Nobody knows exactly when people cottoned on to the fact that spa-time makes us happy. Some believe it all began way back in ancient Roman times, when soldiers would use hot mineral springs to treat battle wounds.
Today we love treating battle wounds sustained from stressful everyday life with spa breaks, and we at Host Unusual HQ strongly believe a breakwith a spa included offers that little something extra. Namely, valuable time to reconnect with your senses and feel truly pampered, andwho doesn’t need a little of that in their lives every now and again?
So we’ve decided to compile a list of some of the most eclectic spa-on-your-doorstepstays around – from the truly traditional and the opulent outdoor to the lovingly eco-friendly, you’ll find it all here. So switch on the mood-music, brew yourself a soothing herbal infusion and get ready to read on!
Beacon Hill Hideaways offers a spa break with an historic difference, with its shepherds’ huts and holiday cottagesnestled in an authentic Northumberland Iron Age heritage site. A beautiful spa awaits you just a short slipper-clad stroll away from yourdoor, filled with sensuous treats including a heated pool (main picture) with black granite-walled steam room, Canadian redwood sauna and a Laconium therapy room that features magnificent garden views as you relax into your heated bed.
How about a eco-friendly wild spa experience for a bracing break from treatment tradition? Little White Alice, a sustainable sanctuaryset in an ancient granite Cornish landscape, is filled with fresh, pureair and a whole new collection of friends-in-waiting in the resident rare-breed goats and chickens.
Simply choose your accommodation from a selection of eco-cottages and arks, and then head to the Wild Spa, powered by nothing but sunlight, natural wood and the wind. You’ll feel free as a bird as you gaze at thestars from your wooden hot tub – and for the truly brave, a sauna session followed by the ultimate outdoor bucket shower will enliven yoursenses like absolutely nothing else!
Also firmly on the eco-friendly trail is award-winning Secret Cloud House Holidays, set in the Derbyshire Dales. Comprising five opulent yurts in fresh farmland,you’ll also discover Shepherd’s Rest, a treatment room dedicated to providing a whole host of relaxing therapies, including candlelight massage. There’s even a wood-fired sauna complete with a menu of essential oils, meaning you can tailor your steam-session to your exact mood.
Secluded in magical Bodiam woodland, you’ll find the Original Hut Company, offering a unique and sustainable stay on a friendly 200-acre family farm…the ideal place to surround yourself with wild flowers and joyous birdsong!
Each Original Hut is crafted from locally-sourced materials, with heat and light provided by solar panels and logs. On-site haven The Hub also houses a heavenly spa built for unwinding, equipped with pure, cruelty-free botanical products.
Camp Kátur is a gorgeous off-grid glamping villageset in soothing North Yorkshire. It’s the perfect place to discover your ‘outdoor happiness’ with adventurous activities, accommodation to suit every taste…and an al-fresco eco spa and sauna to boot!
Privately positioned on the edge of south-facing woodland, you can listen to the sounds of local wildlife or gaze up at the stars in the woodburning hot tub or barrelled sauna, all surrounded by twinkling candles…and equipped with a glass of bubbles, of course.
For a grand spa setting, Torrisdale Castle Estate won’t disappoint. Mere footsteps from a private sandy beach, guests who book the Servants’ Quarters below stairs at this magnificent castle estatewon’t just be exquisitely transported back in time, they’ll also get toenjoy a unique wood-fired spa set on the banks of the rippling river.
If your preference is for a helping of something a little more rustic, Cosy Under Canvas is just that – a cosy Welsh woodland paradisethat promises the best of all holiday worlds. Stay in an opulent geodesic dome whilst enjoying tailored pamper-sessions in the refreshingheart of the woods, including reflexology, manicures and massages.
If you’re looking for even more spa-spiration, why not check out our dedicated ‘Spa Breaks‘ category, where you’ll find plenty of unusual options to suit every taste. We guarantee you won’t be able to resist!
