Wales's best day spas
Capel Coch
Llangefni
Isle of Anglesey
LL77 7UR
01248 750 750
www.treysgawen-hall.co.uk
The scene
When you first set eyes on Tre-Ysgawen Hall, gazing up that wooded drive toward the stately mansion, you'll be in no doubt that you're in for a seriously top-notch day out. In fact, as you ascend the stone steps, to be greeted by the oh-so-polite staff, the whole aristocratic experience is so flawless that you could easily be forgiven for wondering whether you'd just inherited half of Anglesey. There are gilded portraits on the walls, enormous chandeliers and never-ending curtains hanging at each vast window. And over in the converted Victorian stables adjoining the hotel, the health suite is equally palatial, with an 18m pool, sauna, steam room and whirlpool. Admittedly, it's got relatively few facilities compared to some other spas, but what it lacks in extras it definitely makes up for in grandeur. Six treatment rooms serve up a full menu including mud wraps, hot stone massage and specialist facials.
Star treatments
The most popular treatment here, is the salt glow massage. A simple salt body scrub followed by a half-hour massage, a perfect combination of stimulation and sedation, cleverly designed to leave you glowing and relaxed.
The cost
Half-day packages start at £65 and include full use of the facilities, a two-course lunch and an hour's treatment. A full-day package is £105 and includes a further hour's treatment and a gift at the end of the day.
Celtic Manor Resort
Coldra Woods
The Usk Valley
South Wales
NP18 1HQ
01633 413000
www.celtic-manor.co
The scene
Looming over the M4, this concrete fortress looks more like an army barracks than a five-star retreat. But the moment the valet steps out eagerly to greet you, a first-class experience unravels with an air of international exclusivity that'll make you forget which hemisphere you're in.
Golf club, hotel, conference centre and health club in one, the resort's so huge, even the staff confess to getting lost. But once you've found your way to the Forum Spa, you won't want to explore much else. Enter through an immaculate changing area with its own facilities - sauna, steam room, hot tub, plunge pool - or wander out onto the impressive poolside with star-studded ceiling, enormous walk-in sauna and Jacuzzi overlooking lush gardens and Usk Valley parkland.
Star treatments
Lurking behind one of the many wooden doors was the exotic-sounding Rasul Mud Ceremony. Entering a twinkling, fairy-lit mosaic chamber with a large dome-shaped chimney in the middle, we weren't quite sure what was going to happen. Classical music clashed with the eastern promise, but we followed orders and smeared ourselves with three different types of mud (for hair, body and face). Steam billowed from the flue as we sat there giggling. Twenty minutes later, a sudden shower of warm water cascaded from the ceiling and washed the lot off. We emerged suitably impressed, with silky hair and baby-soft skin.
Cost
Use of the Forum Spa is free to hotel residents. Day packages with two treatments start from £85.
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Created: 19/07/2005 Updated: 17/08/2005
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