From Seaham Hall in County Durham to Eastwell Manor in Kent, treat yourself to some serious R&R at these luxurious spas
WE all have those moments when the thought of clambering into the attic to bring the tent and the rest of the camping paraphernalia down suddenly loses its appeal.
When that happens, don't panic - there are alternatives - as the rather fortunate Fabulous team were lucky enough to discover.
Eastwell Manor, Kent
Road-tested by Contributing Picture Editor Ruth Greatrex and husband Leon.
THE PAD: If you’re after a quirky but still luxe spa hotel experience, book one of the two new Shepherd’s Huts located in gardens away from the Downton-esque main house.
Expect a shower room, kitchenette, sofa and wood-burning stove, plus incredible views over the North Downs.
Play croquet on the lawn or hop up on the plush raised bed and make the most of the TV, retro radio and vintage books.
THE SPA: Soak up any sun in the outdoor pool, then hit the indoor hydrotherapy pool and steam room. Using Elemis botanical products, the rejuvenating Ultimate Age Excellence Facial, £89 for 80 minutes, left my skin firm and glowing. Leon was soon a facial convert too!
EXPLORE: At nearby Godinton House & Gardens, entry £5, wander around the colourful herbaceous borders and ponds strewn with giant lily pads before enjoying a cream tea (Godintonhouse.co.uk).
Later, try a local ale in The Tickled Trout’s beer garden by the River Stour (Thetickledtrout.co.uk). Meanwhile, the Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden is home to 50 endangered wild cats, big and small, including the stunning Insta-famous Maya the jaguar.
During the bucket-list-ticking Big Cat Encounter, from £199 for two hours, we fell madly in love with cheetah Willow and her super-charged purring, while hand-feeding Kasanga the lion was a breathtaking, unforgettable experience (Thebigcatsanctuary.org).
REFUEL: On Eastwell’s ivy-covered terrace, sip a Pinkster gin and tonic with mint and raspberries, £13.60, and pretend to be extras in The Crown.
At the Manor Restaurant, expect delicious dishes like seared scallops and aubergine compote, £13.50, amid wood panelling and carved stonework.
Leave space for the flower-garnished millefeuille, £7.50, too. For a spicy, smoky twist on a Sunday roast, head to The Wife of Bath in the chocolate-box village of Wye.
Its Spanish menu includes treats like pork belly with crispy blood sausage and apple sauce, £25 for three courses (Thewifeofbath.com).
BOOK IT: A Shepherd’s Hut at Eastwell, a Champney’s Spa Hotel, costs from £130 per night B&B (Eastwellmanor.co.uk).
Seaham Hall, County Durham
Road-tested by Lifestyle Editor Catherine Bennion-Pedley and husband Andy.
THE PAD: With views over the stormy sea and just 25 minutes from the gothic city of Durham, Seaham Hall is a north-east England fave.
The best bit? All of the high-end modern-manor-style rooms are suites with roll-top baths. Dine on classic Asian dishes in your bathrobe post-spa at Ozone (the Thai yellow curry is a hit), or dress up for plates like duck with salted gooseberries, £24, under gold chandeliers at The Dining Room.
Post-dinner, enjoy a game of table football or pool in one of the cosy lounges.
THE SPA: The Serenity Spa is far from an afterthought – you can spend hours hopping between the pool, hammam, outdoor hot tubs, steam room, salt sauna and new Zen garden. And the 75-minute Temple Spa Repose Aromatherapy Facial, £105, left my skin looking 10 years younger.
EXPLORE: Take a bracing walk along Seaham’s shingle beach and search for colourful, perfectly smooth glass pebbles from the bottlework industry days, polished by the sea for over 100 years. You can even buy jewellery made from them at nearby Seaham Waves (Seahamwaves.co.uk).
Then check out the huge steel sculpture of a WW1 soldier on the seafront and pop into Seaside Chic, full of nautical-inspired gifts, at the new Harbour Marina.
REFUEL: For a huge menu from tapas to steak, The Lamp Room, with its mining-themed decor, does a tasty doorstop of a crab sandwich with fries, £11 (Thelamproom.co.uk).
For pud, head to retro ice-cream diner Lickety Split and share a sundae – we went for the Truly Toffee, stuffed with Daim bars, £5.95 (Lickety-split.co.uk).
But the Insta shot went to a unicorn white hot chocolate from cute craft cafe Creams of Seaham. Covered in sugar sparkles and marshmallows, it’s insanely indulgent.
BOOK IT: Junior suites cost from £199 per night B&B, including full spa access (Seaham-hall.co.uk).
MOST READ IN TRAVEL
Langdale Hall, Cumbria
Road-tested by Junior Writer Molly Reynolds and boyfriend Ted.
THE PAD: Tucked away in 35 acres of beautiful Lake District countryside and forest, this resort-style hotel boasts metropolitan-feel rooms, some with nickel-plated roll-top baths. Art-deco-inspired restaurant Stove has a glam bar and serves dishes like succulent braised lamb rump, £22.
Make sure you order an elderflower gin liqueur from The Lakes Distillery, £4.45.
THE SPA: The Brimstone Spa at the estate’s super-luxe sister hotel, entry from £45, has an indoor/outdoor plunge pool, five steam and sauna rooms and over a dozen Pure Alchemy therapy treatments on offer.
We loved the Spellbind full-body massage with stress-busting lavender, £90 for 55 minutes.
EXPLORE: Hop on a Windermere Lake cruise from Ambleside, from £8.60 for a round trip – Queen Elizabeth II herself once boarded the iconic Queen of The Lake boat (Windermere-lakecruises.co.uk).
Then get your heart pumping at Brockhole’s Treetop Trek woodland obstacle course, from £22 (Treetoptrek.co.uk). In Elterwater, walk through the Great Langdale valley for stunning views of the lake.
REFUEL: For hearty pub grub, head to Wainwrights’ Inn, just a few minutes’ walk from the hotel. The pulled-pork burger, £13.50, goes down a treat.
Or stuff yourself silly in Windermere’s The Pig – the wood-fired Pig Feast pizza, £14.95, is topped with pigs in blankets and is delicious followed by a Cherry Bakewell martini, £9.95 (Pigwindermere.co.uk).
For afternoon tea fans, dockside coffee shop Waterhead in Ambleside serves home-made blueberry scones, £3.30 (Waterheadcoffeeshop.co.uk).
Thirsty? Try one of the 96 craft beers at Windermere’s Crafty Baa (Thecraftybaa.business.site).
BOOK IT: Doubles start from £150 B&B (Langdale.co.uk).
Return trains from London to Windermere cost from £70 – save an average 43% by booking in advance at Trainline.com.