Lovingly Embraced by The Feversham Arms

28th January 2014

In desperate need of some pampering and relaxation, I set off with my mum to The Feversham Arms Hotel in Helmsley, North Yorkshire, for a mother and daughter spa break.

On arrival, (I did hope that being several hours early wasn’t too much of a giveaway for my eagerness) we were greeted outside the doors of the hotel and warmly welcomed by the affable concierge. As he kindly offered to park my car and take our bags to the room, we took advantage and enjoyed some retail therapy in Helmsley.

This beautiful market town is filled with quaint little shops and chic boutiques, ideal for some carefree browsing. I found this a great way to ease myself into the mellow state of mind I was expecting from my tranquil escape. I think I succeeded in visiting every shop, adding several candles and books to my ever-increasing collections.

For obvious reasons, it would have been rude not to venture into one of the local pubs to sample some rustic home cooking accompanied by an alcoholic drink or two.  After all, the hotel valet was in possession of my car and I had no plans of driving for the next two days.

Once we were amply shopped out, we made our way back to The Feversham Arms, just a few minutes’ walk from the town square.  We still had plenty of time to spare before our evening dinner at the hotel, which, may I add, had been insisting on occupying most of my head space for some while now. The hotel’s restaurant has a widespread reputation for its inspiring cuisine and as I consider myself a bit of a gastronome, who better to sample the wares?

Overlooking the heated outdoor pool, our suite had a real homely feel to it, which instantly made me want to kick off my boots and get back to my roots. After chilling with a quick coffee in the sitting room, I swiftly changed into the bathrobe and slippers provided (rather like Wonder Woman on a mission) and headed straight for the award-winning Verbena Spa. The minute we breezed through the doors to the reception, we were hit with a strong sense of calm and I felt my pulse drop significantly. The staff were friendly and helpful without being intrusive, they certainly had the balance right, in my opinion.

With several different types of heat experiences, including aromatherapy room, salt vapour room, foot spa, monsoon shower, ice cave, hot tub and outdoor pool, the hours soon passed and we were cleansed to the bone and in a state of utter relaxation.

Back at our suite, we were feeling suitably cleansed, calm and radiant as we prepared for dinner. We floated into the restaurant, which was perfectly intimate with a laid-back atmosphere enhanced by soft music. The waiting staff were attentive but not overly so, and the food was to die for. However, I wanted to ensure I had finished my dessert before tempting fate and keeling over. And, as luck would have it, I managed to see another day (as it happens, it’s actually a week now).

The following day, I was eager to let the masseuse work her magic on me, but not before I had exhausted the spa facilities one last time. Although I opted for a back massage, once it was over, I did kind of wish I had gone for the full body massage. Well I guess it’s better to leave wanting more, and that’s exactly how we felt when we departed The Feversham Arms.