a good book
Beauty editor Annie Vischer escaped to Brimstone Hotel in the Lake District for some much needed me time.
✢ First impressions Reminiscent of a luxe ski resort, the hotel is made up of a complex of slate chalets, housing suites, rooms, a restaurant and spa. A gleaming Land Rover ferries me all around, and friendly staff are always eager to help.
✢ And… relax Busy spa areas send me running for the hills, so I was delighted to find a compact set of steam rooms, saunas and footbaths to flit to and from, as well as a warm pool that extends outside. Trust me, there’s nothing more wonderful than breathing in the fresh air of the Lake District while gently poaching yourself from the shoulders down.
✢ The treatments I went for the Pure Alchemy Brimstone Spa Taster treatment (£90 for 55 minutes), which meant I got a taste of everything – from a muscle-loosening back massage, to a glow-giving facial. Pure Alchemy therapies are exclusive to Brimstone Spa and use organic, natural products made locally. I was given a choice of aromatherapy oils to theme my treatment, and my therapist quickly hooked on to deskjob-related tension in my shoulders and lower back, skillfully easing the knots away, before deftly exfoliating and hydrating my city-weathered skin back to beautiful. All in under an hour! ✢ How to book Visit brimstonehotel.co.uk and enjoy a 15% discount on bookings made 30 days in advance. Rooms start at £350, including breakfast, treats, kit hire and spa access.