Armathwaite Hall Hotel and Spa

Armathwaite Hall Country House Hotel is a grand stately home with turrets and ivy which dates back hundreds of years. Think oak panelling and trophy deer-heads -- and that's just the entrance hall.

Armathwaite Spa is a sympathetically-designed modern extension with windows looking over the grounds, lake and Skiddaw. The spa has a dedicated entrance if you are visiting for the day, with its own car park. The spa is connected to the hotel via a long corridor. Make your way along it and you are suddenly in a seriously 21st-century space.

The main spa reception area is large and light, with a water sculpture and plenty of retail products on display. If you come through from the hotel just for a swim, you'll use the changing rooms on the ground floor, which are very health club in feel: £1 coin for your locker. You may also want to head for the gym, which is airy and well equipped.

If you're visiting for a spa treatment or a spa day, you're whisked upstairs to the circular spa lounge, with luscious leather sofas around a free-standing glass fire (sadly not lit on our visit). The chimney goes up through a skylight that fills the room with natural light. Here you can fill in your consultation form, choose your lunch from the spa menu, or relax and read. To one side of the lounge are manicure stations for a social spa treat.

The spa has its own changing rooms with private cubicles for the shy. The area is quite small but has everything you need, including lotion and hairdryers.

The pool and the indoor thermal facilities are separate; the pool has children's swim times but the thermal area is adults-only so retains a more peaceful atmosphere.

The 16-metre infinity pool -- just long enough for lengths -- has a waterfall cascading down a slate wall the height of the room. The smaller, shallower wallow pool is ideal for small children. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer views across the gardens and make the whole pool area feel light and spacious. You can relax on wide and comfortable loungers around the edge of the pool and also on the spa terrace: a conservatory with comfortable seating. When the sun shines, this is a fabulous spot to admire the views and the occasional visiting rabbit.

Next to the outside terrace is the hot tub, which is large enough to comfortably seat around eight adults. Nicely hot, seriously bubbly, glorious view of the woodland, fresh air: lovely.

Through a door in the pool area are the heat experiences. The green mosaic hydrotherapy pool could happily accommodate four or five people and has metal air benches and a swan pipe that's good for tense shoulders.

The wooden sauna was nicely hot, and has views down to the lake. The steam room was satisfyingly warm, the aroma room cooler, but with delicious scents. Both could seat eight and were beautifully finished in mosaic tiles with twinkly lights in the ceiling. Try a "tropical" or "rain dance" experience shower to cool down.

After your treatment, you can retreat to the Hush Room, which has delightfully soft loungers, snuggly brown blankets, and views over the woodland. Help yourself to juice and flapjacks.

We tried the Temple Spa Repose Aromatherapy Facial (70 minutes, £85) which turned out to be a very soothing treatment.

Sarah, my therapist, collected me from the spa lounge and took me through to one of Armathwaite's ten treatment rooms, nicely done in neutral colours. She began the treatment with a foot cleanse, setting the tone for relaxation. She cleansed, exfoliated  and toned my face then, using the rich Repose cream, carried out a gentle neck and shoulder massage. The treatment also included lots of facial massage, including lymphatic drainage, which was very relaxing; Sarah focused particularly on the tired skin around my eyes.

Sarah assessed my skin, found it a little dehydrated, so applied a Trufflesque mask, which felt ultra-soft and smooth. The mask contains black summer truffles and is designed to firm the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. While this worked, Sarah treated me to a supremely relaxing scalp massage and a hand and arm massage. She ended the treatment with a spritz of Temple Spa's Quietude essence, so I drifted out with the scents of cedar wood and cypress trailing in my wake.

Afterwards, my skin felt calm and nourished, and it looked nicely glowing, too.

Armathwaite Hall offers a range of treatments using its own bespoke products, alongside those from Temple Spa. You can try facials, massages, wraps and scrubs, holistic therapies such as reflexology and Indian head massage, and specialist treatments for mums-to-be. Finishing touches include manicures, pedicures and Mii Mineral make-up.

Wellness is a focus at Armathwaite Spa. You can book in for a variety of fitness analyses, including cholesterol and glucose screening, personal training, nutritional advice, and classes ranging from aerobics to yoga.

If you're visiting on a spa package, you can eat in the brasserie, next door to the spa, where you will feel quite comfortable in your robe. The spa menu has healthy choices such as salads, soups, and smoothies. You can also go off piste if you want, and try burgers or fish and chips, followed by some indulgent puddings.

If you're staying over, the formal fine-dining option in the Lake View restaurant has enchanting views of Skiddaw and Bassenthwaite. We enjoyed our citrus mackerel starter and local lamb for main.

We loved sitting in the hot tub with the gardens around us growing green in the sunshine (but this would be a lovely place to relax in almost any weather).

We also loved the handily placed intercom by the hot tub so that you can call through for your bubbles to arrive.

We would love a few more spare towels around in the spa. They're in the corridor outside.

The holistic treatments will appeal to those focused on wellness, with fitness analysis, personal training and advice all available.

Armathwaite Spa is a spa with many spaces for socialising, so is a great choice for friends to catch up. The spa can also put together tailor-made packages for groups celebrating a special occasion.

Couples: Open until 9pm, the spa at Armathwaite Hall is a great place to visit by twilight. Dip into the outdoor hydro-pool, order a glass of something, and watch the stars come out.

Armathwaite Hall offers a range of day packages that suit a variety of tastes. Afternoon tea lovers would enjoy the Sereni-Tea Spa Day. Drift in the spa for a few hours, take a treatment, then enjoy the fabulous views over the lake as you nibble your salmon sandwiches.

Armathwaite Hall Country House Hotel and Spa retains its Good Spa Guide rating of 5 bubbles. We loved the Lakeland setting, our pleasant and effective treatment, and the views from the hot tub.

Armathwaite Hall offers a retreat for people who want to rest and recuperate. For others, it may be a place for exercise and invigoration. Visitors can have the spa experience that suits them in a serenely rural environment.

Single Spy visited in August 2018 and awarded it 5 Bubbles.