spa

THIS former pub has had a serious glow-up, says Senior Writer Donna Smiley.

Spa stays for two cost from £270 B&B (Ffolkes.org.uk).

THE LOWDOWN

Set in the sleepy village of Hillingdon, Ffolkespa, at former coaching inn Ffolkes, is a vibe and a half.

Think bold splashes of colour, neon lights, disco balls and graffiti-decorated crazy golf.

Want Ibiza feels? You’ve got them.

WHAT WE LOVED

Aside from the super-king beds, a smart TV that swivels from bed to bath tub (which is big enough for two, btw), home-made shortbread cookies, a drench shower and Templespa toiletries, our fave thing was our room’s door straight into the spa, which gave us Narnia feels, too.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

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Talking of the spa, the giant hot tub complete with a bar made us feel like we were on our hols while sipping Revitalise smoothies of avocado, mango, spinach, broccoli, coconut, lime and ginger, £5.50, quickly followed by Hugo Spritzes, £10.

We were also big fans of the aroma steam room and the pre-steam salt scrubs, which left us with baby-soft skin for days.

Group sauna rituals featuring storytelling and scents hosted by a “sauna master” are quirky, £10 per person, and the “disco” toilets, where a smoke machine, flashing lights and loud tunes turn on at the press of a button are also very fun.

Most importantly, the My Kinda Skin facial, £80 for 45 minutes, left me glowing, and the afternoon street tea, £27.50 per person, is legendary, too, with cheeseburger sausage rolls, choc-chip scones, plus jalapeño and cheese scones with chilli butter.

Street-food traders take over come evening – we tucked into outstanding (and huge) onion, potato and kale bhajis topped with yoghurt, tamarind and pomegranate, £8, and beef keema roti kebabs with masala fries and a dal dip, £16.50.

WHAT WE DIDN’T LOVE

The coffee pod machines at breakfast were disappointing when all we craved was a proper barista hit.

What’s more, the poached eggs were made to order, but still a bit rubbery.

OUT & ABOUT

Blow away any hangovers with a walk on nearby Snettisham Beach, which is a natural haven for an array of wading birds (Rspb.org.uk/days-out/reserves/snettisham).

Follow it up with a chip butty at Snettisham Beach Fish And Chip Shop, £2.70.

Or hand-feed the beautiful red deer on a safari among the herd of more than 60 at lush Snettisham Park.

There are plenty of farm animals to visit on the 329-acre site, too.

Tickets cost £21 (Snettishampark.co.uk).

Norfolk Lavender in Heacham is equally close, with around 100 acres of peaceful gardens, not forgetting a cracking lavender sponge cake, £4.95 a slice (Norfolk-lavender.co.uk).

As is the historic town of King’s Lynn – follow its Maritime Trail from cobbled lanes to the Great Ouse river.

After working up an appetite, Mem’s Kitchen on Market Place serves delicious spinach and feta filo parcels, £7.95, and a super seafood casserole with calamari, mussels, king prawns, baby prawns and salmon, £20.95.

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Don’t miss the apricot, apple and almond crumble, £7.95 (Memskitchen.co.uk).

THE DAMAGE?

Spa stays for two cost from £270 B&B (Ffolkes.org.uk).

Looking for the perfect cosy UK countryside getaway this winter? This charming Cotswolds hotel ticks all the boxes, we discovered

Visit Calcot & Spa around this time of year and the first thing you’ll notice upon pulling up is the fragrant smell of log fires. Just outside the honey-coloured town of Tetbury – the Cotswolds’ second largest, and where you’ll find Highgrove House, the private home of King Charles and Queen Camilla – Calcot is the ultimate countryside retreat.

The main house was built in the 17th and 18th century, but records show that one barn dates back to 1311, with dwellings here even as far back as Roman times. Now it’s a luxury spa hotel filled with cosy corners and a keen focus on sustainability; they burn logs made from coffee grounds and old newspapers, a tree is planted every time towels are reused, and they’ve eliminated single-use plastics.

Rooms are comfy and spacious – the tray of complimentary drinks and snacks is a nice touch (including the butteriest homemade shortbread), and I had one of the best night’s sleep in ages in the giant squishy bed.

Dinner can be taken in the elegant Brasserie restaurant (be sure to save room for one of the delicious desserts) or in The Hive, a pub-like space serving more casual bites, and which is better for kids.

In fact, the whole hotel is incredibly family-friendly, while still being a relaxing retreat for those travelling without children (a tricky balance to get right). There are dedicated hours for families in the pool and at The Hive, baby monitors are available to hire, and kids get four hours of free childcare in the nanny-run Playbarn when staying between Sunday and Thursday.

The spa at Calcot

A huge barn-style building a few steps from the main building, Calcot Spa features a light and airy café, indoor pool for lengths, sauna, steam room and snooze-inducing relaxation rooms.

The highlight, however, is undoubtedly the outdoor hydropool by yet another aromatic log fire, which somehow never feels overcrowded. Try to pay it a visit at the end of the day (the spa’s open until 9pm), as it becomes even more magical in the dark.

Top treatment at Calcot & Spa

Six months pregnant at the time, I went for the spa’s New Life New Mum Massage, which started with a back massage lying on each side (I appreciated the long sausage-shaped pregnancy pillow to hug), before turning over onto my back to work on my feet, legs and arms. While the lower back needs to be treated gently when pregnant, I was thrilled to still feel the knots in my neck being expertly loosened. The combination of vanilla-y scent of macadamia nut oil and my therapist’s soothing voice had me nearly nodding off.

What else is there to do at Calcot & Spa?

Calcot is, quite rightly, very proud of its rewilding programme across its 220-acre grounds, which includes wildflower meadows, beehives and a herd of fluffy Belted Galloway cows to graze the fields. Explore it all on the 3km nature trail; comfy Le Chameau wellies are available to borrow by the back door if it’s muddy underfoot.

How much does it cost to stay at Calcot & Spa?

Rooms at Calcot & Spa start from £344 per night.

A ROLLING mist was hugging the Somerset Levels beneath a crisp autumn sun as I opened the curtains and stepped out on to my balcony.

We had arrived in the dark the night before, to a welcome reception of hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows by a roaring fire pit at the Windmill Retreat Spa & Estate in Bridgwater.

We had been impressed by the state-of-the-art outdoor hot tub, cold plunge and private barrel sauna in the newly-built Avanto Spa Garden, for the exclusive use of six new Elements suites.

But waking up to these views – and catching a glimpse of the larger spa below – we knew we were somewhere extra special.

Rested from a good night’s sleep in the Thyme suite – with its king-size bed, and lounge with complimentary handcrafted gin infused with herbs from the garden – we headed down to the Levels Country Kitchen.

Guests can choose from a continental breakfast on their balcony, or a hot breakfast and coffee in the Kitchen.

WAIL OF A TIME

I drove Irish Route 66 with deserted golden beaches and pirate-like islands

TEMPTED?

Tiny ‘Bali of Europe’ town with stunning beaches, €3 cocktails and £20 flights

It was followed by a morning of yoga and meditation in the Wellness Dome, which has been built at the top of the site, with views over the local villages.

Suitably relaxed, we went for a stroll around the estate, picking up a hand-made necklace from the shop before returning to the cafe – where guests get ten per cent off.

There we had lunch of French onion soup and hot honey goat’s cheese and walnut salad.

The extensive seasonal menu includes a selection of sandwiches, salads and quiches as well as an all-day brunch and burgers.

As the afternoon rolled in, it was time to experience the main Windmill spa, where sessions start from £35 per person.

It is open to just 12 people at a time, so it never feels overcrowded.

We started in the main hydrotherapy infinity pool overlooking another beautiful garden, before venturing outside to the hot tub with a glass of ice-cold prosecco.

A steam and sauna followed, then we reclined on the warm stone beds with an iced towel to cool off, before treating ourselves to an express facial (from £43) in one of the five treatment rooms.

Back in our suite we helped ourselves to pick ’n’ mix from the pantry, alongside a herbal tea and a slice of home-made Victoria sponge cake – baked freshly each day – before heading back out to the Avanto Spa Garden for sunset by the fire pit with another round of marshmallows and lashings of hot chocolate.

Hearty breakfast

After washing off the day under the rainforest shower and using the spa’s home-made toiletries, it only felt right to get into our robes to enjoy a delicious charcuterie board – delivered to our suite – and a bottle of red wine in bed with Strictly on the TV.

For those wanting something more substantial, the highly-recommended George Inn is just a 15-minute walk away, or you can order in a pizza from the local takeaway.

Lights out by 10pm, we opened the skylight above our bed to look at the stars before drifting off for another sensational night’s sleep.

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The next morning, after another hearty breakfast – this time a sausage sandwich – we handed back our suite keys with heavy (but relaxed) hearts, before making use of the spa garden for one final time and packing up a lump of cake for the road.

• From £197.50 per person based on two sharing.

A sleek, modern hostel has opened, offering affordable rooms with unlimited access to its on-site spa and a kid-friendly water park. Is this the way to enjoy a spa break without breaking the bank?

Think of spa breaks and you will likely picture country hotels, plush white robes, and copious amounts of Champagne. It’s safe to say, they’re not exactly associated with travelling on a budget.

But a hostel in the popular European city break destination of Tallinn in Estonia now offers a way to enjoy a spa break for less than the price of a cheap hotel room. From just £70 a night for two adults sharing a double or twin, guests enjoy unlimited access to the on-site spa and saunas, which are open seven days a week from 11am until 10.30 PM. The rate even includes a light breakfast in the café.

The Ring SPA Hostel is about as far away from the average hostel experience as you can get. There are no rickety beds or random roommates turning up in the middle of the night. Guests can book a private room for one or two people with a private bathroom, or they can opt for a quadruple room, which offers excellent value for money if four of you are travelling together.

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Rooms are basic, with neutral décor, a TV, and modern bathrooms. One reviewer said: “We booked a double room for one night. The price/quality ratio was excellent. The room was spacious, clean, and everything was new. Towels and linens were provided. There was a kettle and a mini fridge. The bathroom had a great shower.”

And there’s no need to worry that the spa will be cheap or basic. The pool features hydromassage options, and you’ll also find jacuzzis to ease tired muscles. Hostel guests can also enjoy a choice of ten modern saunas of varying temperatures, and there’s a kids’ area with a splash park for those who are bringing the whole family along.

The spa also offers a range of massages, including sports massage and treatments with hot stones, which can be booked for an additional fee. A classic 40-minute massage costs €48 (about £42.46).

Chelsea, who is well-known on TikTok as @cheapholidayexpert, recently visited the spa and shared her experience. Checking into her room, she was surprised at how nice it was for the price, quipping, “This is not a hostel!” She noted that the room included features like a kettle and fridge, which aren’t typically found in budget rooms.

Heading to the spa area, she said: “So the spa is made up of one big pool which has fountains, a hydro massage bed, and this circular rapid style area which I had far too much fun in. There’s also this warm pool which is like a big bath and a couple of jacuzzies plus lots of space to sit out and chill.”

After enjoying the water, Chelsea also tried the on-site café, reporting that a beer had set her back £3.52, while a pizza cost her £7.05, which she described as “b****y good”.

One slight downside to the hotel, as reported in some reviews, is its location, which is outside the centre of Tallinn. In her video, Chelsea said the bus had only cost her £1.74 for a single ticket, but some visitors may prefer to stay closer to the city.

A comment on her TikTok revealed more about the location: “As the creator said, around 20-25 mins [from the centre], but there’s a zoo in the neighbourhood, a decent mall and behind the mall there’s a scenic promenade by the sea that leads to one of the popular city beaches if you’re thinking of coming summer. The hotel itself is in a residential area, so there won’t be that much noise either!”

If you can tear yourself away from the spa, there’s plenty to explore in Tallinn. Famous for its gothic architecture, some popular places to visit include the Tallinn Town Hall in the medieval old town square. St. Olaf’s Church features a 124-metre spire, which is visible in the city’s skyline. During the summer, you can climb the tower and enjoy spectacular views.

There’s also Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a colourful, Eastern Orthodox cathedral with onion domes. You can visit the amusingly named Kiek in de Kök Fortification Museum, which is probably better known for its name than its 15th-century tower. For those who are curious, Kiek in de Kök was a German nickname for towers that didn’t translate well.

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