They say that life’s about learning to dance in the rain, but my personal preference is a wild swim in a natural swimming pool or an experience shower with its very own thunderstorm. The good British summer likes to keep us on our toes, but if there’s anywhere that’s figured out how to adapt to the whims of Mother Nature, it’s the spa world.
A spa break come rain or shine
In my last article I wrote about the joys of outdoor spa experiences. When the sun shines there’s nothing quite like a spa garden complete with cabanas, an outdoor pool and space to cool off (perhaps with a cocktail or mocktail in hand).
However, the beauty of UK spa gardens is that they have not only accounted for the weather, but have optimised your experience come rain or shine. You might find that you head inside to use an equally joyful collection of facilities, or that the outside experiences also offer unique enjoyment in inclement weather.
For example, to sit in the sauna at The Spa at Carden is quite the experience in the rain thanks to its floor-to-ceiling window with a view of the 2,500 square metre spa garden. Meanwhile, swimming through the thermal pools from indoors into the gardens at Pennyhill Park or lounging in the rooftop infinity pool at Rudding Park on cool, sunny days or under sultry grey clouds is a wonderful way to lift your spirits.
All the benefits of a holiday
The other important thing that I think a lot of people don’t realise about a spa break is that it can have all the feel-good-factor of a holiday without having to hop on a plane. Part of that is because luxury spas have this magic ability to feel like a world of their own. Combined with treatments and therapeutic experiences they supercharge the sense of wellbeing that you get on holiday, whether you’re visiting for an afternoon, a day or a night or two.
On a more specific note however, lots of us go on holiday to enjoy the heat, maybe swim in the sea, or boost those vitamin D levels. Spas are dedicated to delivering holistic wellness at every level, and those holiday feelings can range from the benefits of a spa location (perhaps you fancy a trip to the beach), to the healing warmth of a sauna and steam room and even more dedicated experiences.
Amongst my favourite spa facilities when the weather isn’t playing ball is the sunlight therapy room at Rudding Park, which safely replicates natural sunlight in relaxing 20-minute sessions. Also offering unique indoor experiences that imitate the wellbeing powers of the sun, are the Sun Meadow room at K West in London, and the Beach Hut at Three Horseshoes Country Inn & Spa in the Lake District, where you lay on a bed of warm sand and absorb the heat.
Making the most of your holiday
I know how much we all look forward to our holidays. Everyone works very hard to have the time and resources to get away and spend time either with a friend, partner, the family or enjoying time to themselves, and being able to guarantee we can maximise the experience is important. Spas have that down to a fine art, giving you the best of all worlds and everything you need to get the benefits of a summer holiday by offering feel good factor and vacation vibes, whatever the weather.
