Tr avel report SPA BREAK T

HE pace of modern life means most of us are probably in need of a little rest and relaxation.

So what could be better than a blissful spa day and hotel break to reinvigorate yourself?

The Spa at Ye Olde Bell was named one of the UK’s best new spas at the Good Spa Guide Awards last year, which is pretty much all my mum and I needed to know before putting our names down for a visit.

It’s in the grounds of Ye Olde Bell hotel, a 17th-century coaching inn in Retford, near Doncaster.

The surroundings may be old but the spa is very new, opening in June 2017 with a host of new and interesting facilities.

Most spa days include a delicious two-course lunch with three menus to choose from depending on your desire for indulgence! There are plenty of vegetarian options too so non-meat eaters don’t feel like they’re missing out. The main spa area has 10 different hot and cold zones, starting with the herbal laconium, a not-too-hot sauna where herbs are warmed on coals to release gentle aromas.

Next door is the Stonebath – hot coals are slowly lowered into a basin of water to release steam, which you can blow back down to heat up the room by winding the handle for the manual ceiling fan.

There’s a traditional sauna which reaches up to 95C, and a beautifully decorated steam room with a dark blue domed ceiling dotted with tiny fairy lights – very relaxing.

For the braver spa-goer there are a couple of experiences that require a tolerance for freezing cold water.

First there’s the snow storm walk, where you can walk under a flurry of freezing ice – or simply stick one toe under just to say you did it.

Then there’s the shower walk, which sprays you with warm, tepid or cold water, complete with sound effects to give the impression of taking a rainforest shower.

If you’re really tough you can step into the bucket shower and dunk a pail of freezing cold water on your head! According to the spa it’s good for your immune system – but not for the faint hearted!

A spa’s not a spa in my book without the opportunity to have a splash about in the pool. Here you get in the pool inside the spa, then make your way outside through a sliding door. It’s pretty chilly but the water is warm enough to allow a few minutes in the fresh air. It’s not really big enough to do a few laps, but there’s room to splash about a bit.

Once you’re done with the hot and cold stuff there are plenty of areas to relax. The salt inhalation room – something I’ve not seen before – has lots of comfy recliners facing a huge salt wall illuminated with coloured floodlights.

Or you can venture outside to the cosy relaxation areas complete with sheepskin rugs and cosy cushions.

For an additional cost there are a number of other treatments and experiences you can enjoy.

We tried the rasul mud room, where you cover your body and face with Turkish rasul mud and lie down in the steamy hot room for half an hour. I’d definitely recommend this – my skin felt amazing after rinsing all the mud off – and it was pretty good fun slathering it all over myself too!

Of course, there are a range of massages, facials, wraps and beauty treatments to pick from. They range from 30 to 120 minutes and include Turkish massage, an algae detox wrap, and various men’s treatments.

I had a Sperience Elements Massage, which was perfect for releasing built up tension and knots in my shoulders. I like a really firm massage and my therapist was more than happy to oblige and work away those knots! There are two relaxation rooms where you can read or just chill out after your treatment.

The spa has lovely shower facilities and the changing room has hairdryers, makeup remover, cotton buds and hair products. The showers have Germaine de Cappuccini shampoo, conditioner and shower gel.

After our day of relaxation it was time to head back to our hotel room. It’s decorated in keeping with the historic feel of the building with two huge single beds, dark furniture and thick curtains keeping the chill away from the bay window.

The hotel clearly prides itself on its dinner menu and the food was all beautifully prepared and presented. We ate in the St Leger Bistro-ByThe-Bar. As a vegetarian I’m always restricted when eating out because many restaurants fall back on pasta. The Bistro menu is very meat heavy, but a lot of thought had clearly gone into the vegetarian options which included a bean salad and chilled soup. Both were delicious.