Spa Gazing

Is it possible to poach yourself alive, I wondered as yet again I dipped beneath the bubbling waters of the hotel’s outdoor hot tub.

If it is, then my goose is definitely cooked after a spa weekend at Armathwaite Hall Country House Hotel in the Lake District.

Which is surprising really as I’d never been taken with the idea of spa breaks and, to be honest, was just looking forward to staying at a lovely hotel in lovely surroundings.

And I certainly got that. Leaving the spa aside for a moment, the hotel itself dates back to the 15th century and is a glorious oak-panelled stag’s head-studded slice of history with fabulous views over Bassenthwaite Lake from the restaurant, lounge and conservatory.

I was particularly taken with the big old radiators, you know, like the ones at school when you were little (only without the clanking).

Of course, that isn’t to say the service and facilities aren’t entirely 21st century, even down to a TV in the bathroom.

On our first night we had a six-course meal in the hotel restaurant where the chef flambéed specially ordered dishes in a corner of the dining room and the food, both traditional English fayre and classical French cuisine, was cooked to perfection.

So, to the spa... well, where do I start? The hotel receptionist described the corridor from the hotel to the spa and brasserie as a time tunnel and we knew exactly what she meant.

The courtyard extension, which opened just last year, is as modern and luxurious as you could wish but, amazingly, does not jar with the olde worlde splendour of the hotel.

I’ve no idea how they did it but it works.

As well as the 16-metre infinity pool, gym, thermal suite with aroma and steam rooms, sauna and hydrotherapy pool, the highlight for me was the ridiculously indulgent outdoor hot tub where you can watch bunny rabbits hop around the landscaped gardens with a glass of Champagne in your hand.

And if this doesn’t relax you enough, there are 10 treatment rooms upstairs plus a ‘hush’ room and a beauty area.

I had an hour-long ‘Of Air and Light’ massage with Terraké feather brushes – exquisite – and my husband plumped for the Monticelli mud treatment, which involved being covered in mud and wrapped in clingfilm – sadly I wasn’t there to see it.

Reunited in the hush room later we were almost giggling with glee at the sheer extravagance of it all and so relaxed they could have poured us into the hot tub too.

Another surprising little treat – as well as the clay pigeon shooting, quad bikes, tennis, croquet and cycle riding available – was Trotters World of Animals, which is part of the hotel estate and free for hotel guests to visit.

It’s a great little place with more than 100 species of animal ranging from bison to meerkats and lemurs to an endangered Lynx.

We were lucky enough to visit a few days after the birth of their first baby zebra.

Apart from this, however, we didn’t manage to drag ourselves away from the spa long enough to explore the area. Which means, of course, that we’ll just have to go back...

And with very friendly staff and prices for short breaks, spa days and dining surprisingly reasonable, it will certainly be sooner rather than later.

* Armathwaite Hall is running a special event next month which aims to unlock the secret to weight loss and wellbeing with Dr Marie-Claire Wilson.

The three-day event on November 8-10 will help you: l lose weight without going hungry, counting calories or measuring portion sizes l gain muscle l improve overall wellbeing with better sleep, increased energy levels l improve sports performance.

Dr Wilson is a qualified doctor and well-being practitioner who uses BioSignature analysis, a unique method based on skin fold thickness measurements that give insights into hormonal balance.

The break costs from £375 per person to include: Two nights and three-day seminar with dinner on two evenings, lunch on day two, exercise classes including yoga, guided walks, use of spa facilities and opportunity for mini consultations. For more information call 017687 76551 or visit armathwaite-hall.com