North Devon Journal
Crank up or chill out
O when was the last time you were cosseted, spoiled and treated rather too-indulgently?
If, like me, you find it hard to recall an occasion when you were last lost in the rhapsody of a relaxing massage or floating on the cloud of your own serenity, you may be long overdue for some pampering.
But where does a footsore, tired-eyed and brain-fagged hack go for that much needed cranking up, cooling off, and chilling out experience?
Someone in the know, when it comes to idyllic indulgence scenarios, suggested a Pamper Day at Downe Health Spa in Hartland.
So I had the good luck, on a Monday morning, to be driving through the glorious Hartland Peninsula – a designated area of outstanding beauty – surrounded by peace, tranquillity and sparkling sea views which nod to Lundy in the North and wink across the Atlantic to the West. I have to admit that even before reaching the spa, distress was giving way to de-stress.
Greeting me at Downe Cottages Health Spa, an atmospheric renovated dairy farm, were congenial hosts: Jeremy and Lynda Roe. The couple are on a mission: to make Pamper Days as unhurried and as relaxing as possible.
Jeremy said: “People arrive here with tension and they are mentally exhausted. You can see it in their shoulders. Sometimes the contrast in their posture when they leave is noticeable.”
On arrival guests are given a towelling robe, slippers, bath sheet and sweat towel – many stay in their robe and slippers all day. Lynda said: “People almost drift out afterwards and it’s lovely to see them leave like that after a superb day.”
Now if any of this sounds slightly reminiscent of some of the health farms so popular in the 80s: rest assured. There was positively no evidence that pamperees were expected to wear mung bean necklaces or go-for-the-burn Fonda-style leg warmers, become spiritual athletes, sit in the yogi position for four hours or nibble all day on delicate sprigs of celery. Of course you could do any of these things if you so wish. But at Downe Health Spa, I get the impression, austere and rigorous regimes are out. Relaxation, pampering and recuperation, are most definitely in (so are cream teas – yippee!)
Lynda said: “We tell people it’s their pamper clay. We are running the place but it has to be at their pace.”
So should it be your whim you could spend the day sprawling in the lounge area glued to a giant screen TV. But if lethargy isn’t your luxury and you have aspirations to be lively and lean, you will no doubt be tempted by the machines and weights in the airy gym. Outdoor types can make the most of the fact that the sea, Berry Cove and the coastal path are little more than a short walk away. Personally though, the idea of submerging in the spa bath, wallowing in the whirlpool jets and sweating away stress in the sauna and steam room sounds rather tempting. Not least because the lounging area in the spa room looks across a spring-fed lily pond to the coast.
Pamper Day delights also include therapies. So I know you will understand that, in the interests of the readership I felt compelled to test an aromatherapy face and head massage. In a private treatment room, my therapist chose and mixed oils for energising:
“I’m using lemongrass to leave you energised, lavender for its antibiotic qualities and melissa to uplift and improve the mood.”
The result? Well it might be quite succinctly summed up in one word: bliss! My therapist’s talent for massage was evident and the energising effect left me zinging all day. I could equally have chosen an aromatherapy body massage, head massage, facials, pedicures, manicures or reflexology.
So who might like a pamper day?
Jeremy said: “Pamper days are a superb way of celebrating special events (pre-wedding, anniversaries or birthdays) or just enjoying the company of a group of friends. The idea is to provide people with the perfect retreat for the day.”
The perfect retreat involves a light lunch (which, if sunny, can be enjoyed on the patio – a sun trap with first class views) and, prior to your departure, a cream tea. For those who need a few days to unwind Lynda and Jeremy also offer Pamper Breaks where you can stay in one of the stone Victorian cottages.
Lynda seems to love having guests at her Hartland haven.
“It has to be a passion. A Pamper Day is a special day and if people stay over it’s a holiday. Wasting money is one thing but you don’t want to waste that special day. If that is spoilt there is no amount of compensation for that.”
Prices for a Pamper Day vary depending on which therapies and treatments you choose.