The delicious wonder of Pancake Day is only one week away. Whether you toss them, flip them or just slide them it’s nearly time to get out the frying pan and indulge in the centuries-old tradition of pancake making.
To make pancakes all you need is plain flour, salt, milk and eggs and the ideal National Trust location to toss them!
Last weekend we celebrated seven years being married, and spent a wonderful night away staying at The Causeway Hotel, Bushmills.
Owned in part by The National Trust, this pleasant hotel has the prime location on the North Coast, settled right on the cliff tops, literally a stone's throw from the Giant's Causeway. From the free car park you have views of the world famous landmark, and if you look at the far right of the photo below, you'll see the entrance to the visitor attraction. You really can't stay closer, and as a guest of the hotel you and your family have free entry to the Causeway and centre automatically.
The rooms are airy, spacious, clean and tailored to take advantage of the jaw dropping views. Our room welcomed us with fruit and bubbly, as they knew we were celebrating, a lovely touch.
You may guess for such a prime location you'd pay top dollar. Well I've just checked room prices for this weekend coming and you can stay in a double as a couple for as little as £99 a night.
The best part about the room is that the doors open out onto your very own little outdoor terrace, where you can sit for the evening and chat.
Last summer we attempted a visit to The Giant's Causeway as part of the blogging trip I wrote up for Tesco Living. As soon as we jumped off the little bus the heavens had opened, so we had to scramble back onto the bus and just take in the new visitors' centre instead.
This year we couldn't have planned any better weather. We got the bus down to the stones from the centre, explored them then climbed the 160-something cliff steps to walk back to the hotel along the cliff tops.
Again, this is how close The Causeway Hotel is to the visitor centre. It's in the background, I'm standing on the roof of the centre.
After all that trekking we were pretty hungry, so we drove the ten minute journey to Portstewart and had burgers and ice cream in Morellis. There was also a new doughnut shop along the front.
The day was so beautiful we decided to stock up on snacks and just spend the evening at the hotel. Just beyond the visitor centre is a quaint little country pub called The Nook. We dandered over and had pub chips sitting at one of their outside picnic tables overlooking Port Ballintrae & Portrush beyond. It was so relaxing.
Of course I can't finish a hotel blog without sharing with you their Ulster Fry breakfast! My husband had that and I had pancakes and bacon.
It was definitely the most 'get away from it all' hotel stay I've ever had, and I'm pencilling in a stay for our 8th anniversary next year. It could become a lovely little tradition. Thanks for having us, Causeway Hotel.
Holidaying 'at home' has become the done thing for families these days & we were lucky enough to be sent on a special mission by Tesco Magazine, to spend three days exploring Northern Ireland's North Coast.
Tesco Magazine are encouraging families all over the UK to hit the road and explore what's on their doorsteps in The Great Family Road Trip.
My tales of adventure will be on the Tesco blog very soon, but in the meantime I'd love to share with you some pictures of the hotel we called home that weekend.
The Bushmills Inn, situated a stone's throw from the world famous distillery of the same name, is a four star luxury home-from-home.
The two storey rooms offer everything you need, and more, with Nespresso Machines and complimentary Elemis toiletries. The staff even left a little Bushmills Inn teddy on my son's bed for him arriving, which pleased him no end. He carried it around all weekend.
The room was the height of luxury, with a shower room and dressing room downstairs, off the sitting area, and a separate bathroom with bath upstairs, and the double bed for us. This was super in the evenings as our tired out five year old could doze off in his bed on the ground floor, and we could sit and watch television without disturbing him, upstairs.
The hotel restaurant was outstanding, both for breakfast and our evening meal. The staff make you feel like royalty, and are knowledgable of the local area and attractions, useful as most of the other guests seemed to be those on golfing holidays. The Causeway Coast has a number of world famous golf courses, as well as world famous natural attractions such as the Giant's Causeway.
I would recommend a stay at The Bushmills Inn in a heartbeat. One of the best hotels I've ever stayed in on my travels. If you are visiting Northern Ireland from another land, make sure you look it up.
As heard on BBC Radio 6's Lauren Laverne Show.
