It’s all about Aboriginal style pampering, with the latest offerings from this award-winning spa.
Relaxing to the gentle sounds of the didgeridoo may not be everyone’s idea of heaven, but the latest treatments at Ragdale Hall truly take you to another world. The spa has recently introduced a unique range of treatments by Li’Tya, skincare specialists that base their products on the ancient knowledge of the earth, held by the indigenous people of Australia.
The treatments use totally natural products made from native plants, flowers and fruits, and the rituals of each are unlike any other found at your average spa. The Marta Kodo full body massage is the best way to experience the best of the Li’Tya offerings. Using your sense of smell to choose the essential oils your body needs, the massage begins with the lighting of dry leaves and flowers, the incense from which gently clears the mind of any outside influences, allowing you to focus on the gentle, rhythmic indigenous music playing in the background. The massage techniques, designed to realign energy flow, take you to another plane, for a genuinely Aboriginal experience.
But there is more to this spa than just the new Li’Tya treatments and its unrivalled range of others that are on offer. I could never understand how people could spend a whole week at a spa until coming here and experiencing the huge range of facilities and activities that are on offer to guests.
For those looking for relaxation, walk in to the Thermal spa area and throw a pebble in to the wishing well, to rid yourself of any negative energy you might have weighing on your shoulders. Then start with a gentle swim through the waterfall pool, which takes you outside into what feels like a secret warm lagoon. Massage jets get rid of any aches and pains while you stay warm in the water on even the coldest of days.
No fewer than seven different heat experiences can be found in the Spa, from the dry 60 degree heated ‘Thought Zone’ where you quietly listen to carefully chosen music, to the colour flow cave where the 80% humidity gives a tropical feel as the colour mesmerizingly changes. And for the ultimate hideaway, swim into the cavernous candle pool, a warm underground pool, gently lit by flickering candles and coloured lights. Sit in silence and relax in quiet contemplation to the gently relaxing music playing in the background.
Then to refresh and wake up, hop in to one of the many ‘experience’ showers dotted around the spa. The cave shower was a particular highlight, with flashes of light and cracks of thunder surrounding you as the warm ‘rain’ pours over you. Then hit the cool mist button for a refreshing awakening!
For those who want to also enjoy a more active spa experience, there is plenty to do. From walks, biking and tennis, to a wide range of indoor classes on offer at the well-equipped gym, you can easily spend your whole time keeping fit. But with the keep fit also comes the fun. Take yourself back to your childhood with a hoola-hooping class, keep up with the routines in the advanced step classes (we couldn’t) or go for some underwater toning with the fitness pool that is stocked up with underwater resistance equipment.
And then there is also the food to enjoy. There are not many places where you can enjoy your evening meal in your dressing gown, but Ragdale Hall is one of them. The dining room is a grand affair, with wood panelled walls and chandeliers, and yet they almost encourage you to have dinner in a state of near undress. We enjoyed three delicious courses (carefully labelled so if you want to detox you can, and if not you can indulge) wrapped up without a scrap of make up on – a truly liberating experience. Made all the better for the pools being open until 10pm, so with bellies full of food we retreated back to the candle pool to let it all hang out in near darkness.
Two night midweek breaks start at £280 per person and weekend breaks from £345. For more information visit the spa’s website
