Western Daily Press

Picture of the article

Take time out

Feeling stressed? Need some pampering? Susie Weldon discovers the hedonistic delights of North Devon’s most intimate spa

The Hartland peninsula in North Devon has long been renowned for its stunning natural beauty, picturesque villages and dramatic views over the Atlantic (next stop Lundy Island, for those with wings or fins).

Visitors come to walk the clifftops, explore the secluded coves and take a break from the stresses of urban life in this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

But now there’s an extra reason to head for this idyllic part of the world – the luxurious pampering to be found at Jeremy and Lynda Roe’s Downe Health Spa.

Jeremy and Lynda moved to the area about 10 years ago in search of a better quality of life.

They found a Grade II-listed farmhouse dating back to the 15th century, Downe House, and five dilapidated Victorian stone buildings, and embarked upon a three-year renovation project.

Now they have eight beautifully converted cottages which sleep from two to six people and provide “the self-catering equivalent of a five-star country hotel”, according to a reviewer from The Sunday Times.

They also built a spa, comprising a gym, sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room and treatment rooms, for the use of their guests, about four years ago.

“But we realised that it wasn’t being used during the day – that was when people were out walking or exploring the area,” says Jeremy.

So now they also offer pamper days and half-days that are open to non-residents, too, and they’ve proved enormously popular.

“We find people’s first reaction is ‘I never knew it was here’. We also have an awful lot of spa novices who say ‘I walked in and thought what on Earth am I going to do all day, and then I got to the end and thought where has the day gone?’,” chuckles Lynda.

Both Lynda and Jeremy had very clear ideas about what kind of experience they were aiming for. Lynda can still remember her first massage – in Houston, Texas, in the 1970s – and since then she’s had lots of treatments, thanks to the five-star hotels she and Jeremy stayed in all over the world.

“We are our customers. We look at ourselves and say ‘what would we like?’,” says Jeremy. “It’s got to be spotlessly clean, warm, well decorated and totally relaxing. We want people to walk away delighted with what they’ve experienced. It’s an intimacy that we have here. It’s about a very personalised service.”

There is, indeed, something very intimate and relaxed about the Downe Health Spa, as I found when I visited for a pamper day. I arrived frazzled and late, thanks to a troublesome drive from Bristol, but a tray of tea, a pile of glossy magazines and a plump, welcoming sofa soon had me soothed.

Then it was time for the first of my two treatments – an aromatherapy back and shoulder massage.

Downe Health Spa is all about customer care, and you do feel superbly pampered. It was quite an effort to get up after my massage and stagger into the conservatory where a light lunch was served. Thankfully, there was more pampering in the afternoon, when I was booked for a facial.

All the products and treatments are based on nutrient-rich seaweed harvested from the coasts of Brittany, and the facial left my skin glowing and silky soft. The sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi were all there for me to use, but to be honest, I didn’t want to do much more than lounge on the sofa, reading and chatting, in between treatments.

After a thoroughly self-indulgent day, I felt completely refreshed.

Downe Health Spa » Western Daily Press

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Western Daily Press

Picture of the article

Take time out

Feeling stressed? Need some pampering? Susie Weldon discovers the hedonistic delights of North Devon’s most intimate spa

The Hartland peninsula in North Devon has long been renowned for its stunning natural beauty, picturesque villages and dramatic views over the Atlantic (next stop Lundy Island, for those with wings or fins).

Visitors come to walk the clifftops, explore the secluded coves and take a break from the stresses of urban life in this designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

But now there’s an extra reason to head for this idyllic part of the world – the luxurious pampering to be found at Jeremy and Lynda Roe’s Downe Health Spa.

Jeremy and Lynda moved to the area about 10 years ago in search of a better quality of life.

They found a Grade II-listed farmhouse dating back to the 15th century, Downe House, and five dilapidated Victorian stone buildings, and embarked upon a three-year renovation project.

Now they have eight beautifully converted cottages which sleep from two to six people and provide “the self-catering equivalent of a five-star country hotel”, according to a reviewer from The Sunday Times.

They also built a spa, comprising a gym, sauna, Jacuzzi, steam room and treatment rooms, for the use of their guests, about four years ago.

“But we realised that it wasn’t being used during the day – that was when people were out walking or exploring the area,” says Jeremy.

So now they also offer pamper days and half-days that are open to non-residents, too, and they’ve proved enormously popular.

“We find people’s first reaction is ‘I never knew it was here’. We also have an awful lot of spa novices who say ‘I walked in and thought what on Earth am I going to do all day, and then I got to the end and thought where has the day gone?’,” chuckles Lynda.

Both Lynda and Jeremy had very clear ideas about what kind of experience they were aiming for. Lynda can still remember her first massage – in Houston, Texas, in the 1970s – and since then she’s had lots of treatments, thanks to the five-star hotels she and Jeremy stayed in all over the world.

“We are our customers. We look at ourselves and say ‘what would we like?’,” says Jeremy. “It’s got to be spotlessly clean, warm, well decorated and totally relaxing. We want people to walk away delighted with what they’ve experienced. It’s an intimacy that we have here. It’s about a very personalised service.”

There is, indeed, something very intimate and relaxed about the Downe Health Spa, as I found when I visited for a pamper day. I arrived frazzled and late, thanks to a troublesome drive from Bristol, but a tray of tea, a pile of glossy magazines and a plump, welcoming sofa soon had me soothed.

Then it was time for the first of my two treatments – an aromatherapy back and shoulder massage.

Downe Health Spa is all about customer care, and you do feel superbly pampered. It was quite an effort to get up after my massage and stagger into the conservatory where a light lunch was served. Thankfully, there was more pampering in the afternoon, when I was booked for a facial.

All the products and treatments are based on nutrient-rich seaweed harvested from the coasts of Brittany, and the facial left my skin glowing and silky soft. The sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi were all there for me to use, but to be honest, I didn’t want to do much more than lounge on the sofa, reading and chatting, in between treatments.

After a thoroughly self-indulgent day, I felt completely refreshed.

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