by Sarah Stephens
From misty hills to the tranquility of lakeside retreats, three unforgettable spa breaks, each with its own rhythm, flavor, and reason to unwind, await you. Travel writer Sarah Stephens shares her insights.
Losehill House, Peak District for An Anniversary Among the Hills
We arrived at Losehill House on a crisp, cheerful Friday afternoon, the kind of perfect Peak District spring day with bright blue skies and sunshine but a crisp chill in the air. The road wound through sheep-dotted fields until the house appeared, elegant and inviting, tucked deep in the hills.
Inside, calm took over, with the familiar spa scent of eucalyptus and something floral filling the air as we checked in, swapped our coats for robes, and drifted towards the pool. Through tall windows, the countryside views unfolded in slow motion, the kind of view that lowers your shoulders before you even realise it.
Losehill is quietly luxurious, understated, personal, and proud of its surroundings. My treatment used marine-based Thalgo products and left me somewhere between sleep and bliss, but it was dinner later in the Grafene Restaurant that really blew us away.
Fine dining without the fuss, Grafene offers beautifully balanced dishes with a local soul, featuring salmon, Derbyshire lamb, and freshly caught trout, all perfectly paced and paired with an exceptional wine list. The sommelier’s enthusiasm was infectious; we lingered over every glass. By dessert, a glossy vegan chocolate torte with a rich glass of ruby port and I was completely won over.
Losehill isn’t just a spa stay, it’s an experience that lingers, that’s personal and has an intimate charm too. It’s a place that feels restorative long after you’ve checked out.
“Fine dining without pretence — just beautifully crafted food, a wine list to linger over, and a view that feeds the soul.”
The Spa at Carden, Cheshire – A Girls’ Day of Glamour and Laughter
A few months later, I swapped romance for revelry. My birthday, celebrated with my best friend, called for something special, so we headed to The Spa at Carden, a temple of modern indulgence set among 1,000 acres of Cheshire countryside.
Carden doesn’t whisper wellness; it celebrates it. From the moment we arrived, fizzing hot tubs and glass-walled saunas beckoned. We started, naturally, with a glass of Bollinger from the Champagne Bar, before wandering into the vast spa garden, a wonderland of outdoor pools, heated pods, and fire pits.
Inside, everything gleams: marble floors, soft lighting, that perfect spa hush. Treatments are indulgent, but the real magic is in the space itself; it’s immersive, glamorous, and joyfully grown-up.
We left glowing and giggling, a little lighter in every sense. If ever a spa embodied the phrase “treat yourself,” Carden Park is it. They also host evening summer party nights with DJs, creating the true Ibiza vibe without ever leaving Cheshire – we will be back!
“We laughed like teenagers in our robes, the kind of day that feels decadent and restorative all at once.”
Low Wood Bay, Lake District – A Birthday with a View
For my husband’s birthday, we went north again, this time to Low Wood Bay, perched right on the shores of Lake Windermere. Even before you step inside, the view stops you: endless silver water framed by the soft rise of the fells.
The spa is sleek and light-filled, built to bring the outdoors in. We moved lazily between saunas, steam rooms, and the open-air infinity pool, watching clouds drift across the lake. The contrast of cool air and warm water was hypnotic. While we were there, the Lake went from beautiful to being shrouded in mist within an hour, so a nearby rowboat appeared to be floating through clouds.
Later, wrapped in our coats, we walked the lakeshore and small marina area before dinner and enjoyed a nightcap by the fire. Low Wood Bay has that rare balance of luxury and wilderness, polished but never pretentious, restorative yet raw in its beauty.
“Steam rising from the pool, lake glinting beyond — luxury with a touch of the wild.”
The Takeaway
Three spas, three moods, and three ways to reset. Losehill House is for foodies and romantics craving quiet luxury. Carden Park is for friends who want glamour and laughter with their facials, and Low Wood Bay is for anyone who needs nature’s calm waters to steady their soul.
Each offered something different: peace, play, connection, but all reminded me that self-care isn’t selfish. Sometimes it’s a long dinner, a shared laugh, or just time spent in a robe, watching the world slow down and the light changing reflections in a lake.
For expert travel concierge help booking your next holiday or experience contact Sarah sarah@sarahstephensescapes.com or on 07919 886488.
