Spa quality - Great Escapes
GETTY Country house estates offer the best all-round experiences when it comes to spas
Bovey Castle Where: A country house estate in 275 acres on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon. The lowdown: William Henry Smith (the WH Smith) purchased the estate from the Earl of Devon in 1890 and his son built the manor house that still stands today. Recently refurbished and awarded five AA Red Stars, you can stay in the property’s 60 bedrooms or opt for one of 22 luxury lodges in its grounds.
These are ideal for families who want the perks of a hotel (cooked breakfasts, daily maid service, gourmet restaurant) while enjoying the benefits of self-catering (separate bedrooms for the children, a proper living room and facilities in which to whip up a plate of pasta at teatime). USP: The perfect destination spa for people who like the outdoors. Explore the sweeping grounds and eerily amazing terrain of Dartmoor with its wild ponies, sign up for cider or sloe gin-making or simply pull up a velvet sofa by one of the vast open fires and have a chat with Beaky, the hotel parrot. The spa is supremely stylish – the swimming pool is Art Deco in style – and has sweeping views of the lawns as well as a sun terrace, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room.
PR Bovey Castle's Cathedral Room
Who you’ll see in the steam room: The hotel has its fair share of celebrity guests – Tom Daley and his partner married here last May. Also, golf widows whose other halves are busying themselves on the 18-hole championship golf course, couples on romantic breaks and parents who have left their little ones in the capable hands of the Bovey Rangers to get a taste of the great outdoors. They can collect hens’ eggs in the early morning, find themselves mesmerised by the hotel’s daily falconry display, go pond dipping and try their hand at archery while you lie back and relax in the knowledge they’re running wild in the best possible sense of the term. Time for one treatment: It has to be one of the Elan Spa’s signature ESPA massages or, if you’re looking for something a bit different for your other half, a dedicated area for men’s treatments called the Gentlemen’s Quarter offers bespoke massages using Bovey Castle’s own PRO V1 golf balls dipped in essential oils… Amy Packer __________________________________________________________
PR Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort
Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort Where: Bowood estate is in Wiltshire, just minutes from historic Bowood House, the magnificent family home of the Marquis and Marchioness of Lansdowne. Its gardens and parkland were designed by Capability Brown in the 1760s. The lowdown: The boutique-style hotel is less than a decade old but it has old-school attention to detail. The interior and each of the luxurious bedrooms have been elegantly designed by the present Marchioness of Lansdowne. The look and feel of the hotel is contemporary but with an artful nod to a traditional country house. A grand portrait of Bowood’s 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, painted as he served as the Viceroy of India in 1888, presides over the log fire in the library.
PR Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort's luxurious pool
The luxurious spa features an infinity pool and hot tub, so slip in and lose a few hours gazing at the vistas – the expansive glass front provides panoramic views of the beautiful parkland and woods beyond. Look carefully and you’ll spot the odd deer roaming past. Make sure you leave time for a visit to the aromatherapy shower, rock sauna and crystal steam room. USP: There’s free rein to explore the estate, historical sites and gardens. Guests of the hotel are given complimentary access to the Grade 1-listed property and its grounds, so it’s well worth taking the 10-minute stroll from the hotel to explore. Make sure you get out and about – maps of local walking trails, along with wellies and brollies are available from reception. Who you’ll see in the steam room: While we’re not saying you’ll spot The Duchess of Cornwall in her cossie here, she did cut the red ribbon when the hotel opened in 2009. Children’s Laureate and Warhorse writer Michael Morpurgo has also stayed but you’re more likely to spot city folk in search of R&R and the country set popping in for a pamper. Time for one treatment: One of the spa’s signature treatments, The Beautiful Goddess Treatment, is 60 heavenly minutes of pampering, which includes a deep cleanse, exfoliation and mask over the back, followed by an Ayurvedic massage to relieve tension and soothe knotted muscles. It finishes with an express facial using SUNDÃRI products. Victoria Gray __________________________________________________________
PR Fishmore Hall Hotel’s 3AA Rosette restaurant
Fishmore Hall Hotel Where: In a rural spot on the edge of the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, within walking distance of the historic market town of Ludlow. The lowdown: This pretty-as-a-picture Georgian pile looks like something out of a Jane Austen novel and is ideal for a romantic getaway. Transformed from a derelict country house by owner Laura Penman 10 years ago, it’s the perfect place for a peaceful break with just 15 contemporary, individually styled rooms (from standard, superior and executive, to luxury), many overlooking open fields towards the Clee Hills. Book a table for dinner in the 3AA Rosette restaurant, Forelles, set in the light and airy conservatory. Head chef Joe Gould – Chaine des Rotisseurs UK Young Chef of the Year in 2015 – has put together a six-course tasting menu which, when we stayed, included mouthwatering Orkney scallops, Gigha halibut and Shropshire lamb, all served like works of art. The other big draw here is the newly opened spa, a chic Nordic-style wooden structure that may seem out of keeping with the centuries-old hall but blends seamlessly with the countryside setting. It’s small but perfectly formed, with outdoor and indoor relaxation areas making full use of that stunning countryside view.
PR Fishmore Hall Hotel’s spa