Swinton Country Club & Spa

You know you have arrived at The Swinton Country Club & Spa, which dates back to the 1800s, when you see the ornate ivy-covered towers and turrets as you approach. The hotel and spa are at the centre of 200 acres of landscaped grounds within the Yorkshire Dales; look out for the 120 wild fallow deer that roam freely in the Deer Park.

With its contemporary wood and glass construction, the standalone spa is a sharp contrast to the antiquity of the hotel and located a short walk from it. Glass sliding doors at reception open to reveal a palette of earthy browns, fern greens and sky blues, designed to bring the outside in.

Staff warmly greeted us in the light and spacious reception area, with its exposed wood and colourful artwork. We loved the living wall behind the desk and the giant pebble stools in the main area. Taking a seat, we filled in consultation forms while sipping chamomile tea before being shown around the spa.

Set over two floors, the spa is surprisingly vast. Despite the size, it feels intimate with its ground-floor gym, fitness studio, pool, thermal suite and outdoor area; head upstairs for the treatment rooms, relaxation areas and changing facilities.

The stylish, well thought-out changing room is a barefoot-only zone; leave your shoes in a cubby hole before entering. There are plenty of large, code-operated lockers with room to hang coats and dresses; you'll find a fluffy grey generously-cut robe – a cupboard around the corner offers alternative sizes - towel and slippers (choose from two sizes) inside. 

The vanity area has comfortable seats with hairdryers, straighteners and giant-sized hairspray for ultimate coiffing; around the corner, there are large showers containing Bamford shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. Help yourself to a fresh towel, of which there are plenty, after showering.

One side of the impressive indoor pool is made up of exposed brickwork; the other has floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a sunny terrace. At 18 metres, the pool is a good size for working off your delicious spa lunch. Relax on one of several stylish loungers afterwards.

We began our thermal journey at the foot baths, selecting a warm setting to prompt relaxation. Next door is a hot Finnish sauna and a 100% humidity steam room designed to encourage deep muscle relaxation. Both can accommodate up to six people. The Salt Steam room beside the hydropool is set at a slightly lower temperature for those who find full blast steam a little much.

With its green mermaid tiles, warm bubbly water and three powerful jets, the hydrotherapy pool is a real highlight, as is the spa garden where its 10-metre natural pool for bathing is bio-filtered using reeds from the pond next door. The natural pool is a bit chilly – a hit with cold water lovers - but you can warm up in the cedar wood hot tub after taking a quick dip or curl up under a duvet on the much-coveted lie-back recliners. Tucked away around the corner is the outdoor sauna, along with some secluded seating with wood burning stove and blankets to snuggle beneath.

Feeling restless? Make good use of the spa's well-equipped gym and fitness studio. Upstairs there are three relaxation zones for post-treatment resting. Choose from bean bags in the lounge area, recliners in the relax room, cubicles with blankets in the slumber room or water beds in the sleep room.

With a 200-acre estate at your disposal, wellness extends beyond the spa building; nature lovers can enjoy barefoot woodland walks and wild swims in Coffin Pond (don’t let the name put you off; it’s beautiful). Alternatively, clamber into one of the forest hammocks in the Woodland Wellness Area for some mindful meditation; a blanket and hot water bottle will keep you toasty. You can also borrow wellies from the Boot Room in the main hotel.

We enjoyed a Bamford Body Signature (90 minutes, £155).

My therapist, Britt, met me in the treatment area and led me to a stylish treatment room which was modern and cosy. Britt talked me through the treatment and enquired about any concerns before washing my feet in a bowl with Bamford Geranium Bath Salts. Once dried off, she asked me to choose an oil based on smell; I was drawn to the chamomile blend, created to deeply de-stress mind, body and soul.

Once I was settled face down on the bed, the treatment began. Britt used a range of massage techniques to relax me, beginning with Japanese shiatsu rocking movements using her hands on my back through a towel – said to open the body’s meridians and unblock energy channels. Removing the towel, Britt adopted a gentle and nurturing Swedish-style massage on my back and legs, working hard to combat the stubborn knots in my shoulders and lower back.

Turning onto my front, Britt adjusted the bed to ensure I was comfortable, covered my eyes and placed a warm jade stone on my abdomen - known for its healing properties and ability to release stored emotions. She then continued to massage the fronts of my legs and feet.

Using the Bamford Nurturing skincare products, the treatment concluded with a heavenly face and scalp massage, Britt placing an amethyst stone on my head to help balance my mind’s chakra.

My body and mind felt genuinely soothed and at ease; my skin super hydrated. Britt handed me some herbal tea, water and a delicious flapjack and led me to one of three relaxation rooms; this one designed for some post-treatment relaxation or snoozing with its low-lighting and waterbeds. Here I found my spa partner rocking her new autumn-inspired deep red gel nails.

Swinton Country Club & Spa offers a good selection of Bamford and (newly-appointed) Oskia facials, wraps and massages, including deep tissue and hot stones. Men and mums-to-be are also catered for. For finishing treatments such as manicures and pedicures, try The Beauty Cottage on the ground floor. There's a hair salon here, too.

You can opt to get dressed and eat in the Terrace Restaurant next to the spa or continue your spa journey in the poolside atrium. You can also enjoy afternoon tea in the hotel's Drawing Room or order a picnic from the hotel and explore the grounds.

Preferring to stay in our robes, we plumped for a light bento-box style lunch in the atrium and enjoyed hot smoked sea trout with salad bar and nigella seeds. To finish, we treated ourselves to the rather healthy sounding no-bake cocoa nectar brownie. There’s also a bar food menu if you prefer light bites from the comfort of your lounger.

If you're staying overnight, don’t miss dinner in The Terrace next to the spa. Our starter of Blue Shetland mussels with dashi and Morteau sausage broth was outstanding, served with prawn and mussel toast. For mains, we feasted on a delectable Estate Mushroom and Tarragon Gnocchi with Girolle mushrooms and summer truffle. My Spa Partner devoured the Hill Top Farm rib eye beef served with bone marrow butter and ox cheek Mac n Cheese. For dessert we shared the whisky and honey ice cream served with coffee ganache, honeycomb, espresso syrup and marshmallow cubes. As dinners go, this was noteworthy.

We loved

The outdoor terrace which is a sheltered suntrap; brave the natural pool (at 18-20 degrees) and then warm up in the hot tub before getting cosy on a lounger under overhead heaters.

Our treatment: the combination of Japanese Shiatsu and Swedish massage, crystal healing and organic Bamford products made it beautifully soothing and holistic.

The food: much of the produce comes from the kitchen garden, so it couldn't be fresher; our dinner at The Terrace was up there with the best of them.

We didn't love

Not having enough time: the ultra-modern spa offers plenty of experiences - both dry and wet; inside and out – plus there’s the 200-acre estate to explore. Sign me up for a weekend break.  

Couples: with outdoor hot tubs and duvets to snuggle under, couples will feel right at home.

Solo spa-goers: Swinton Country Club & Spa is a fantastic spa for peaceful contemplation.

Eco spa-goers: sustainability is at the heart of the Swinton Estate: the natural pool is cleansed using reeds and the spa is heated using biomass from the estate. The goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon negative by 2040.

We awarded Swinton Country Club & Spa a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubble Luxury for its clever design, great facilities, incredible food and a good range of treatments. There’s enough here to fill an entire day (and more); stay overnight and make the most of the beautiful setting.

Scarlet Spy visited in September 2023 and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.