Strangely enough, golf breaks aren’t always just about the golf. Some of Europe and the UK’s best golfing resorts are adjudged exactly that based on their accompanying spa and leisure facilities.
If you’re looking for a venue that keeps your partner or non-golfing companions entertained while you sneak out for a round of golf, then our friends at Spabreaks.com have found the place in Whittlebury Hall.
Getting there … Whittlebury Hall is an easy drive from the M1 and is around 17 miles from Milton Keynes. It takes a good five minutes to navigate the driveway that leads from a picture-perfect village to the hotel, which will give you a nice introduction to the surrounding acres of golf course and verdant countryside.
When to go … The spa at Whittlebury Hall is huge. There is an all-encompassing heat and ice experience complete with aromatherapy crystal steam, caldarium, experience showers, foot spas, hydrotherapy pool, ice cave, roman salt steam, samarium, and tepidarium. Then there is a separate area for the gym and swimming pool which has its own sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi. To top it all off there are 23 treatment rooms which use ESPA and Elemis products. The result is that I would definitely recommend going when you want a full day’s worth of relaxation, perhaps before a holiday to get into the swing of things. Thanks to the size of the spa it’s particularly good for groups of friends, so birthdays, celebrations, or simply a good catch up are also optimal excuses for visiting!
What to do … Aside from a lengthy sojourn in the spa, the golf course is obviously a key attraction whether you’re a player or an admirer of the landscape. As you emerge from the hotel gates, on one side you go through a sandstone coloured village overflowing with flowers, and around the other side you will find Silverstone racetrack – as we discovered on a 7am jog around the estate – yes, we were surprised that we were up and about at that time on a Saturday as well, but you know bodies and temples and all that jazz. The hotel also hosts tribute nights, so if you are on an overnight break and fancy listening to the dulcet tones of Take That 2 or Michael Buble’s doppelganger, this is the place to go.
Who to take … Because of the scale of the facilities and the proximity to Silverstone, Whittlebury Hall is ideal for visiting with a group of friends. You can all have a spa treatment at the same time, you can natter in the thermal suite, and you can dance the night away at one of the regular tribute nights … or just nip to the bar for a drink … whatever floats your boat.
Favourite Feature … The thermal suite – hours of entertainment spent milling through the different temperatures and sensations, while the water jets in the hydrotherapy pool do a good job at massaging those shoulders.
Top Tips
– The spa is popular and does get quite busy, so try to arrive early to use the heat and ice experience, and pre-book treatments for the afternoon.
– If friends or family are celebrating a birthday or special occasion and are looking for something a little kitsch and a lot of fun – book yourself in for one of the tribute nights.
– Ask for a map at the front desk and go for a stroll (or a jog) to explore the grounds, particularly if the weather is nice!
