I recently gave up smoking and having always wanted to have a spa break, chose to use the money I had saved for this.
I went for two nights in June and really enjoyed it - to the extent that I returned from 4 nights last week.
The place itself is quite easy to find from the directions given and, on first impression, looks fabulous. When you look a bit more closely, it starts to look a bit like "more money than taste" - I mean - chandeliers in the aerobics studio, please. In the dining room, the former ballroom, it is all period portraits and wood panelling, then you spot portraits in oils of your "happy chairman" and mrs happy chairman - as I say, a bit tacky but who cares.
The minimum stay is two nights and that cost about £350 - a 1/2 hour facial or massage is included in that as is a "hydrotherapy experience" - which is file. Into a warm bath you sit, bubbles pummel you starting at your feet and working up to your back - nothing wrong so far until a dollop of the most rank, vile, evil smelling seaweed is added. When you get over the impression that a number of turds are floating in the bath with you, the smell hits you - it took days to get rid of the smell.
This most recent visit I declined the bath and had a body scrub and exfoliate instead - much more civilised!
You get a tour when you arrive and get to hire a robe for £3 - you need it and I thought people who had brought there own robes look a little odd - if you stay for 3 nights you get given a robe to keep - they claim it is worth £50, which is doubtful, but it is very nice nonetheless.
It is just like staying in a lovely hotel with all the treatments on top - there is no pressure to do or not to do anything and you just float around relaxing.
I absolutely loved it and can't recommend it highly enough.
The four night break worked out cheaper on a per night basis, and you get given a gift voucher when you leave which reduced it by £80 - so the total cost of 4 nights was about £650 - with additional treatments thrown in.
The food is lovely and not at all what I was expecting. Breakfast is a buffet, lots of fruit and cereal with full english if you want it - lunch is also a buffet, choose between salads and cooked meats or a hot choice. Dinner is full a la carte, everything has a traffic light grade according to healthyness or otherwise - but overall it compares well with ordinary resteraunts - can't get chips but then, would you want to - a wine list is available and a smoking room for those who want it.
I am booked into Ragdale Hall over Christmas so will let you know how it compares.
It is quite intimidating to go for the first time, but do try it - I almost guarantee those who enjoy relaxing will love it.
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Aug 19th, 2004
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