The Times Magazine: Spa Gazer | 6 February 2010

New Park Manor Hotel

What: Herb & Hay Detox massage

Where: New Park Manor Hotel, New Forest, Hampshire (bathhousespa.co.uk)

How much: Massage £80 for 85 minutes; use of spa £35 per day

Set within the tranquillity of the New Forest, Bath House Spa has been laid out to provide the most spectacular panorama. Watch the deer grazing outside the floor-to-ceiling windows as you glide along in the 16m pool, then lie in the dark in the steam room and gaze up at the twinkling “stars”. The outdoor Canadian hot tub has the wow factor after dark, under a crescent moon and a canopy of real stars. The Herb & Hay full-body massage is a speciality that’s deeply relaxing and soothing, whether for a post-Christmas detox, or a deep cleanse at any time of year. In turn, each part of the body is thoroughly massaged to flush away toxins, then Suzy, the therapist, firmly dabbed heated muslin compresses containing hay and herbs onto pressure points to aid the detox process (our spy thought they felt a bit like Brillo Pads, but in a good way). For serious detoxers, the hotel and spa offers dedicated retreats in 2010 run by health coach Sabine Savisalo-Schuh (theultimatedetox.co.uk).

Aaah factor: 4
Value for money: 4
Results: 4