Yahoo News ‘I stayed at a spa hotel in the Lakes and even a fire alarm couldn't ruin how relaxed I felt’
There are lots of ways you can experience the stunning scenery of the Lake District. You can take a leisurely ramble through it, embark on a road trip from top to bottom, or simply enjoy a cruise along one of its lakes.
But it’s also rather nice admiring it from the spa garden at the Swan Hotel in Newby Bridge. The four-star hotel, located on the banks of the River Leven, right by the bridge that the hamlet is named after, is a place where you can escape from it all while feeling immersed in the beauty of the Lakes.
It’s home to the Holte spa, where guests can indulge themselves with luxurious treatments, a thermal suite and a gorgeous spa garden with incredible views of the surrounding countryside. It’s where I headed after arriving at the Swan Hotel for my stay with my mum.
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All the guests are given robes, a towel and a handy wristband which gives you access to the doors, as well as lockers in the changing rooms. You can book a range of treatments, from massages that melt away stress to facials that leave you looking refreshed, as well as access to the spa garden and thermal suite.
I tried the Drift Away 30-minute massage, which rubbed away any areas of tension. What is an especially nice touch is that regardless of what treatment you have, the therapists start with an optional relaxation ritual. It’s a soothing calf and foot rub with a delightful tingly balm - it totally chilled me out and got the massage off to a wonderful start.
Feeling wonderfully relaxed after my treatment, it was time to experience the thermal suite and garden spa. There are so many delights to discover, from hot and cold experience showers (if you’re brave enough), to a hydrotherapy pool which flows from the inside to the outside.
During our visit the spa was rather busy, which meant many of the seats inside and the sun loungers in the garden were strewn with discarded robes and towels, which did ruin the overall appearance slightly. It also meant you had to jostle for a position in the hot tub and in the thermal pool.
But once we secured a coveted seat in the hot tub it did feel like we were on holiday, especially as it was a sunny afternoon. Guests in the spa can sip on (plastic) glasses of bubbly, cocktails and more, adding to the holiday feel.
All that relaxing works up an appetite, so we ventured to the River Room Brasserie for our evening meal. There are two evening dining options at The Swan; the Brasserie and the Swan Inn, which is the hotel’s own pub.
The former offers a three course menu, with elegant dishes helpfully paired with accompanying wines. Meanwhile the latter serves up more traditional pub fare such as fish and chips and burgers.
I tucked into a juicy king prawn start with Nduja butter, followed by pan fried fillets of sea bass served with leeks and asparagus. For the £27 price point the presentation could have been more refined, but the skin of the fish was wonderfully crispy and the sauce flavourful. Fancying something sweet to finish but not too rich, I tucked into the passionfruit and white chocolate cheesecake which was light and delicate.
Although separate, the Brasserie and Swan Inn dining areas do merge into each other (the style of tables is different, but we spotted dishes from the pub menu being served to diners next to us), so it’s difficult to tell where one begins and the other ends. Both areas were very busy and it seemed that there were not enough staff to meet the number of covers - we did have to wait a long time between dishes and our evening meal took nearly two and a half hours from start to finish, but staff were extremely apologetic and courteous throughout.
In fact a special mention should be made to the hotel’s staff. It was clear the hotel was extremely busy throughout our visit, from the queue at check in (there are only two reception desks) to the slow service at dinner, yet every staff member we encountered was extremely friendly, attentive and polite.
This was evident during what can only be described as any hotel guest’s worst nightmare: earlier that evening as I was showering before dinner when the fire alarm went off (even worse for my poor mum who was in the middle of her massage at the time). Peeking out of my hotel room into the corridor it was clear that it wasn’t a drill, so we all duly evacuated out into the chilly April air.
Fortunately as my nearest exit was next to the spa I wasn't the only one wrapped in a towelling robe, and spa staff were handing out slippers to anyone who had been caught without shoes. Reassured that it was a false alarm we were ushered back inside.
Yes, it is rather unpleasant having to leave your hotel room mid-shower to stand outside in the cold, but the hotel staff were quick to put things right. Housekeeping swiftly brought me fresh dry towels to the room, while my mum’s therapist redid her massage from the beginning.
We couldn’t fault our room at all. It was compact but had everything we needed, with a comfortable bed and a wonderfully cheerful green interior. The hotel does offer dog-friendly rooms too, suiting those with four-legged family members.
The next morning we went down to breakfast served in the Brasserie. There’s a continental offering which could do with a few more options. It had the usual choice of cereal, yoghurt, fruit, cheese and ham yet there was no fresh bread (only toast); and there were only Danishes and two muffins to choose from - a choice of more pastries and baked goods would have been better.
Guests can also order one dish from the freshly-prepared hot menu. Fancying something lighter than a full English, I chose avocado on toast with poached eggs, while my mum swapped the eggs for mushrooms with hers. It was good, although it could have done with a little more pizazz - a drizzle of sauce for extra flavour or a sprinkling of chilli flakes wouldn’t have gone amiss. Again, we felt at breakfast that there was not enough staff to meet the number of covers - we had to ask again for our coffee while it took a while for tables around us to be cleared.
Overall the Swan Hotel has everything you could want for a relaxing stay in the Lakes: the spa facilities are excellent, the rooms are comfortable and there’s a choice of dining options. The décor is fun too; the lounge area felt cosy with rustic fireplaces and huge sofas, but with quirky, colourful touches.
With it being busy during our stay (at a weekend, which is understandably a peak time to visit), at times we had to wait longer than we would have liked. Having said this, the hotel's staff clearly understand the art of hospitality and go above and beyond to help guests when they can, ensuring that you're looked after - even if the fire alarm does go off mid-shower.
Travel fact file
Liv was a guest at The Swan Hotel and Spa, Newby Bridge. Ulverston LA12 8NB.
Rooms start from £180 per night and from £240 per night for a suite with breakfast included. Overnight spa getaways start from £150 with spa days from £60pp.
The Holte Spa: Treatments start from £55, Drift Away massage starts from £60 for 30 minutes. Two-hour access to the Thermal Suite starts from £45pp. To book a stay click here.
