It’s always in a man’s best interests to get outside and explore what nature has to offer. In the past that would have involved spending a night in a tent with a sleeping bag, guaranteeing a horrible night’s sleep. Nowadays though a man needs to feel like the master of his own domain. Forget a weekend in a stuffy old country hotel room with no view and get yourself to a lodge. It’ll be unlike any other trip you’ve experienced. You can breathe in the clean country air and feel like you’re ready to conquer nature at a moment’s notice.
A lodge stay might seem like an unusual way to spend a weekend but it’s a great way to escape the city for a few days and be able to really get to explore the great outdoors. Belton Woods in Lincolnshire, England is a prime example of this new kind of exciting mini break. This isn’t a typical lodge you’d see in the deep forest where there’s only a fire and the wind outside to keep you company. Lodges are now seen as a luxury place to stay. You can get everything from satellite TV to contemporary bathrooms with jet showers and whirlpool baths. You’ll want to remain a man of luxury after all after you’ve been most of the day ankle deep in the mud.
There’s no need to get up at the crack of dawn and rush to the hotel restaurant in time for breakfast. You’re a man. You need a lodge that has its own fully functioning kitchen. Load up the car at the market and have that fridge stocked full of all your necessities. We’re talking about your favourite beer, bacon, ice cream, whiskey and eggs; all the ingredients you need to help make a breakfast of champions.
And when you’re ready to face the great outdoors, don’t just expect to put on a pair of wellie boots and dodge a few muddy spots. It’s important to get stuck in to your surroundings. Grab a quad bike and race through the woods. Get off the beaten path on a BMX and push your legs to the limit. Fancy yourself as a modern Robin Hood? Grab a bow & arrow and attempt to become an expert archer. And if you prefer your weapons to have more power, grab an air rifle and attempt to make yourself an expert marksman.
While you’re off traipsing about in the English countryside and getting covered in everything the woodland has to offer, your other half might want to take it a bit easier and feel pampered. That’s where a spa visit is in order. A visit to the Serenity Spa is exactly what the doctor didn’t order in the best possible fashion. You or your lady can get a skin purifying facial, have a hot stone massage or receive a male only muscle reviver for your back. You can even get your back waxed.
Yes, lodge life really is that easy, especially when it involves not having to build a home from scratch. Book yourself a weekend away and you’ll soon see why a luxury lodge break is well worth the opportunity.
Gary Gallagher is a young writer who aims to make you feel that tad bit more manly by writing about the best places to take a break in the UK.
About Douglas Smythe
