Noneedtogofarto get away from it all
GETTING another year older is always a little daunting – so a night away in a spa hotel on my birthday softened the blow.
And the opportunity to have a muchneeded age-defying facial was a bonus.
I couldn’t stop the clock but getting a pamper in lovely surroundings certainly made me feel I could face the next year.
Gleddoch House Hotel and Spa in Langbank is only a 20-minute drive from Glasgow but felt far removed from the bustle of the city.
The golf and spa resort is set in 360 acres and was once the home of shipping baron Sir John Lithgow.
The hotel has recently undergone a multi-million-pound refurbishment with contemporary interiors and the Imperia Spa has been upgraded.
There’s a stag statue as you pull up to the front and there’s something of an antler theme throughout the building. XXXXXX xxxxxx A new bar was due to open just after
Xxxx our visit with speciality gins and whiskies.
My partner and I stayed in the Royal Suite, a huge room with views over the Clyde estuary, which comes with a separate lounge area and kitchenette.
There was a super king-size bed and a large, wall-mounted TV with extra tables and chairs.
The very spacious en-suite bathroom had a walk-in shower and roll-top bath with luxury Elemis bath products.
We headed to the new-look spa after dropping off our bags. There are steps if you access though the hotel but there’s another entrance on the same level round the back.
We’d booked in for spa treatments as the perfect way to unwind.
My Elemis Pro-Collagen Age Defy Facial (£75) tackled lines and wrinkles using products containing special algae padina pavonica and red coral.
Especially relaxing was the amount of massage involved in this 60-minute treatment, where my therapist worked on my face and head to arms and neck.
My partner had the Ishga Stress Reliever Massage (£65) which is designed to detox and balance the body with a seaweed-based oil from the organic range. Afterwards it was time for a swim in the 55ft pool.
We attempted the outdoor jacuzzi in the rain and cold of winter which was fun, but after a quick dip we realised it was more a night for the one inside by the pool.
There was also a sauna and steam room and a new gym.
Later we headed to the bar for prosecco before dinner in the restaurant.
There was a menu of two courses for £14.95 or three for £17.95 and sides of £4.
There was also plenty to choose from the a la carte menu, such as seafood starter with prawn tempura for £9.95 and fish cakes in champagne butter sauce for £6.95, and mains of salmon and mussels for £15.95 and 8oz sirloin steak for £21.95.
There was a wide selection of options for breakfast from cereals to cooked to order.
It was great to get away somewhere that even though it felt a million miles away wasn’t a long drive home.