Review of The Everything Retreat: A Ribble Valley stay that couldn't offer more

A Longridge girl through and through, I never thought I’d be inclined to take a mini break just 15 minutes down the road from where I’ve lived all of my life. Let alone stay somewhere so close by where I’d be able to really switch off, relax and enjoy a new side to the Ribble Valley, where often I find myself taking the beautiful setting around me for granted.

However, enter The Everything Retreat. Found in the small town of Mellor, nestled within the hills of the Ribble Valley, this beautiful stay offered peace and a place to stop, breathe, rest and do as much or as little as desired.

Upon arrival, the Everything Retreat appears as a secluded, mini village. With a warm and welcoming reception team as you first approach, followed by 12 exquisitely designed lodges in the backdrop. The whole place seems completely isolated and cut off from the pressure, worries, and stress of everyday life, as though entering the surroundings switched off that part of the brain almost instantly.

Each lodge boasts a view of the verdant hills and picturesque surroundings in the rural side of Lancashire. Every one of the luxury, wooden huts is far enough apart from the other vacationers ensuring privacy is provided. The stay is also adult-only, which is perhaps my favourite part.

The accommodation at the Everything Retreat was the very definition of comfort, it was clear that every lodge had been designed with rest and relaxation in mind. Each had a private hot tub, woodburning stove, and a supremely comfortable, king-size bed with bespoke-made mattresses. The underfloor heating provided warmth and comfort and the private bathroom with a shower had a heated towel rail, along with luxury towels and linens.

Assigned to me was the Ski Hütte part of the Unique Collection, if I had been a Scrooge prior to my trip to the Everything Retreat, this lodge got me in a festive mood with all of the warm and cosy touches it provided. Inspired by chalets of the French Alps it featured wood panelling, thick fur throws, soothing green and grey colourways and a delightfully snug upholstered king-size bed.

I won’t be biased, but this lodge was definitely my favourite out of the selection, however, I don’t think it would be fair to focus on the brilliance of only my preference. The other lodges listed under the Unique Collection were:

Bothy – Everything Retreat’s Highlands-themed darkly decadent interior inspiration with rich colourways, metallic and jewel tones. Tartan touches, oak flooring, cosy furs and of course a log fire added to the atmosphere.

Byre – Where a sense of cosy nostalgia is achieved within the lodge through thick rustic wood, rich velvet accents, calming green hues and delicate country patterns.

Koya – If dark and dramatic interior design combined with zen-inducing simplicity sounds like your thing, this lodge is for you. An inviting four-poster bed takes centre stage against stunning near-black walls while pale oak, gold-flecked soft furnishings, and luxurious lacquered accessories provide visual contrast.

Itambé – The African-themed lodge offers an unforgettable experience in a natural setting, enriched with luxurious wooden textures and traditional tribal prints. This lodge encompasses contemporary décor with no limit on luxury.

Skála – Clean, crisp yet cosy minimalism is offered by the Scandi lodge with soft blankets, natural fibres, crisp white walls and pale parquet flooring combined for a room that celebrates Scandinavian charm.

The other lodges were made up from The Signature Collection, where six identical lodges are decorated with natural textures and calming colourways, with open plan living spaces and full-length glass windows to bring natural light in abundance.

Everything Retreat is the brainchild of businesswoman Louise Monk, who has resided in the Ribble Valley for her entire life.

Louise currently lives in her family’s farmhouse just a stone’s throw away from her new venture. Talking of her vision for the property, Louise said: “When you wake each morning and open your doors to see nothing but the green countryside and sheep grazing on the dew-covered fields you can’t help but relax.

“We’re here to give people permission to stop, sleep, disconnect, reconnect, hibernate, take it slow–whatever you need to do at that time. The hustle and bustle of city life is great, but personally, as soon as I start to see green fields and breathe the fresh air from this part of the world, I can feel the stress begin to melt away. That’s something I wanted to bring to as many people as possible, so when the opportunity arose to create a retreat in these stunning surroundings, where it’s okay to just ‘be’, I knew this is what I had to do.”

For the latest availability and to book visit https://everything-retreat.com or call 01254 20965095. Prices start from £250 per lodge, per night.