The art of relaxation

Cornwall’s spas and wellbeing venues are leading the way when it comes to nurturing the body, mind and soul.

In an age when lives are busy, digital distractions are many and expectations are high in life and work, we all need to find a little ‘me time’. And where better to do so than in one of Cornwall’s stunning spas? We’ve selected just a few that are leading the way in wellbeing in the Westcountry.

Perched high on the cliff above Fistral beach in Newquay stands The Headland Hotel & Spa (headlandhotel.co.uk). The impressive, Grade II listed building stands sentinel on the clifftop, giving way to an interior that harks back to its glamorous, Victorian roots. The hotel itself exudes traditional luxury – think dark wood, gleaming brass and sink-into sofas, with a view of the Atlantic rollers that is hard to beat. The Headland’s spa, however, is a juxtaposition of style. As you descend the sweeping staircase down to the spa, leaving old world opulence behind, you are transported to a modern haven of tranquillity and beauty, that boasts a ‘Five-Bubble’ award for its facilities.

The spa’s central feature is its hydrotherapy pool, which is surrounded by a steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi and a range of showers to invigorate or soothe, depending on your preference. You are free to take your time here, letting the various water therapies wash over you. An ‘inner sanctuary’ houses the massage and rhassoul rooms and, for the ultimate in romantic relaxation, there is also a couples’ massage and Jacuzzi suite. Each highly-trained therapist can tailor treatments to your individual needs and after your treatment you are free to let your cares slip away in the relaxation room, as you sip on a herbal tea and are soothed by gentle music, while wrapped in a soft blanket.

The spa also has its own restaurant, where you can enjoy the same award-winning food from the hotel but in a more informal setting – lunching in your robe is the ultimate way to continue your relaxation experience throughout the day. Click here to discover more.

As you can imagine, many of Cornwall’s hotels-with-spas are in amazing locations and the Mullion Cove Hotel & Spa (mullion-cove.co.uk) is no different. Boasting a brand-new facility for 2019, the stunning spa has been built with many local materials. Granite, copper, bronze and tin were all utilised in the construction and interior decorations, while local serpentine stones sourced from the Lizard are used in the treatments.

In addition to the indoor facilities, which include a hydrotherapy infinity pool, steam room and sauna, you can also step outside and truly connect with the clifftop, either soaking in the outdoor hot tub, swimming in the outdoor pool (open all year and heated from March to October) or simply relaxing on one of the sumptuous loungers, gazing out across the ocean. Treatments here are designed to rejuvenate and relax and you can choose VOYA products containing seaweed from the Atlantic or select the Made For Life range – organic skincare and massage oils that are made by hand in Cornwall.

Ensuring that wellbeing is available to all, therapists here have trained with Made For Life in order to be able to offer treatments to those living with or recovering from cancer. These gentle treatments are created to ground, calm and relax, with a meditative effect, all the while treating the skin with chemical and paraben-free products. Pre and post-natal pregnancy treatments are also available, a wonderful way to celebrate new life and connect with your body.

At St Michaels Resort, Falmouth (stmichaelsresort.com), you’ll not only discover an amazing hydrothermal experience, relaxing treatments and a state-of-the-art health club – complete with gym, fitness studio and even a gig rowing studio; you’ll also find a range of Wellbeing Wonders and longer retreats, new for this year! Utilising the resort’s brand-new Wellness Rooms alongside its other incredible health and fitness facilities, the Wellbeing Wonders are designed to kickstart an active lifestyle, providing a combination of support, challenge and guidance from an expert.

Each ‘Wonder’ begins with a lifestyle assessment, and there are three to choose from. ‘Stretch’ offers a one-to-one personal yoga session; ‘Shred’ is for those looking for a weight-loss consultation, while ‘Gain’ focuses on an action-packed workout followed by a personal training session on the beach.

For those looking for a longer retreat, three and five-night lifestyle programmes are available for selected dates throughout the year. They are run in small groups and include health assessments, coaching, breakfast and dinner, all tailored to each guest’s specific needs.

If you’re planning a holiday and want to combine it with some relaxation then Polurrian on the Lizard (polurrianhotel.com) will help you let all your cares slip away. The health club offers swim, gym and treatments as well as a range of spa days and retreats to choose from. Here you can experience a yoga day retreat that combines an hour’s practise followed by your choice of massage, or why not have the ultimate spa day and combine some chill time with a cocktail masterclass! A stay at Polurrian, as with all of Cornwall’s coastal hotels, also offers the ultimate in outdoor wellbeing. Take a dip in the ocean for some vitamin-sea or walk some of the stunning coast path that is right there on the hotel’s doorstep. After all, just being outside can be a meditation in itself.

Boasting the only spa in Fowey, the glamorous-yet-relaxed Fowey Hall Hotel (foweyhallhotel.co.uk) is home to a unique family-friendly spa. Children are welcome to join in with a family swim or to relax on the terrace. If you do prefer some adult-only time, then the hotel offers a crèche for the children, leaving you to relax and recharge. The outdoor hot tub is a must-experience; here you can slip into the warming waters while experiencing an uninterrupted sea view.

From coastal elegance to relaxation that transports you to more far-off places, the Moroccan Spa, one of two spa experiences at Sands Resort Hotel (sandsresort.co.uk), will leave you feeling rested and recharged. With a backdrop of vibrant colours, combined with traditional Moroccan scents and music, you can step into the cedar hot tub, housed in the indoor garden, or warm your body in the barrel heat room. Its sister spa, the Ocean Breeze, offers a range of health and beauty treatments for the ultimate in laid-back luxury.

Read more about Fowey Hall , Sands Resort and St Michaels Hotel in our Spa News here.

The final stop on our spa-journey takes us to the Fistral Beach Hotel (fistralbeachhotel.co.uk). The Revitalise Spa Day here ensures total harmonisation to clear the mind, relax the body and soothe the soul. It includes full use of the facilities and relaxation room, a two-course spa lunch and use of gown and slippers during the visit, alongside the ultimate indulgence of a two-hour treatment.

You can choose from one of three deeply relaxing rituals. The ‘Ocean Gaia’ is a deeply therapeutic ritual to release tension and stress, bringing the mind and body into harmonious balance. ‘Gaia Crystal’ therapy offers a personalised treatment using crystals to discover which chakras are blocked and includes meditation, full body massage, a facial using rose quartz crystals and a nurturing scalp massage. Alternatively, the ‘Gaia Raindrop’ therapy is a healing technique using pure essential oils, combining aromatherapy oils and moist heat to bring total balance, harmony and wellness – mentally, physically and emotionally.

Whatever your choice of spa, and whichever therapies you choose to help restore a true sense of wellbeing, you can rest assured that a trip to one of Cornwall’s incredible spas will leave you feeling relaxed and recharged, alleviating those autumn blues in time for the busy season ahead. Click here to read more.

With so many amazing spas and wellbeing centres in Cornwall, weíve touched on just a few. Here are a few more wonderful ways and places to relax.

Scarlet Hotel & Spa
www.scarlethotel.co.uk

Bedruthan Hotel & Spa
www.bedruthan.com
(Click here to read more)

The Cornwall Hotel & Clearing Spa
www.thecornwall.com

Discover more

To discover more ‘Ways to wellbeing’, including Abhishek Morye’s ancient style of Korean ‘Dahn’ yoga, click here.