From Cumbria to Wiltshire, the best spa staycations for the festive season
NEED a spa staycay before the festive season hits?
Look no further. . . we visit three and put them to the test.
The Swan, Cumbria
Editor In Chief Sinead McIntyre and her family enjoyed R&R in Newby Bridge.
The Pad: Set in a stunning location on River Leven at the southern tip of Lake Windermere, this 17th-century former coach house exudes tranquillity.
The luxury cottages are dog-friendly, while rooms and suites are all individually decorated.
Our family suite had views of the river, two TVs, and cookies and milk for the kids at bedtime in a special Beatrix Potter tin, to honour the former local.
A waterfall shower and handmade Pure Lakes toiletries complete the picture.
The Spa: Soak up spectacular views from Holte Spa’s outdoor hot tub.
Then try the alfresco Finnish sauna, before hopping between the experience showers, indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy pool, steam room and naturally filtered Jacuzzi.
Finish with the ice buckets, if you’re feeling brave!
A relaxing 60-minute Drift Away back massage using Mediterranean essential oils, £100, won’t disappoint, either.
The Grub: The Swan’s brasserie offers a delicious seasonal menu.
We loved the roasted lamb rack with dauphinoise potatoes and baby veg, £36, while the pork chop with paprika butter was also a winner.
Finish with warm apple tarte tatin, £9, or the cheese selection, £15. Pair with a glass of smooth Caliterra Merlot Reserva, £8.10.
Out & About: The town of Bowness-on-Windermere is super- close and has buzzy cafes and independent shops.
Pop into: Love The Lakes for toffee-apple vodka (Lovethelakes.net), and gift shop Herdy, where everything is inspired by the native sheep (Herdy.co.uk).
Half an hour’s drive away is Grasmere – get your culture fix with a visit to Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage and Museum. Adult entry costs £15, £7.50 for children (Wordsworth.org.uk).
Book it: Double rooms cost from £180 B&B (Swanhotel.com).
Bishopstrow, Wiltshire
Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley found a gorgeous country pile that makes even the littlest guests feel welcome.
The Pad: If I won the lottery, this is the kind of Georgian manor I’d pick.
Characterful rooms are decked out with copper roll-top baths, rain showers, Nespresso coffee machines and Dyson hairdryers – some even have alfresco hot tubs.
In the wraparound gardens you’ll find a walled swimming pool, a sizeable hot tub framed by plants, plus a chic bar.
Play croquet on the huge front lawn, find the secret riverside kitchen garden and, if you’ve got a four-legged friend, set them loose on the agility course.
Best of all, service here is fantastic, but not one bit pretentious.
The Spa: It’s quite dinky and still a work in progress, but pretty lemon-tree murals adorn the walls of the indoor pool and there’s a steam room, sauna and monsoon shower.
Be sure to book a mani or pedi, from £35, at the new Taittinger Salon.
The Grub: Sip a Spiced Daisy – a mix of tequila, chilli liqueur, honey and lime, £15 – then feast on delights such as home-grown padrón peppers, £5, sensational Godminster cheddar soufflé, £12, and slow-cooked Wiltshire lamb shoulder with hispi cabbage, mash and baby onion jus, £26, in The Garden Grill.
Finish with the bee’s knees of puds – local honey tart with clotted-cream ice cream, white chocolate and bee pollen, £10.
Little ones can dig into proper sausages, mash and peas, £12, and will adore breakfast with its platter of goodies and cooked faves, such as eggs royale, served at the table.
Celebrating something? The afternoon tea, £34 per adult, has Scotch quail eggs, honeycomb éclairs and scrumptious Bath buns. Plus, they’ll happily whip up mini treats for kids, too.
Out & About: Guests nab discounted tickets to Longleat safari park, a 15-minute drive away.
Hop on a boat to spy the gorillas and help feed the seal lions on the way, before checking out the cute koalas and fearsome big cats back on dry land. The adventure playground is mighty, too.
Standard adult entry costs £42.95, over-threes cost £32.95 (Longleat.co.uk).
Be sure to book ahead for pear and stilton pizza heaven, £15, surrounded by fire-fighter gear at Warminster’s The Old Fire Station (Theoldfirestation1905.co.uk).
Wellies are on hand to borrow for walks from Bishopstrow itself, but nearby Langford Lakes Nature Reserve also makes for a sweet amble.
Spy wildlife from the hides, before hitting the Kingfisher Cafe, a serene waterside spot serving great coffee, cake and wine (Wiltshirewildlife.org/langford-lakes).
Book it: Family rooms cost from £252 B&B (Bishopstrowhotel.com).
Ragdale Hall Spa, Leicestershire
Fashion Director Tracey Lea Sayer and daughter Frankie checked in for a girls’ pamper break.
The Pad: Walking into child-free Ragdale Hall is like stepping on board a big, old-fashioned cruise ship.
Sumptuous communal areas with overstuffed sofas and warm, wood-panelled walls give this family-owned hotel a grand but homely vibe.
Our twin room had cool pops of colour among the neutral decor and a slick, marble-clad bathroom. Outside sits 13 acres of grounds to explore.
The Spa: This place is a real treat for the senses. From cave showers to a rose sauna, a volcanic salt bath to a candlelit pool, if you can’t switch off here, you can’t switch off anywhere.
There are six pools in total – our favourite was the rooftop space with massage jets and countryside views.
Meanwhile, the aqua bed massage helped me unwind, and bespoke Elemis facials – the Pro-Glow Smooth for Frankie and the Pro-Glow Resurface for me – left our complexions exactly as promised.
Fancy a workout? I tried Pilates, but dance, strength and cardio are also on offer.
The Grub: Expect tasty British crowd-pleasers, such as torched North Sea mackerel for starters and sirloin steak with Colston Bassett cheese purée, broccoli and Merlot sauce.
Eton mess and a cheese board make for the perfect finishers.
The best bit? You don’t have to change out of your robe, even for a Smoked Orange Old-Fashioned night cap, £12, in the plush Twilight Bar.
Out & About: Forget it, you only leave here when you check out !
Book it: A three-night autumn escape costs from £630 per person, including all meals, two treatments each and a bottle of prosecco (Ragdalehall.co.uk).
Compiled by: Catherine Bennion-Pedley
Photography: Jon Tonks