The bed wobbled considerably as I lay down on it. The lady next to me was fast asleep. Or maybe she wasn’t, but she was certainly not hanging around to chat about the real world

Pattern by Georgia Coote

I sunk deeply into the water bed as I lay my head back, eventually stopping moving and arranging my robe. Closed my eyes for a second. Looked around, checked the scene again. Then again for longer, and breathed deeply. Normally now I would get my phone out, or try and grab my book. But a phone would be deeply frowned upon. We were in the land of white robes and slow paced walking, now.

As you know, we are situated in old spa territory in the South West. Bristol and Bath were visited in the 17th century for their cleansing waters, thought to have many health benefits. Go back even further to AD43 and the Romans used Bath’s waters for sanctuary and deep relaxation. Using nature as one of its tools for sanctuary, Center Parcs’ Longleat spa, Aqua Sana, is situated in Longleat Forest, deep within the tall Redwood trees. After a treatment, you are given the option to relax on a row of beds facing the forest with the trees’ peaceful and calming attributes. While the external pool is in the middle of the cabin style sections of the spa. Pop outside and you’ll find the Finnish sauna – apparently the most intense of the saunas, it mechanically sprays water onto hot coals. It’s like a British-Scandinavia – of sorts.

The rooms and showers include; multi sensory showers with various light, scent and temperature settings, Japanese Salt Stream Bath with essential oils and salt combined to create a sea atmosphere, Balinese Multi-steam Bath full of aromas and warm steam, and the traditional hot, dry sauna. As you walk around, fellow-robe wearers point at the various maps around the spa and quietly discuss their route.

Though I loved popping in and out of the maze of rooms and plunging in and out of pools, the highlight of my visit perhaps unsurprisingly was the 85 minute Decléor Oressence Face and Body treatment. Oils are combined to your requirements – de-stress, relax, energise – (I ticked them all) and then massaged at the pressure you desire. While the facial includes a calming massage, oils and fabric mask that covers the whole face and leaves skin deeply cleansed and content. My therapist Jasmine, was excellent.

Relaxing is essential for a healthy life and comes in many forms; through exercise, a cup of tea with a friend, stroking the cat for a few minutes. In contrast to the massage extravaganza, my other particular favourite part of the spa experience, was the meditation room. It had nothing more than low-volume music and a comfy bed. However, it reminded me that stopping for five is easy. It was quite the retreat – nothing that was supposed to, or could be happening. And after I had thought about relaxing and escaping next Christmas, the whirring mind, the one that keeps me awake at night, paused. It’s very energising to have a break and time to think, work through all that is thrown at us and re-organise it into keep, throw and reassess piles.

The only aspect that Longleat’s Aqua Sana is missing out on a tad, is the food. It could be seasonal, local – smart food. Instead, it’s not particularly special paninis, salads and pasta dishes. Absolutely it fills you up, but it doesn’t make you feel as good as it could. Especially if you’ve come to the food lounge directly from a spa treatment. Feeling like Tinkerbell in slow motion (bit bizarre, I know), I wanted to continue the goodness and eat some wholesome deliciousness – yes, with my Prosecco.

We left Longleat and drove the long windy road through the forest with renewed energy and our mortgage/childcare/money/interior design thoughts calmed. The traffic back to the city and our pinging phones welcomed us back from our sanctuary. Relax – just for five minutes a day.

www.centerparcs.co.uk/villages/longleat/spas

Longleat Forest
Warminster
Wiltshire
BA12 7PU