vegan options. I tasted all of the peanut-free vegan options, and I can definitely recommend the chocolate gelato... yum!

They make all of their gelato themselves in the back of the store, with the majority of their ingredients sourced from Italy. They also create fabulous little gelato-based desserts, and offer a takeaway service with brilliantly branded bags.

   
Swoon


...and that concludes my fabulous two days with Visit Bath. I loved all of the businesses we visited, and it was so lovely to meet so many hard working and friendly business owners and staff members. The amazing gals on my trip were also so kind, patient, and friendly. What a great first ever press trip to have been invited on. Bath, I will absolutely visit at any time.

Claudia xo




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c l a u d i a

a travel and tourism creative, creating beautiful content as she sees the world

" ...a small girl with big dreams"

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