A Beatitude Supreme Happiness treatment at Fletcher’s Spa, East Lothian

The Beatitude Supreme Happiness treatment at Fletcher’s Cottage is simply divine

The treatment

Beatitude Supreme Happiness with Hot Stone Therapy (60 minutes for £110), at Fletcher’s Cottage, Archerfield, Dirleton.

Why go?

Turn your frown upside down with a visit to East Lothian’s most wonderous spa. This signature treatment, from Scottish brand Beatitude, has recently been updated, to include a mini facial as well as body therapy.

Our spy says

The best thing about this place is that the mood boosting starts on arrival.

In the reception area, I sit in a comfy armchair, put on the bear paw-like fluffy slippers and am given a hot towel and a green mini smoothie with lime, kale, celery and apple.

Once I’ve filled in my consultation form, I’m free to use the facilities until my treatment time. I broil myself in the lavender-scented steam room, hang out in the sauna as long as I can bear it (probably about 170 seconds) and read a copy of Vanity Fair in the comfy log room.

My happiness levels have already increased exponentially.

I’m grinning a bit more when I get to the treatment room, and am instructed to dunk my feet in a tub of hot bubbly water, with a rubber duck floating in it.

Next I get to choose a Beatitude oil, from Peace, Joy or Patience, which all sound a bit like Victorian baby names.

I go with Peace, which features an intoxicatingly gorgeous smelling blend of ylang ylang, petitgrain, geranium and cedarwood.

Once I’m face down on the treatment bed, which is as soft as Italian meringue, I’m massaged using medium firm pressure and twining movements, in figures of eights, up my legs, from the cuffs of my ankles to thighs.

Thumbs strip my tight IT bands, and hamstrings are smoothed down like Sellotape.

Onto some work on my back, which involves hot volcanic stones being symmetrically trailed down either side, from sacrum to neck, tracing all the big muscles to warm them up. These are set aside and my therapist presses her forearms up my back, with the sensation of a satisfying crunch at my scapula, where all the knots are gathered. After this satisfying rub down, the stones go on again, for more of a soothing effect.

I turn over and am swaddled in blankets, with my feet tucked up. This is the mini facial bit, and my skin is cleansed with an earthy smelling oil. It’s gently removed, then, as one hand holds my forehead, the other works down the side of my neck, and there are lifting sweeps across my cheeks, jaw and brow. After my scalp has been gently massaged, my ears are cupped, so I can hear the Firth of Forth and the air is spritzed with something that smells invigorating.

Back into the relaxation area, to be revived with another mini smoothie and some melon slices.

The results

If happiness is a head that’s empty of worries, and a body that’s as soft as putty, I’m experiencing a supreme version. ■