Letting Go at Coworth Park
It’s hard to believe that the serene beauty of Coworth Park is less than an hour away from London. The hotel’s 240-acre grandeur, set in the sprawling Berkshire countryside among seemingly endless nature, felt like an entirely different world. And in my view, this world is best toured on horseback, though complimentary buggy service is just a call away. Even though I had no riding experience, my guide made me instantly at home with Bea, a stunning black-and-white horse. Don’t let her pretty braided mane fool you, though; she’s very strong-willed. As I suited up for the ride, the gray sky began to release those pesky moisture molecules (as one expects for the area), but Bea and I carried on, wandering into what felt like a movie set. From the top of the first hill, we saw a polo match in action. On the sidelines, dozens of horses eagerly awaited their turn to play. Then, as Bea and I got more comfortable with each other, I had a go at trotting. The rush of being connected to such a powerful animal was invigorating. After returning Bea to the stables, I headed back to the main house for a warm cup of tea, which I enjoyed on the hotel’s veranda, overlooking the beautiful fields, a calm stillness washing over me that not even the growing storm could dampen.
Appeared in Departures’ November 2023 special print edition and on the website.