The Headland Spa

First Impressions

The Headland Hotel is an imposing red-brick Victorian mansion set high on a cliff top with far-reaching views over Fistral Beach. The bay is a world-class surfer’s paradise; even if you don’t fancy catching a wave, it’s mesmerising to watch. The five-star hotel has the RenMor restaurant, a stylish spa and a £10 million wellness complex - The Aqua Club - with no less than six pools and Atlantic views to die for.

Guests can park right outside the hotel and enter through the revolving door into the elegant reception area. Head down the staircase - or press -1 in the lift - to reach the modern spa.

What's on offer?

Spa reception has stylish sofas to sit on while completing consultation forms. This space doubles as a pre-treatment area and spa lounge to have lunch. It's light and airy, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, white furniture and large pieces of silver birch.

If the sun is shining, head out onto the terrace where grey rattan chairs and sofas are perfectly positioned for catching the rays. Pick up your robe, spa slippers and towel from here.

From reception, a door leads to the wet and thermal area with small, but perfectly formed, changing rooms at the back. Five individual changing rooms on the female side have their own shower; a vanity area with hairdryer, mirror, and Elemis and Natural Spa Factory products; and vibrant pink leather pouffes to sit on. The male side has more muted brown leather seats and three changing rooms. You’ll find more changing rooms beyond the pool area.

Begin your spa journey with a dip in the sleek 12-metre indoor pool – handsomely decked in turquoise mosaic tiles – with its central fountain and corner bubble seats. At the far end of the pool you’ll find two showers behind glass screens, a sunken circular Jacuzzi seating six and a Cornish Salt Steam Room, also seating six.

The spacious sauna has two tiers of wooden benches accommodating 12 and a feature wall of thin circular tree stumps. Cool down between heat experiences in one of two experience showers choosing from Caribbean storm, tropical rain or cold rain.

Beyond the spa reception there’s a mani & pedi room with bold orange tulip chairs; a low-lit corridor leads from here to the treatment rooms and, at the very end, a cosy relaxion room. Help yourself to tea, fruit and a good selection of magazines. Lie-back loungers and comfortable armchairs line the perimeter; fluffy pillows and blankets come as standard. Use the gym if you fancy a workout.

The Aqua Club is The Headland’s £10m all-singing-and-dancing wellbeing complex located in a separate building a short walk from the hotel. If it isn’t too windy (this is the Cornish headland after all), you can nip across in your robe. With its sweeping curves, pale wood, rugged Cornish stonework and incredible ocean views, it’s an architectural dream. The calm and sleek interior – in crisp white, cool blues and greens - pays homage to Cornwall’s lush landscape.

Collect a locker wristband from reception and head to the white glossy changing rooms where you’ll find three private changing rooms, four shower cubicles and two WCs. There’s a mirrored vanity area with three countertop sinks, two hairdryers and Molton Brown hand & body wash and lotion. The changing rooms lead past a row of rainforest showers to the main area.

A dip in the impressive 25-metre lap pool – with its Mermaid-tail tiles and light-green Cornish stone – is a must. Relax poolside on curved woven loungers with side tables; spa butlers will take care of your hydration needs.

The indoor hydrotherapy pool has hydro beds and jet stations; bring your kids to the dedicated children’s shallow splash pool in the centre. We loved the huge central shower, which drenches down in a mushroom shape large enough to stand under.

A little bridge leads you to from the changing rooms to the centre of the club, where you’ll find the Deck Bar: a curved building with log burner at the centre, and plenty of woven chairs and tables to chill out post spa-ing.

There’s more outside to admire, too: a Vitality Pool with tall granite centrepiece – a nod to Cornwall’s Celtic history - chill under the open sky on a jet bed or soothe the shoulders under a swan neck. Much life-pondering is sure to happen in the Edge pool with its curved floor-to-ceiling glass and un-obstructive view of the blue expanse, while the hot and toasty Sunset pool (we told you there was six) will have you wishing you could move in.

It's worth noting that the Aqua Club is free to hotel and cottage guests but is booking essential. Spa-goers on the Headland Signature Spa Day get two hours access; all other visitors can pay for a three-hour session (adults: £45-£55; children: £20-£25). The Aqua Club is adults only from 8am-9am and from 8pm to 9pm; children can use it during other times.

Tell us about the treatments

We tried The Headland’s Wave Signature treatment (85 mins, from £160).

Demi and Kiera, our respective therapists, collected us from the spa lounge and settled us into separate treatment rooms before individually explaining the steps of the treatment – of which there are five (welcome foot ritual, body brush, Wave stones massage - hand carved white jade curved to fit around the muscles - scalp massage and mini facial).

Demi then left the room so I could get comfortable on the treatment bed, lying face up. The treatment began with a very effective foot massage using plenty of the Active Body Cellutox Oil which had a lovely orange scent. Having the arches of my feet massaged made me instantly relaxed – a good start.

Next up: body brushing on the front of my arms and legs to remove dead skin cells. This always feels on the edge of painful but cleans the skin beautifully allowing the massage oil to soak in. Asking me to turn over, Demi repeated the process on my back and the backs of my arms and legs.

The massage that followed was wonderfully soothing - the warm wave stones and Demi’s hands proving to be a magic combination. Turning again, Demi began the facial with an Elemis Gentle Rose exfoliator which she removed with a Rehydrating Ginseng Toner. A mask and some moisturiser completed this epic treatment.

Demi then led me to the beautiful relaxation room where I met my spa partner; despite being a body brushing virgin he had nothing but praise for this identical treatment.

The Headland Spa offers a range of head-to-toe massages (think Indian head and reflexology) as well as Elemis facials and Voya body treatments. The menu also includes treatments for men and mums-to-be, alongside finishing touches such as OPI manicures and pedicures.

Food Facts

Lunch is served in the stylish spa lounge next to the spa reception. Feast in your robe or, if the weather is nice, head out onto the terrace to get even closer to Fistral Beach.

We enjoyed afternoon tea with crustless sandwiches, scones and a selection of pretty little cakes, washed down with a cheeky glass of Prosecco.

That evening we dined at RenMor, which translates to Restaurant by the Sea. Perched fifty feet up on Newquay’s Towan Headland, the 12-foot windows stretch the length of the restaurant offering mesmerising views of the ocean. Head Chef Gavin Edney promises sustainable Cornish produce from land and sea.

With fish caught just outside the window, it made sense to choose fresh fish dishes. We chose a lovely light crab salad as a starter, followed by a very tasty lobster with spinach and mushrooms. Our spa partner began with a twice baked cheese souffle - which was light and creamy – followed by sea bass with Parma ham and celery. We also tried a local wine made from Bachus grapes grown near Padstow which tasted like a Sancerre.

We loved / we didn't love

We loved

The Aqua Club is architecturally stunning and almost certainly worth dashing across for.

The staff: expect age-old charm without the stuffiness. Therapists are friendly and very good at what they do.

The setting: be it stunning sunsets or wild storms, the views are breathtaking.

We didn't love

Talking of storms, one raged around us during our September stay. Thankfully, we were able to watch it unfurl from the comfort of the spa.

Who do you think would like it?

Massage junkies: Wave Stone massages are a step above hot stones or herb poultices.

Romantics: the combination of time in the spa pools, a self-indulgent treatment or two and a grand meal at RenMor – not to mention those incredible views - will make a great couples’ weekend.

Families: book one of the Headland’s coastal cottages and take the little ones to the beach or send teens off to surf or kite surf.

What bubble rating did you give this spa?

We awarded the Headland Spa and Aqua Club a Good Spa Guide Bubble Rating of 5 Bubble Luxury for those wonderful views, delectable Cornish fayre, impressive architecture, multiplicity of pools and great treatments.

Sybaritic Spy visited in and awarded it 5 Bubble Luxury.