Stress-busting at the Runnymede Hotel and Spa

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