Health and wellbeing therapies that help make the most of your time away
From saunas to log fires to spas: supercharge your break with us by paying into your wellbeing bank: your body and mind will thank you.
We all know we should be taking care of our wellbeing but that’s a tall order in today’s busy world. It’s often easier to take the time to slow down and be more ‘in the moment’ when we’re away from our regular daily grind.
Health and wellbeing are part of our curation at Cotswold Water Park Retreats. That’s why many of our properties offer experiences such as saunas, hot tubs, wild swimming and spa treatments. We plan our spaces to nurture our guests, giving you the opportunity to upgrade your holistic health while you holiday.
Why saunas are hot news (especially when teamed with an ice-cold shower)
Saunas are suddenly popping up everywhere from city centres to back gardens, rising in popularity thanks to their multiple health benefits. Those benefits reportedly include boosting blood circulation, bolstering immunity, relieving pain, improving the body’s detoxification process (hello glowing skin) and helping users to sleep more deeply.
Guests at our glamping site in picturesque Upper Minety will soon be able to access all those advantages for themselves with the addition of a sauna to our facilities there. To further enhance the experience, an ice-cold shower is also being installed. Going from the sauna’s warmth to an icy cold shower is known as ‘contrast therapy’ and works to supercharge the sauna’s cardiovascular, circulatory boosting, immunity improving and muscle soothing benefits.
Wild water swimming
If you prefer to get your hydrotherapy out in the wild, you’re in the right place. Many of our properties are situated within easy reach of beautiful wild swimming locations including Little Horseshoe Lake, Waters Edge and Cotswold Water Park Lakes 32 and 86. The health benefits of wild swimming, and the massive endorphin rush it delivers, mean more and more people are taking the plunge. For more details read our wild swimming blog post.
Hot tub heaven
Away from extreme temperatures or the rigours of wild swimming, there’s a lot to be said for a glass of fizz in a hot tub just making everything better. Many of our properties boast hot tubs with soothing views. Picture yourself easing into the tub’s warm embrace with a glass of something to hand: when just the thought of it makes you feel relaxed imagine what actually booking your own hot tub break will do for your wellbeing.
Light up your life with a log fire
The beneficial properties of gazing at the flickering flames of a log fire are a prescription for contentedness that should arguably be available from your doctor. Thankfully we can provide properties with wood burners that don’t need any such medical paperwork. The deep level of relaxation that sitting in front of a warm, cosy fire can produce may seem superficial but can make a material difference to our overall wellbeing. Deep conversations, losing yourself in a good book, simply staring into space or getting romantic … everything is better in front of a fire.
Book a massage in the comfort of your own home-away-from-home
We work in partnership with the award-winning Cotswold Mobile Massage to provide the ultimate luxury of a massage that comes to you. Simply put on a bathrobe and the hard work is done. Relax in professional hands, working their magic to provide a treatment tailored to your individual needs from targeted sports massage to a gentle pregnancy treatment, general stress relief to the easing of aches and pains. Following your treatment, the thought of not needing to move is the ultimate, luxuriously cocooning experience. Wellbeing delivered.
The best spas in the Cotswolds
If you’d prefer to venture out and make a spa visit part of your holiday, here in the Cotswolds we are lucky enough to have some of the best spas in the country right on our (your) doorstep:
A luxury hotel housed within an Arts and Crafts style manor in 12 acres of landscaped gardens, the facilities at the inspired by nature Aquarias Spa include a thermal suite, indoor-outdoor hydrotherapy pool, heated stone recliners and signature Sothys Paris face and body treatments. Take relaxation to the next level in the flotation pod.
Bamford Wellness, Daylesford, Moreton-in-Marsh
Situated at the world-class temple of good taste Daylesford Farm Shop, Bamford Wellness Spa is an ‘holistic wellness space’ offering treatments that ‘complement our rural surroundings’ and based around organic ingredients. Also on offer: classes in yoga and Pilates, an herbal steam room and even a ‘crystal sauna’.
Alongside CACI facials, manicures and massage, the spa at Calcot also tempts visitors in with its outdoor fireside hot tub in a lavender-filled courtyard, a heated indoor pool, sauna and steam room and a dedicated relaxation room. Or go for one of their Wellbeing Walks which, take place at dusk or dawn, expertly guided by a local naturalist.
THE PIG – in the Cotswolds, Barnsley
With gardens created by esteemed designer Rosemary Verey, the latest addition to the smart Pig collection of hotels includes the Fieldhouse spa charmingly located down a winding path in a sheltered glade. Try a hot stone massage or a dip in the heated outdoor hydrotherapy plunge pool looking out across quintessential Cotswold fields.
This 17th English country estate blends its history with a luxuriously modern aesthetic. The Meadow Spa offers holistic treatments which incorporate guided breathwork for a deeper level of relaxation. Not to be missed is the Botanical Bothy: an ergonomically designed ‘concept space’ made of smooth, soothing resin incorporating warmed treatment benches, baths and a roaring fire.
