An afternoon of rustic relaxation at The Granary Spa, Ashford
What I loved about it:
Tucked away in the Kent countryside, I loved the peaceful setting and relaxed, holistic approach of The Granary Spa. Far from the stuffiness of some hotel spas, The Granary Spa feels like a home away from home, offering a rustic, rural destination to recharge.
Location:
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After everything that’s happened over the past two years, it’s not surprising that a lot of us feel the need for a bit of pampering. So, when my friend suggested we treat ourselves to an afternoon of relaxation, it didn’t take long for us to arrange the babysitters and book into The Granary Spa near Ashford.
You’d be forgiven for overlooking The Granary Spa if you didn’t know it was there. Tucked away down a little country lane just outside of the village of Great Chart, the spa is located in a converted Victorian barn and surrounded by rural views. There’s a small car park on site, and a couple of farm buildings around, but the first thing I noticed when we stepped out of the car was how quiet it was. With just the natural soundtrack of birdsong, and a fresh breeze in the air, we immediately felt calm and peaceful as we headed inside.
We had each booked The Granary Spa’s Pure Bliss experience (£55), which allows guests to indulge in two treatments across a 45 minute appointment. Options include an Indian Head Massage, Full Body Brush, Organic Facial and Foot Reflexology, amongst others. My friend and I both chose Back, Neck & Shoulder Massages (to relieve the inevitable tension of frequently carrying around toddlers!) paired with Indian Head Massages. I also upgraded to the lava shell treatment for my massage – purely because it sounded intriguing and like nothing I’d had before!
Shortly after arriving, we were welcomed into the spa’s relaxation lounge on the second floor to wait for our appointment. A wide, open space with a combination of lazy-boy leather chairs and cosy sofas, we felt very at home as we helped ourselves to the complimentary hot drinks and magazines on offer. Lined with wood-panelled walls and akin to an alpine chalet, The Granary Spa forgoes any of the stuffiness of some more formal hotel spas, offering a rustic, yet comfortable environment to relax and recharge, which made us feel completely at ease.
After enjoying an indulgent hot chocolate each, we were each then taken back downstairs for our treatments. My therapist made me feel completely at ease in a lovely treatment room, full of cosy blankets, relaxing scents and soft furnishings, and the treatment itself was wonderful. The pressure of the massage was firm yet relaxing, and my therapist was great at communicating with me throughout to check I was happy. The lava shell element was a lovely touch too. Using tiger clam shells as part of the massage gave a heat which really worked into any areas of tension and gave a pleasant warming feeling.
I left feeling light as a feather. I didn’t realise how tense I was until I’d had the massage and my back and shoulders suddenly felt at ease and soft. We were encouraged to spend a little more time in the relaxation room (both in a sleepy, zen-like haze!) before heading home. The entire team was so friendly and welcoming, and we were given a full breakdown of the treatments we’d had, along with personalised advice and tips.
All in all, it was a fabulous experience which left us feeling completely rejuvenated and relaxed. The setting was so peaceful and the atmosphere of the spa was the perfect balance of informality and tranquillity. In the Summer months, they also have a courtyard Shepherd’s Hut for al fresco treatments which I am looking forward to returning to try out!
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