When it comes to the picture-perfect English market town, Moreton in Marsh is hard to beat. Golden Cotswold stone, elegant 17th and 18th architecture (this includes the White Hart Royal where Charles I sheltered during the Civil War), lots of antique and craft fairs (I hear the Christmas one is particularly good), gardens and tea rooms – really, what more could you ask?
If it’s a pampered weekend in the country you need, you could make one last wish: for a lovely spa in a peaceful spot. That, then, would be Dormy House. They pride themselves here on being a home away from home (with added luxury) and so eschew the idea of a reception area. Instead, you are welcomed in by the extremely friendly staff who check you in by laptop while you relax on a comfy sofa to recover from your journey. And this sets the laidback tone from fine dining in a relaxed setting in the Back Garden restaurant to the giant outdoor hot tub complete with a flickering fire just beyond the massive indoor pool.
So, with relaxation very much at the forefront of my mind, I headed down to the spa for one of those therapies you either love or hate. For me, flotation can be the ultimate relaxation. In a pool or tank of heavily salted, mineralised water (much as you would find in the Dead Sea), you float effortlessly in a silent world. When they were first invented, in fact, they used to be called “sensory deprivation tanks” – which doesn’t sound like much fun. But, honestly, they can be.
The water itself supports you and you can push a toe against the side to make you float gently across the tank, a dreamlike game to while away an hour. Intensely relaxing for any muscular aches, too, the only downside is the minerals and salts leave a slimy residue necessitating a long shower – though it is very good for skin problems as well.
The hydro spa at Dormy House isn’t vast but it is one of the most attractive I’ve seen. There is a forest experience shower, Himalayan salt sauna, Eucalyptus steam room and, with a mural of birch trees, a snow shower that was surprisingly gentle and ideal for alternating hot and cold treatments thereby stimulating the immune system. The spa has its own indoor/outdoor café, the Greenhouse, with plenty of comfy seating (fight you for the egg chair) but for the foodie experience, it’s definitely the Back Garden.
As you might guess from the name, this is next to the most charming of walled kitchen gardens, brimming with herbs, tomatoes and strawberries with a fine glasshouse and even finer dining pavilion at the end. This produce and plenty more goes into the kitchen where they’re very keen on sustainability and seasonability. It pays off. My courgette and basil soup was simply delicious and followed by an excellent monkfish and prawn thermidor while my friend Diana had wild Irish trout with sea vegetables and, having decided against a starter, went instead for something sweet. The Cotswold tart with clotted cream ice cream had tiny coffee berries on top – she almost swooned.
The next day and I was back in the spa, starting off with my treatment with Becky – the Totally Quenched and Drenched Facial. This was, I was promised, a rehydrating facial for thirsty skin and sounded ideal: “skin looks plumper, firmer, hydrated, visibly smoother and wonderfully soft. You could call it a facial iron.” You can see why I had to try it…
So, it starts with being tucked up on a heated bed and my feet and lower legs given a quick massage with Aaahhh! Instant Cooling Balm. This is part of the Temple Spa range that is used throughout the spa here – and one of my favourite brands. Then there was the Breath of Life inhalation essence and we were ready to go.
The facial itself begins with a double cleanse, first with In the Beginning (a creamy melting cleanser), with Easy on the Eye for the eye area, all reaching that bit deeper with the help of Clean up your Act, a sonic waves cleansing brush that vibrates across the skin to brighten and soften simultaneously. Then there is Most Revealing, an oxygen peel that fizzes on your face and, while that’s taking, Becky gives me a lovely arm and hand massage.
The fizz is followed by the cooling spray of Toning Essence and then it’s time for Quench, the deep hydration mask, and a super-relaxing scalp massage. The final touches are Be Strong serum followed by Exalt (neck gel), It’s All Good (facial oil) and All Talk (lip balm) with a good helping of Double Cream (hydrating moisturiser). An absolutely first class facial.
There are a growing number of country hotels in the UK that offer sumptuous spas, luxurious surroundings and fine dining. What makes Dormy House so unusual is its atmosphere. If it’s laidback luxury that’s on your mind, this is clearly the place to go.
For more information about Dormy House, including details of exclusive offers and special breaks, please visit www.dormyhouse.co.uk.
