HEALTH + WELLNESS
And Relax cont ...
THE OSKIA SPA DAY AT
ROWHILL GRANGE
LOCATED CLOSE TO THE BUSTLING KENT AND SOUTHEAST LONDON BORDER , NEAR DARTFORD , ROWHILL GRANGE ’ S MULTI AWARD-WINNING UTOPIA SPA IS AN UTTER SANCTUARY OF TRANQUILITY AND INDULGENCE . I WAS ROBED UP , READY TO UNWIND AND NOT DISAPPOINTED … BY SAMANTHA READY
Turning away from the metropolis , within minutes of entering the winding driveway that leads you to the backdrop of morning birdsong and carefully tendered gardens , towards the country manor house famed not only for its aforementioned spa but also its luxury accommodation , bespoke wedding offering and acclaimed restaurant , an utter sense of calm and escapement takes over .
Offering six hours of spa access , Rowhill Grange ’ s signature OSKIA Spa Day combines full access to the Utopia Spa ’ s sauna , steamroom , iconic split-level pool , therapeutic pool with thalasso waterfall jets , and its sunken whirlpool , all set to the backdrop of Romanesque murals and luxurious relaxation , with its beautiful relaxation room and a full 85 minute wonder treatment , all sandwiched between a delicious lunch and yet more spa time .
Cooked fresh on the outdoor wood-fired grill , spa lunches offer a lighter two-course menu - served at intimate tables for two or four under the pretty canopy-strung outdoor terrace on milder days or the cocoon of the contemporary indoor lounge come late autumn . We were pleasantly sated with our choice of chargrilled courgettes with ricotta and tomato gazpacho with sourdough and Serrano ham to start , followed by a heaving and utterly delicious slab of mozzarella flatbread with rocket and delicate lamb kofta with couscous to follow .
But honestly the star of the spa show here is the signature treatment .
Rising from the subterranean oasis of luxurious calm , my guest and I arrived at the treatment rooms , which , aside from our relaxation-driven treatment pick , offer a perfectly balanced treatment list that swings the spa pendulum so effortlessly from relaxation to results , signature calm to leading tech energisation .
Met by Grace , my therapist for the afternoon , I was led to a haven of relaxation bliss comprising a heated massage bed , aromatherapy scents and a backdrop of waterfall sounds from the spa playlist .
Now , confession time , despite knowing , appreciating and promoting the mental , physical and at times spiritual benefits of massage and spa time , I am shockingly bad at actually being able to totally switch off . While not quite as bad as a friend who confessed to mentally writing her shopping list while undergoing her last Swedish full body , it can at times feel hard to disconnect and actually clear the mind . Sound familiar ? Then I can wholeheartedly say that you MUST try the OSKIA Luxury Face & Body Ritual .
The signature 85-minute treatment begins with a tension-relieving bespoke deep pressure massage . Following a whispered check of pressure , tensions or problematic areas , the massage encompasses ancient reflexology techniques and OSKIA ’ s skin smoothing Rose de Mai fragranced massage candle to leave you as invigorated ( my guest went hard on pressure and worked out some stubborn knots ) or relaxed ( I opted for less pressure but with shoulder and neck attention for tension ) as you wish .
Skin soft and glowing , and mind actually switching off , the treatment moves on to an anti-ageing facial with the promise of leaving
you feeling relaxed and radiant . Concentrating on reducing visible fine lines and lifting the contours of your face in the short term , ( think plumped fresh appearance in time for lunch ), the combination of biomimetic serum and smart vitamin C are introduced to maintain a youthful complexion in the long term , erm yes please !
Aside from the fresh faced , wonderfully smooth skinned results we left with , it was the actual techniques applied throughout the treatment that really set this one head and shoulders above for us both .
Gentle but firmly wrapped compresses across the jaw , scalp and facial massages , and shoulder pressure point techniques elevated this facial and hit that sweet spot between results and relaxation . My guest and I found each other in the relaxation area , sleepy yet refreshed , relaxed yet invigorated , and most importantly switched off and yet refocused .
Rowhill ’ s promise is ‘ Surrender yourself to Utopia , paradise found ’. I can totally concur !
The Luxury Body & Face Ritual Day at Rowhill Grange ’ s Utopia Spa offers a full spa day , lunch or afternoon tea , and 85-minute OSKIA Luxury Body & Face Ritual from £ 220 per person .
Utopia Spa at Rowhill Grange Top Dartford Road Wilmington DA2 7QH
alexanderhotels . co . uk / rowhill-grange @ rowhillgrange
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