Ragdale Hall is nestled into the Leicestershire countryside with views above the village and surrounding areas. The hunting lodge transformed spa, houses the most up-to-date health and spa facilities making it a one-stop wellness retreat.
For an old manor house, Ragdale Hall is incredibly light and bright – the clever refurbishment makes the most of the large bay windows with the back of the house – overlooking the grounds and gardens – made predominantly from glass.
On arrival
Pulling into the drive it was not obvious as to the blissful retreat we had ahead of us, but the kind reception staff made us feel instantly welcome and whisked us off for a drink while our car and luggage were handled by the porters. With so many guests staying at the hall every night, the timings of lunch and treatments have to be carefully planned, but on arrival, we were taken to the Garden Room where a member of staff met us to talk through our stay, hand us breakfast menus and answered our queries.
The hall has a range of accommodation on offer but the superior twin room assigned to us had beautiful views across the grounds and had everything we needed for a comfortable night including completely fresh robes and flip flops waiting in the wardrobe. The spa has an incredibly relaxed atmosphere; people walking around in normal clothes are few and far between, with most visitors walking around the dining areas and the grounds in their fluffy white robes.
The exercise
To help guests adopt a healthier lifestyle, a high-end gym is available for all visitors to use and includes a range of walking, running and weight machines as well as supporting members of staff that welcome you in and are available for help and advice should you need it.
Alongside the free standing machines, there are two exercise rooms in which classes are held throughout the day. Offering a range of mixed ability sessions there was always an option for beginners to try something new, I tried my hand at hula hooping and partook in a step class – the instructors were excellent and always made sure everyone in the class could keep up providing an easier level for anyone struggling.
Part of the hall is currently under construction whilst a rooftop infinitely pool is built. As a result, the main exercise pool is out of service but there are still a selection of water exercise classes that are held in a cornered of area of the main pool. However, as places are limited, I’d advise arriving early and booking onto classes as soon as you arrive to avoid disappoint.
The spa
The main area of the spa is taken up by the large pool and its tranquil décor and warm ambient temperature transports to warmer days. Ragdale Hall prides itself on its ability to relax its guests and to help with this, comfortable chairs, chill out zones and quiet rooms are spread across the complex. Lying on a sun lounger in my dressing gown with the relaxing sounds of the pool's waterfalls it was impossible not to feel completely relaxed!
To accompany the main pool, there are eight compartments to the thermal spa in the form of an outside pool, sauna, candlelit cave and a variety of steam rooms. After just an hour spent switching rooms, I could feel the improvement in my skin and overall mood.
There are a whole range of spa treatments on offer to guests from nail and hair care to full body and facials but as part of the overnight Reviver Break, a 50-minute back and face therapy treatment is given. The treatment rooms are set away from the main spa but a comfortable seating area in a lovely atrium provides the perfect place to wait for your treatment. The staff at Ragdale are wonderfully attentive and the treatment staff are no different. I was made to feel perfectly at ease throughout my treatment and was able to tailor the experience to my needs.
For those wanting to take some of Ragdale home with them, the beauty and gift shops have everything you’ll need to continue looking after your skin, from the products used in your treatment to a lovely clothes shop selling unique pieces that will leave you feeling fabulous.
The food
To encourage guests to find balance in their lives, whether that is through a healthier diet or taking time out to rest and restore, the food available at Ragdale reflects this balance offering a range of nutritional options that combine taste and texture with a little bit of luxury. Portion sizes are small and lighter options are available, so I was able to treat myself to the food and flavours I love without feeling as if I’ve over-indulged.
The absolute highlight with regards to the food was the breakfast. Having the breakfast that I’d carefully chosen brought up to our room was a treat like no other. Reflecting the balanced approach to eating, a selection of fruit, oats, yoghurt and hot and cold meals are available – there really isn’t a better way to start day two of relaxation.
Upon departing
Although checkout for overnight guests is at 11am, the spa facilities and dining options are available to use at leisure until 6pm. Leaving all our bags in our room for these to be handled by the porters, we were able to spend the day as we pleased making the most of the gym and spa facilities before sitting down to another delicious lunch in the main dining hall.
When the time came to leave, our bags were delivered to reception and we were invited to sit in the lounge while our car was brought around. Having these small details handled by the staff made such a difference to the overall experience and allowed us to just sit back and relax knowing that all the logistics were taken care of.
For more information and to book your health and hydro getaway, visit Ragdale Hall.
About the Author / Gareth Hargreaves
Gareth looks after all editorial content on 50connect. He is the Swiss Army knife of content ideas and production.
