Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa

Low Wood Bay Resort and Spa is situated on the shores of Lake Windermere in Lake District National Park. Originally a farmhouse, the hotel and spa has been seamlessly extended to make the most of the stunning views. In 2019, the three-story exclusive Winander Club opened with 29 stylish bedrooms and its own bar/club lounge. The spa at Low Wood Bay is built into a hillside overlooking the lake.

WHAT’S ON OFFER?

Helpful parking staff will open the barrier and point you in the direction of the spa. Once there, sensor-operated glass doors will glide open to reveal the spa’s reception which has wooden floors, soft armchairs and shelves of wall-mounted products to browse.

Our spa host handed us soft robes and wristbands and showed us through to the well-equipped changing rooms. Store your possessions in one of the grey, wristband-operated lockers – of which there are twin banks – choosing between half- and full-height. You’ll find a good sized, well-lit mirror, two hair dryers and cleanser/cotton buds at the vanity bar; nip into one of the cubicles if you wish to change out of the watchful eye of other spa goers. Showers are equipped with ESPA shower gel, shampoo and conditioner; both loos and sinks were immaculate on our visit. Spa hosts are more than happy to fetch anything else you might need – such as straighteners or razors – from reception.

We began our spa journey in the relaxation lounge with its soft grey recliners on which to sit and marvel at the lake views. We hydrated ourselves with lemon-and-lime-infused water and tucked into slabs of chocolate orange brownie before heading through to the heat experiences – a pleasant way to start.

Indoors, there’s an infinity pool with bubble massage jets and a warm hydrotherapy pool. The sauna lounge - with its wooden swing seats – isn’t as hot as a traditional sauna so guests can relax for longer. For steamy heat, head into the coconut and vanilla-scented steam room (nice) or the hot Himalayan salt sauna. Cool down under one of two showers afterwards. Swimmers can make good use of the leisure facilities which include a lap pool, jacuzzi, steam room and an infrared sauna.

Low Wood Bay’s latest addition is an outdoor vitality pool and lounge area, attractively equipped with cushioned chairs, tables, fire pits and a restored boat, perfect for photo opportunities. Relax here between dips in the outdoor infinity pool and hot tubs, of which there are two. Perched at the top of a fell, the outdoor sauna must have the best vistas of any sauna in the UK (it’s the first in the country to be built at varying levels using slate steps). Huge panoramic windows offer more of those magnificent watery views.

The heat experiences and pools – both indoor and out - are part of a three-hour thermal journey designed to keep the spa quiet and intimate. Spa assistants work hard to keep facilities clean and tidy, and make sure everyone feels well looked after. We were handed iced flannels, frozen watermelon slices and passionfruit Mochi Japanese ice-cream on our visit alone.

Post-treatment, head up to the relaxation room with its comfy armchairs with footstools, contemporary toffee-hued leather sofa and blankets to snuggle under. Help yourself to dried fruit and savoury snacks; a spa host will serve your herbal tea of choice (peppermint please).

TELL US ABOUT YOUR TREATMENTS

We tried the Berry & Birch Head to Toe Massage (50 minutes, £105) as part of the Sail & Spa package. This includes a chartered yacht experience on Windermere Lake.

Hannah, my therapist, collected me (and my brownie) from the relaxation lounge and showed me through to one of six cosy treatment rooms (called Primrose) with birch cladding on the ceiling. Hannah then left the room so that I disrobe and sink into the spongiest of treatment beds, lying face down.

After confirming that I felt snug and relaxed, Hannah drizzled some Berry & Birch Awakening Body Oil onto my back and used it to facilitate long, firm forearm strokes to work out the knots in my back and shoulders. Hannah then continued to work her magic on my lower back before asking me to turn over.

Eyes covered with a warm towel, Hannah treated me to a dreamy foot massage, leaving a refreshing peppermint mask on to help reduce inflammation in my feet before giving them the VIP treatment: wrapping them in warm towels. Turning her focus to my face (this is a head-to-toe treatment after all), Hannah cleansed my skin in preparation for a face massage using a massage balm. She expertly moved her hands around my décolleté, neck and face before drizzling coconut oil into my hair and massaging it firmly into my scalp in a circular motion.

After a spritz of face mist and moisturising cream, Hannah unwrapped my feet, raised the treatment bed and handed me a glass of water.

The Spa at Low Wood Bay offers a range of facials and massages, reflexology and scrubs from ESPA as well as the Berry & Birch range which is exclusive to the spa. They also have therapists trained to treat anybody living with, or recovering from, cancer or other long-term illness.

FOOD FACTS

Spa guests can dine enrobe at the Blue Smoke on the Bay restaurant which serves lunch, afternoon tea and dinner, with food cooked on a three-metre-long double wood fired grill. Not only is this fun to watch but the wood adds to the flavour; the cooking method also keeps meat and fish crisp on the outside but succulent and juicy within.

As we were dining at the hotel that evening, we chose a lighter two-course spa lunch and tucked into aubergine bruschetta and a flavoursome pork taco to start followed by Ceasar salads: one with grilled salmon; the other grilled chicken.

Our meal that evening was in the recently renovated – and oh-so-stylish - W Restaurant, with its vibrant palette and patterns that shouldn’t work together but do. We tucked into Longhorn Fillet of Beef Tataki to start, followed by the waitress-recommended Salt Chamber Aged Roast Pork Belly for mains. Our spa partner began with a Baby Leek Roscoff with onion and a fresh Truffle tart, followed by Creedy Carver Duck Breast.

After a short breather, we ordered the Banoffee Tartlet and Rhubarb and Custard Semi Freddo – everything we ate was an absolute hit.

Thanks to a wine refrigeration and preservation system, guests can choose from a selection of 28 wines served by the glass – an idea that we not only loved but took full advantage of.

WE LOVED / WE DIDN’T LOVE

We loved

The customer service: from the treats served in the thermal facilities to our spa host, nothing is too much trouble at The Spa at Low Wood Bay.

The views from the outdoor heat facilities: did we mention those?

Our stay in the stylish Winander Club: we were greeted with a drink while our luggage was whisked away; our fry up in the club’s own breakfast room meant we had Lake Windermere for company.

We didn’t love

Having to leave…

The steps in the outdoor areas: whilst these are wide with good handrails, guests with mobility issues may struggle.

WHO DO YOU THINK WOULD LIKE IT?

Energetic Lake District walkers will love all the heat facilities for relaxing tired limbs.

Foodies: there’s a restaurant for every occasion – and every guest. You won’t go hungry.

Watersports enthusiasts: as well as yachting, The Low Wood Bay Watersports Centre offers canoeing, kayaking, wake-surfing, knee-boarding waterskiing, paddleboarding and more.

WHAT BUBBLE RATING DID YOU AWARD THIS SPA?

We awarded The Spa at Low Wood Bay a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubble Luxury for its excellent customer service, great thermal facilities, jaw-dropping setting and finger-licking food.

Serene Spy visited in August 2024 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.