Off to pastures new

THERE’S nothing like slipping away to a quieter corner of the country after the frenetic ambush of the working week – especially somewhere as other-worldly as Ox Pasture Hall.

Nestled in the wildness of the North York Moors National Park, just a stone’s throw from the seaside town of Scarborough, the pretty country house renowned for its spring and summer walks affords a magical four-star spring retreat.

And this is precisely what Sarah and I needed as a welcome break – albeit, given the season, one laced with melancholic nostalgia for summer – from the downers of mid-wintery weather and our 24/7 lifestyles.

After a long car ride of changing English lansdscapes we arrived at the hotel and were shown to our suite, which echoed the sandy Yorkshire stone charm of the former farmhouse.

Set in one of the converted out-buildings and complete with king-size bed, living room and bathroom with his-and-her washbasins, the room oozed a discreet luxuriousness and understated rustic quality which mirrored the freedom of the open fields and pastures beyond the window panes.

After I’d taken a dip in the enormous bathtub – complete with Gilchrist & Soames bubbles – we wandered back to the main house to enjoy a meal in the hotel’s Courtyard restaurant.

Ox Pasture Hall takes enormous pride in its food, and indeed is the only restaurant in the Scarborough area to be awarded two rosettes for culinary excellence.

One of the most delightful treats of this particular gastronomic palace – which was surprisingly affordable considering the high quality calibre of its wares – was the select menu’s emphasis on locally sourced ingredients through every course, including Whitby crab, Yorkshire rarebit and a cheese board sporting the likes of Wensleydale and Yorkshire Blue.

They also have a very impressive wine list, listed by palate, sporting a vast range of reds, whites and roses ranging from £23 to £325 a bottle for some of the world’s finest Champagnes.

Meanwhile, their house red is a very smooth French Malbec from the Pays d’Oc.

After a gin and tonic in the bar, we ventured into the quiet and mutely decorated restaurant, where we were offered a selection of fruit and nuts, sundried tomato and white breads to whet our appetites.

Then followed a surprisingly striking thimbleful of carrot and orange soup as an appetiser.

We then officially started the evening, with Sarah opting for the prawn and crab cocktail salad (£9.50) bathed in Marie rose sauce on a bed of crisp iceberg lettuce. Meanwhile I indulged my penchant for game with the terrine (£8.50), coupled with a sweet and hearty plum and apple compote and cherry dressing.

It was when the main course arrived that our conversation began to dry up, to be replaced with the silence of a couple of very satisfied consumers.

I ordered the pork (£18.95), which included a cut of slow cooked pork belly with a crispy crackled top, a piece of tenderloin stuffed with apricot and sage, and a tangy slice of black pudding dressed with savoy cabbage, and sautéed Lyonnaise potatoes.

Meanwhile Sarah ordered the duo of duck (£19.95), which included duck breast and confit duck leg on a bed of braised red cabbage with a bubble and squeak cake.

Both were hearty winter warmers beautifully presented on their plates and delicately cooked to perfection with every flavour serving a unique purpose in a mouth-watering cacophony of taste.

Then for something sweet, and while I rounded-off with a traditional sticky toffee pudding (£6.50) showered in silky butterscotch sauce and ice cream, Sarah enjoyed a raspberry crème brulee (£6.50) accompanied with a little mini milkshake and shortbread biscuit.

We barely had room for it, but we finished the meal with a couple of liqueur coffees before returning to the room, where we both sunk into a deep sleep between the memory foam mattress and comforting duvet.

We made an early start and breakfast was a similarly satisfying affair with the obligatory spread of continental pastries and cereals. You could also choose from a hot-food menu, including creamy porridge topped with brown sugar, and a typical Yorkshire breakfast with all the trimmings.

It was then we set about exploring, and braved the chilly morning to take a short trip into town.

In the summer Scarborough remains, as it has since the 17th century, a popular haunt for holidaymakers, school-trippers and residential homes.

But in the early spring the sandy promenade is a time-frozen ghost town, the eerie garish tinkle of arcades clanging off the walls of the 11th century Scarborough Castle, which towers hauntingly over the icy bay.

It was in sharp contrast to the crisp, frosty walk in the weak sunshine in the 17-acre rustic surrounds of Ox Pasture Hall, which we rounded off with an afternoon tea in front of the log burner in the bar.

Artfully stacked on a three-tiered stands, afternoon tea for two was a treat sweet enough to power us through the long journey home.

There was, of course, the obligatory scones with generous portions of clotted cream and jams washed down with a Yorkshire brew, and we would have been more than satisfied.

So imagine the delight when we could also enjoy a selection of traditional sandwiches – including cucumber, brie and cranberry and beef.

There was also a charming array of miniature cakes – profiteroles, a little cheesecake, lemon meringue pie and a chocolate sponge – which more than satisfied our sweet tooth and served to demonstrate again the skills and talents of the kitchen.

It was the perfect end to our getaway and we returned south rejuvenated and ready to re-immerse ourselves in the frantic energy of spring.

• Prices start at £135 per night for a classic double room. Suites are available from £300.

  Afternoon tea starts at £15 per person.

  Travel facts

•  Ox Pasture Hall Hotel, Lady Edith's Drive, Scarborough, North York Moors National Park, YO12 5TD Tel. 01723 365295 Email: oxpasture.hall@btconnect.com Website: www.oxpasturehallhotel.com