Scarlet Spy tries… an ishga Hebridean Sound Treatment

Take me with you…

This five-star white Georgian manor house hotel has more than a dash of high-end glamour to it - and a superb spa to boot. The countryside cousin of The Dorchester, Coworth Park is set in 240-acres of parkland in affluent Ascot, complete with its own equestrian centre. The interior is delightfully opulent and amusing; giant beds adorned with metal birds and freestanding copper baths come as standard. You’ll find fabulous food – including Michelin-starred Woven by Adam Smith - and treatments that are imaginative and effective.

Shall we spa?

Yes, please. Park in the spa car park for a quick stroll to the two-storey spa; if you’re staying overnight in the hotel (and it’s raining) you can don your robe and be whisked door-to-door in one of the speedy resident golf buggies.

Submerged into the landscape – all floor-to-ceiling glass – The Spa at Coworth Park is a destination in its own right. Swim laps in the indoor pool lined with amethyst sculptures and toast in spacious steam room before a spot of lunch at the light-filled Spatisserie. The changing rooms are super-glam, too, expect rainforest showers, complimentary ishga products and individual dressing tables with GHD hairdryers and straighteners. You’ll be assigned a full-length locker with Coworth-logoed white robe, blue flip-flops and two towels inside; pop your diamonds in the in-locker safe.

Treatment talk

We tried the Hebridean Sound Treatment by ishga (90 minutes, from £230), a collaboration between Coworth Park, Sound Therapist & DJ Brian D’Souza and isgha to create a soundscape experience in the spa.

My therapist, Nicole, collected me from the light and airy relaxation room and led me to an usually high-end treatment room named. This all-white, ultra-high-end room with statement lighting hanging from the ceiling like icy stalactites felt more calming than clinical.

Nicole reviewed my consultation on an iPad (very Coworth) before commencing the treatment with a footbath; a sprinkling of isgha sea salt and a ramekin of Hebridean seaweed were added to the water. Nicole dried my feet, handed me a pair of paper knickers and left me to disrobe and lie face down on the comfy heated bed.

The chiming of the singing bowl signified the start of the treatment and, after three deep inhalations, the soundtrack began. Applying deliciously hot Coworth Jubilee Oil – scented with palmarosa, lily of the valley, orange, neroli and rose - Nicole used sweeping movements from the soles of my feet up to my neck in a Balinese-style massage.

She then liberally applied hot oil to my legs and smoothed it up over my body - this felt incredible. This process was repeated on the other side before Nicole set to work on the stubborn tension in my shoulders and neck; as she honed in on problem areas, I knew I was in experienced hands.

Turning onto my back, Nicole adjusted the bed for comfort, covered my eyes and continued to massage the front of my body: feet, legs and arms. Finally, she poured warm oil onto my forehead and scalp for a blissful head massage; by this stage my body and mind had simply let go.

Nicole signified the end of the treatment with a chime of the singing bowl and a spritz of lemongrass-scented Ishga Uplifting Aroma Spray - which felt like spray from the sea. She then let me come to and led me back to the relaxation room in my blissed-out haze. Tucked under a cosy blanket on a lounger, Nicole handed me a cup of Camelia Happiness Tea – a wellbeing blend of fennel seeds, lemon verbena and rose buds - and some freshly-made oaty cookies. I gazed contently out of the floor-to-ceiling windows and watched leaves gentle fall from the trees.

How did it measure up?

The combination of sound therapy, music composition and biophilia transported my often fast-paced brain beachside; listening carefully, I could pick out the Scottish harp, fiddle, flute and even a faint sound of bagpipes as well as some very subtle Gaelic singing. The hot ishga oil and soothing strokes of the Balinese-style massage left me deeply relaxed and feeling nurtured.

Spot of lunch?

Retreat in your robe to the Spatisserie, just a short stroll from the changing rooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out over mature trees – flooding the space with natural light; natural décor is paired with pops of purple flowers and a green backdrop beyond. After enjoying a glass of the juice of the day – a refreshing blend of kale, apple and mint - we ordered from the Spa Platter menu, choosing a dish from each section: cleanse, refresh, nourish and indulge.

We opted for the orange tomato consommé with chilli and coriander; Quinoa salad with pomegranate and avocado; Smokin’ Brothers smoked salmon with wakame seaweed, sesame and kalamansi; and an Alfonso mango, lime and rice crispy. All of the dishes were deliciously fresh, tasty and beautifully presented.

This a great spot to sip a glass of Verve Clicquot and watch the clouds roll over the treetops; we loved spotting golf buggies pootle about the estate.

Got all day?

Make a day of it and take full advantage of this peaceful spa – relax poolside with a good book; pick an indulgently long treatment (or two) and have lunch in the Spatisserie. If you’re staying overnight, dinner at the Michelin-starred Woven by Adam Smith is a must.

Short on time?

Book one of the treatments - you won’t regret it.