If you're feeling stressed, or want to treat a girlfriend, mother or daughter to a totally relaxing and indulgent day out, head to the Runnymede Hotel and Spa near Windsor for their great Stress-Buster Package

I was really looking forward to a day of chilling and had arranged to meet my friend Sarah at the hotel. My day started somewhat earlier than I'd have liked with my friend, Bruce, ringing at four in the morning to say his wife was in labour and they needed someone to look after their two-year-old!

Luckily for me, Mitzi didn't hang about and delivered her son almost as soon as they arrived at the hospital, and the proud dad came back home to relieve me and explain to his daughter why mummy wasn't around when she woke up.

I arrived at the hotel, tired from my early start and a bit stressed from negotiating the M25 in rush hour (and getting confused on the A308 and heading off in completely the wrong direction!) and joined Sarah in the Garden Room for coffee and homemade pastries. We then had a quick tour of the facilities, before changing into our fluffy white robes and being led down to the Aquitaine spa.

Hot stone massage
For history buffs, the spa takes its name from Eleanor of Aquitaine, wife of King Henry II and mother of Richard the Lionheart and King John, who reluctantly signed the Magna Carta on the Runnymede meadows, which are directly opposite the hotel. Usually, I like a bit of history, but I must confess I was much more interested in the prospect of the full body aromatherapy massage with hot stones we'd booked as part of the package.

Sarah and I were led through the private relaxation area with its comfy sofas and huge plasma TV, to a separate treatment room where our therapists explained the treatment and invited us to choose which aromatherapy oils we'd like. We were soon settled on the treatment beds and the therapists set to work on the knots in my tired muscles.

My first impression of the stones was that they were almost painfully hot, but the pleasure of them melting all my tension quickly dispelled any doubts and I found myself greedily wanting more as they cooled. The massage is beautifully relaxing and concentrates on the vital energy centres (charkas) along the spine, hands, feet and scalp to restore balance and harmony. In my case, I relaxed so much that I dozed off and had to be gently roused when it was time to turn over.

The treatment ends with a scalp massage, after which we peeled ourselves off the tables and wandered back to the relaxation room. Sipping glasses of cold water, we compared notes about our experiences and were both thoroughly impressed with the treatment. Any residual tension from my morning had definitely been pummelled away and I was deliciously chilled and ready for lunch.

Salad and strawberries
Returning to the Garden Room, we were presented with a glass of champagne - always guaranteed to make me feel special! We'd both chosen the salad bar option and helped ourselves from a selection of dishes including poached salmon, crab, prawns in Marie Rose sauce, slices of cold roast beef, roasted veggies, plus the usual salad options. Baked potatoes and sandwiches were also available. Lunch included a delicious poached and fresh strawberry dessert, after which we waddled through to the pool area to recline on the loungers and digest.

We spent the afternoon happily flicking through magazines (thoughtfully provided in our lockers), dipping in the pool, soaking in the giant whirlpool, sweating in the eucalyptus steam room and sweltering in the sauna. Sarah did mention that she'd brought her gym kit and was thinking about trying out the small but well-equipped gym, but in the end the sheer luxury of doing absolutely nothing overwhelmed her and neither of us did anything remotely energetic!

Pool and gym
The pool and gym are open to locals and hotel residents, so it's not entirely tranquil, and you don't get that totally indulgent feeling you do at some spas. Children are also allowed in the pool at certain times, so the noise level had peaks and troughs. But we managed to find quieter spots and on the day we visited and even had the pool to ourselves a couple of times.

We rounded off the afternoon with another trip to the Garden Room for a cup of tea and a selection of sweet treats - a mini fresh fruit cocktail stick, fresh strawberry and cream tart and mini creme brulee, which we somehow managed to justify as part of our five-a-day (not the brulee, but the rest)!

Need to know

The Runnymede Hotel and Spa is in Egham, Surrey. Telephone: 01784 220973. Web: www.runnymedehotel.co.uk

The Stress-Buster Package includes tea or coffee on arrival with fresh pastries, lunch with a glass of champagne (non-alcoholic drinks are also available) and fresh strawberries, and afternoon tea with a selection of cakes and pastries.

You can also choose between the full body aromatherapy massage with hot stones (highly recommended), or an aromatherapy facial with hot stone therapy incorporating a luxury scalp, hand and arm massage. Each treatment lasts for one and a half hours.

The package, which costs £95 per person, also includes full use of the spa facilities, including tennis courts, glossy magazines and a goodie bag of Guinot skincare products to take away with you. This package is available until October 16.

Following your treatment, you're entitled to a 15 per cent discount on any ESPA, Guinot or Clarins products purchased on the day, and a 25 per cent discount voucher on treatments booked within two months of your visit.

For more information about this and other day packages visit www.runnymedehotel.co.uk