Go ga ga over Galgorm
With awards galore and many five-star reviews, Galgorm is Northern Ireland’s premier hotel, spa and golf resort, says JULIE BAYLEY
THERE are good spas. There are great spas. Then there is Galgorm. After spending two nights cocooned in this luxurious sanctuary, it is easy to see why it has been named World Luxury Spa Hotel of the Year.
The location of this unforgettable haven is breathtaking: the hotel – just 30 minutes from Belfast – is blessed with 163 acres of lush parkland with the spectacular River Maine flowing through the estate.
It’s a good size but not sprawling. There are 122 guest rooms including 48 deluxe rooms and suites. If you seek seclusion, opt for one of the perfectly designed new cottages in a quiet cul-de-sac behind the hotel.
Our cottage had a fully-equipped kitchen, a pristine bathroom and an amazingly comfortable bed. The minibar is free, as is the wi-fi.
Your stay includes access to the Thermal Spa Village. This is a spa with the wow factor and you are guaranteed to tune into your inner zen. It is the ultimate restorative retreat and a key draw of the hotel.
You’ll find a 20-metre indoor pool with pebbled flooring gently targeting the pressure points of your feet and a sanarium scented with essences and with a lower temperature than the spa’s other saunas (50°C-60°C).
Then get brave. Next to the sanarium is an invigorating snow cabin which enhances blood circulation and boosts the respiratory system. Be warned, powder snow and ice crystals are maintained at a chilly -10°C!
If you need to thaw out, submerge yourself in the gorgeously warm hydrotherapy pool, or while away the hours in the relaxing orangery with its swinging chairs and leather loungers.
But outside is where the real magic lies. Centre stage is a fabulously warm outdoor pool. Let the jets pummel your skin as you admire a 1,000-year-old olive tree growing nearby.
We discovered hot tubs sandwiching a fire pit, steam rooms and saunas galore – and even a river house with infraredheated loungers sitting on stilts above the river.
If you can, book a riverside hot tub experience. It’s not every day that you can sip on cocktails, nibble strawberries and watch a heron command the riverbank while you float in a hot tub warmed to 37°C. Sheer bliss!
At the other side of the hotel is yet more tranquility: an inviting serenity garden.
If you feel the need to get active, however, Galgorm has a fitness suite, tennis courts, golf course and pool table.
There are several dining options at this plush hotel with its quirky objets d’art. The River Room, one of only four restaurants in Northern Ireland to be awarded three AA Rosettes for culinary excellence, has earned itself glowing reviews.
We ate breakfast there one morning and can attest to the standards.
We also ate at Fratelli’s, a rustic Italian restaurant serving good food in a great atmosphere. You should try The Bar & Grill at Gillies. Expect classic brasserie dishes, a grill selection and Asianinspired creations.
If gin is your thing, don’t miss the Gin Library – an entire room dedicated to the spirit.
The staff at Galgorm are exemplary. From Stephan – the welcoming manager at Gillies – to Maurice, who greets new arrivals and bids farewell to departing guests, there was no end to the warm Irish hospitality.
Check the website’s small print and you’ll discover that Galgorm’s mission statement is “that every guest leaves the resort with a desire to return.”
For us, mission accomplished.