I gently ran my hands over his wide back, an ocean of black, coarse hairs tickling my fingertips. He grunted approvingly, prompting my boyfriend to give me a sly grin over his shoulder. He also had his hands full, and I noticed, as he gently caressed an equally hirsute female, that she also enjoyed the pressure of a firm hand on her damp skin.
This was the moment we had been building up to ever since we arrived at Armathwaite Hall in the Lake District - and it met all our expectations and more.
We had come all the way to Bassenthwaite to experience the hotel’s new Mindfulness with Animals experience - which includes the once in a lifetime chance to groom the nearby Lake District Wildlife Park’s mother and son tapirs.
Accessing the park after hours, we were given twenty minutes to fuss and feed the gentle herbivores - who are distantly related to rhinos and horses - while learning about their natural Brazilian habitat and how they are cared for in the very different climes of Cumbria.
The tapirs, Muffin and Zico, are around the same size as large labradors - and just like dogs they love affection and will even lie down to have their tummies rubbed. It was clear that they were enjoying the experience just as much as we were - but they were also giving me something more.
I often wish I had a switch to turn my brain off, or at least put it on mute so I could think straight. It doesn't take much for my inner monologue to ramp up something small into a catastrophe of Godzilla proportions - not that anyone ever realises. My brutal games of mental tennis only ever have one player - and that's me.
But, as I gently groomed and stroked the tapirs, my mind was completely still and focused on the moment - all I was thinking about was making sure that they were happy, and taking in as much of the experience as possible. It felt amazing. Endorphins rushed through me as I looked in to Zico's gentle, knowing eyes, heard his gentle snuffling sounds, and watched him stroll through his enclosure.
Experts claim that spending time with animals can increase our immune functioning, lower heart rate and blood pressure, and decrease physical pain. It can also help combat loneliness and emotional pain, increase happiness and lessen feelings of anxiety.
Among those who vouch for the healing power of animals and nature is Jen from Lakeland Wellbeing. Earlier that day she had led a small group of us on a forest bathing excursion through the woodland next to Armathwaite Hall, and along the shoreline of Bassenthwaite Lake. We were asked to find sticks, colourful leaves and other forest detritus that caught our eye, and of course, there was a chance to get up close and personal with some of the ancient trunks with a spot of tree hugging.
After an afternoon tea in the hotel’s orangery, it was time to cross a sheep field and meet the tapirs - and that was just the start of the animal mindfulness session.
Once Muffin and Zico were locked up in bed, we moved on to meet alpacas and goats who gave us a VIP welcome and happily nibbled food from our hands. There were more animals to observe as dusk fell over the remote park, including yaks and lemurs, and we were lucky to see their Northern Eurasian Lynx relaxing in their vast enclosure.
There was another mindfulness exercise when we met the red panda pair Mei li (which means “beautiful one” and Charu (meaning “graceful”), two red pandas who have been living at the park since 2016 and are part of an EEP breeding program. Red pandas, which are typically found in southwestern China and the eastern Himalayas, are an endangered species with only about 10,000 believed to still be living in the wild. Being asked to take a few minutes to psychically connect with them was emotional. I found myself apologising to them for humanity’s greed and selfishness, and how it has put their species’ entire existence at risk.
With darkness rapidly coming in, it was time for one more interaction before heading back to the hotel. Sat on the floor of the reptile house, we got to meet an African spurred tortoise, and it was really special when he ambled over to us for an inquisitive sniff.
Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa has existed in some shape or form since the 11th century. The main house is an imposing stone building which has clearly weathered hundreds of years of bleak English winters, but inside it’s warm and welcoming. It’s ‘traditionally’ decorated which means muted tones, taxidermy and animal heads - which I find jarring at the best of times, but even more so having travelled hundreds of miles to observe and interact with endangered species.
Food-wise, Armathwaite Hall is not the sort of place you can grab a bowl of chips (trust me, I asked). Its Lakeview Restaurant uses seasonal Cumbrian ingredients and has rightfully earned its two AA Rosettes - although vegetarians and vegans might struggle with the menu. For dinner, I had the cauliflower schnitzel which was delicious. Breakfast-wise there were many more meat-free choices, and we enjoyed our meal with a view of the lake, glimmering in the autumn sunshine.
In need of indoor activities? We spent an enjoyable few hours playing snooker and sipping negronis made in the hotel’s cocktail bar - which features one of, if not the, best fireplace I have ever seen in my life. And a trip to the hotel’s spa complex was a highlight. It has a gorgeous outdoor hot-tub overlooking the hotel’s manicured grounds, a 16m pool, an aroma room and the Tranquillity Terrace which is perfect for snoozing or losing yourself in a good book.
Rooms at Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa cost from £380.00 per night including dinner and breakfast. Animal Mindfulness package is extra and must be booked in advance.
