Rudding Park

Rudding Park is a grand Georgian property with immaculate gardens set just outside the Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate. The spa is a separate building connected to the hotel via an internal corridor. After parking in the spa's dedicated car park, follow the path lined with Rhododendrons to a contemporary building with glass double doors.

Three floors of spa heaven. The spa reception, changing rooms, and swimming pool are on the ground floor. Take the glass staircase (or the lift) down to the treatment rooms and four relaxation zones; head upstairs for the thermal facilities and the rooftop spa garden.

Like the rest of the spa, the reception area is light and bright with high ceilings giving a sense of space. Opposite reception is a high-end boutique called Retail Therapy selling a tempting range of beauty products, homewares and gifts.

The changing rooms are spacious and L-shaped, with large lockers containing fluffy white robes, slippers and a dark grey towel. Use the multi-functional wrist-band provided to open and close your locker and access the spa's thermal facilities. Change beside white leather benches or nip into one of four private changing rooms.

Hot showers contain Elemental Herbology shampoo, conditioner and bodywash; make good use of the large mirrored vanity area afterwards, which has powerful Dyson hairdryers, straighteners and Elemental Herbology amenities.

Rudding Park's 17-metre pool is large enough for some serious swimming. Children are welcome to use the pool during splash times; check the website for dedicated swim times.

One side of the pool is given over to loungers; also here is a large juniper log sauna overlooking the gardens, which is  roomy enough for 12 people. Cool down in the bucket shower afterwards.

We began our spa journey at the four foot spas; sit on the warm seats and select cool or warm water for your feet, followed by jets to massage.

There are several steam rooms to try, ranging from moderate to beautifully hot in temperature. The ‘luxury’ steam room upstairs is circular, with a domed ceiling full of twinkly lights. Individual ‘thrones’ are marked out in white mosaic tiles and navy-tiled benches; use the water hose to trickle cool water on your feet for a quick way to cool down.

Access to the Roof top Spa for hotel guests is included in the ‘sleeping beauty spa’ or ‘book a treatment’ breaks; otherwise, its £40 per person (well worth it, in our opinion). Allow at least an hour-and-a-half to enjoy all of the experiences up here, including the views and the stylish loungers with umbrellas set out amongst the fragrant Salvia. Call an attendant and order a glass of fizz to sip in the sunshine (we told you it was spa heaven).

We could have spent all afternoon in the bubbly hydro-therapy infinity pool, with its warm water and powerful jets, and the hot sauna with its wooden and glass exterior and internal seating for five.

If you're having a treatment, you can make use of the four mind and sense relaxation zones. Rooms are quirkily, but descriptively, named: try “Mind” for mind-stimulating games, “Audio” for headsets playing meditative tracks and “Visual” for a huge screen showing restful, colourful images. Our favourite was “Relax” with its huge comfy recliners and a ‘starry, starry night’ ceiling, plus gentle music to lull you to sleep.

We enjoyed the Dreamtime Journey treatment (135 minutes, £205) with a Bath Ritual (50 minutes and £90) which uses ila products and aims to reduce insomnia, still restless minds and relax the nervous system -- quite a promise.

The treatment began with a bath… but not just any bath, a huge circular copper bath with plenty of bubbles. We sunk in and drank a glass of bubbles while tucking into some rich chocolates. After 25 minutes, our therapists, Melissa and Lauren, knocked on the door to signal that it was time to get out, dry off and get ready for our massage.

Settled on side-by-side treatment beds, the massage began with a foot scrub which had us both in fits of giggles. The massage that followed calmed us down; this was followed by hot poultices which Lauren walked up each side of my spine almost vertebrae by vertebra. Lauren then placed the poultices on the palms of my hands; I almost fell asleep. The treatment finished with a facial massage using the hot poultices again and, finally, a drop of warm oil on my forehead. As this flowed into my hair, Lauren performed a fantastic scalp massage.

The whole treatment ended with a refreshing drink and some frozen grapes -- a thoughtful end to a lovely treatment. The verdict: our ‘restless minds’ were most definitely stilled.

Rudding Park Spa offers a menu of facials, massages and other body treatments using Elemental Herbology and ila products, as well as sports rehabilitation, treatments for mums-to-be,  post cancer treatments,  bathing rituals and finishing treatments such as manicures and pedicures.

You can have lunch in your robe in Horto, a contemporary cafe with floor-to-ceiling windows and a colourful palette of emerald greens and mustards. We ordered a starter of salmon pate and a delicious raspberry sorbet, both were light and refreshing.

Guests staying overnight also dine at Horto which offers an indulgent tasting menu with wine pairings. Much of the food comes from the kitchen garden, so is fresh and seasonal. My starter of asparagus and brown shrimps was light and tasty; my partner’s crab was served with crushed peas and a clear tomato consommé. We both opted for turbot for the main course which was delicious. Our meal ended with a delectable cheese board.

We loved

The design: Rudding Park Spa is a large stylish spa with ample facilities to occupy spa-goers for the day. It is cleverly designed with separate seating and relaxing areas, making it feel quiet even on busy days.

The food: Horto, the spa café, is the centre of the spa. Food here is inventive, fresh and local. Take time to stroll around the hotel’s own kitchen garden, which is a wellness experience in itself.

The rooftop spa:  Swim in the rooftop pools, top up your Vitamin D levels on a comfy recliner and order drinks from your spa host.

We didn't love

The lack of signage: We had trouble finding the relaxation rooms.

Indulgence seekers: Rudding Park Spa offers a truly luxurious experience.

Sun worshippers: The glass walls let light in everywhere, and the rooftop garden is heavenly on a sunny day. If the weather is unkind, dip into the outside hot tub or warm hydro-therapy pool

Romantics: Rudding Park Spa is made for romance. There were several couples enjoying a day at the spa, and we met one couple who were married at Rudding Park and had returned to celebrate their first anniversary.

We awarded Rudding Park Spa a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubble Luxury. Rudding Park Spa won Good Spa Guide’s Best Newcomer Award in 2017 and has everything you could wish for in a spa -- and more. The design and spa experience will delight even the most experienced spa-goer, while new spa-goers will feel well and truly spoiled.

Sybaritic Spy visited in June 2018 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.