Inspiring staycation at a 16th century castle!

Well, 2020 has been quite the year so far hasn't it? Even as a fiction author I think I'd struggle to invent a plot twist as crazy as the one we are currently living through, and with holidays pretty much off the cards this summer thanks to lock downs and quarantines, I was very grateful to finally be able to take a little staycation this week! I have to say, I don't think I've ever needed a holiday or little escape from reality more, but I was also a little bit anxious about going to a popular resort and staying in a crowded hotel mid pandemic.

Thankfully, there was another alternative. England is full of stunning historic castles and many of these have been turned into hotels, enabling guests to have a little taste of the royal fairy tale life for a day or two! I'd been lucky enough to stay at one such hotel a couple of times previously, so I decided it was high time for a return visit! Where better to hide away from the crazy world than in an actual fortress, right? And I can't deny that as a romance author.... well, this place makes my heart sing! I find it so easy to get lost in the moment and the fantasy of these kinds of places! It's also very inspiring to go to such unique destinations and it is incredibly valuable as a writer, how could anyone fail to be inspired by such experiences?

The Castle was built in 1593, some 427 years ago! It is steeped in history and totally enchanting by day, but at night with the ambient lighting it is truly magical! It also has the added bonus of being on the coast, meaning the view from the fabulous period windows in our room was looking out to the beach. Of all of the views though, I think the huge spiral staircase had to be my favourite and don't even get me started on the beautiful grounds to stroll around....Swoon!

I feel more grateful than ever to have been able to have a little break and get away from it all to a fantasy world for a few days, but now it's back to the real world and writing life! No doubt this place will show up in one (or more) of my novels soon, so maybe you'll spot it? I'm currently thinking about how it would make the perfect setting for a fictional wedding in one of my romance novels.... Now, which characters to marry off? Hmmmm!