Sybaritic Spy tries a Pro-Glow Biotec Facial

TAKE ME WITH YOU…

Ramside Hall is a four-star, silver-rated AA hotel set in 350 acres of leafy grounds near the buzzing city of Durham. As well as 127 rooms, the property has three restaurants, event spaces – where weddings can be hosted - two 18-hole championship golf courses and a spa.

If you are staying overnight book into one of the modern spa bedrooms close to the Spa at Ramside and wander along the corridor in your robe.

SHALL WE SPA?

There is plenty of spa to play with here. The thermal suite has two saunas, two steam rooms, a caldarium and mud Rasul, as well as a 25-metre swimming pool that attracts members and serious swimmers alike. A large plunge pool has been newly added near the sauna and is large enough for half a dozen brave souls to dip together.

The huge, circular hydropool is the main focus of the spa, and where we spent most of the day taking short dips in the bubbly water before snoozing on large, well-padded loungers. We did leave our loungers long enough to venture into the spa garden with its outdoor whirlpool.

Upstairs is a quiet realm of treatment rooms and a post-treatment Sleep Sanctuary in which to relax or snooze without interruption.

TREATMENT TALK

We tried a Pro-Glow Biotec Facial with added Swedish massage (85 minutes, £165).

Rachel, my therapist, collected me from the treatment waiting area and guided me around a curved, dimly lit corridor to a treatment room with dark wood floors and green walls. After talking me through the treatment and discussing any medical issues, Rachel left the room to allow me to disrobe and get comfortable on the heated treatment bed, lying face down.

The treatment began with a cleansing foot ritual followed by a back massage - Rachel immediately found the tension in my shoulders and worked hard to reduce the knots. She then held the towel up so that I could turn over for the facial.

Rachel began this with an Elemis Rose cleansing balm followed by an ultra-sonic wand which she moved methodically over my skin for a deep clean. Turning the current up, Rachel used the device to tighten up various muscle groups in my face. A lovely lifting and firming massage came next; I could feel Rachel working hard on my saggy jawline. The Marine face mask that followed allowed Rachel to use her second magic device of the treatment: a Cryotherapy machine to chill the skin and firm the muscles, followed by oxygen which was pumped into my skin to allow the ingredients in the mask to penetrate. The epic treatment ended with a gentle ‘hands on’ touch, plenty of moisturizer and some eye cream.

My spa partner tried a Voya Mindful Dreams Ritual (85 minutes, £139) with Ella, his therapist. This consisted of a full body exfoliation - which he showered off - a lovely relaxing massage using lavender and rose quartz, and a singing bowl which echoed around the room.

In the candle-lit Sleep Sanctuary afterwards, we rested under a blanket on one of five electric soundwave therapy loungers. We debated trying one of water beds on the other side of the room but, feeling pretty sleepy, thought better of it (is there a way of getting on and off these in an elegant manner, we wondered?).

HOW DID IT MEASURE UP?

My treatment was like an MOT for the face, with much softer wrinkles around the eye area and a tighter jawline. My relaxed spa partner simply glowed.

SPOT OF LUNCH?

SPOT OF LUNCH?

The spa’s award-winning pan-Asian restaurant, Fusion, offers plenty of choice for lunch, including Bento boxes, sandwiches with an Asian twist and full meals. Guests can eat in their robes during the spa day but must change before 7pm.

Served straight from the Wok, our lunch of chicken, shrimp and prawn Pad Thai with rice noodles was both fresh and tasty.

In the evening (sans robes) we enjoyed a glass of wine, some succulent battered prawns and a Jumbo prawn Teriyaki. If you stay over, this is the place to come for breakfast, too with granola, fruit, eggs to order, fresh croissants and cereals guaranteed to put a spring in your morning step.

GOT ALL DAY?

GOT ALL DAY?

There is plenty of spa to occupy all-day spa goers. Use the hydrotherapy pool as a base, not forgetting the alfresco hydropool on sunnier days. Swim a few laps in the huge main pool before tackling the sauna/ steam/cold plunge trio. Or book into one of the many classes. Follow in the footsteps of the three elegant women we saw ordering pink cocktails, carry them over to the pool and sip them in the warm water. What’s not to love?

SHORT ON TIME?

Enjoy the hydrotherapy pool for an hour or so and then head upstairs for a treatment followed by a snooze in the lovely post-treatment room.