North East | Wynyard Hall spa and gardens

Following on a previous post  from the Ramside, believe it or not in the same week I went with my friend Barbra to Wynyard Hall day spa.

I have only been on a couple of spa days in the last couple of years and I have always just thought they were too expensive and very much a treat for a special occasion, but i'm starting to change my mind.

Surprisingly this spa day cost less than £30 each and this included spa time, access to the walled gardens and lunch. 

Barbra made the reservation a couple of months in advance as we both booked some holiday from work, we were celebrating B's birthday. 

The mid-week spa offer is £20 per guest and you are able to use the spa facilities for 2 hours which includes use of the 2 outdoor jacuzzi hot tubs, deck chairs and benches with amazing views of the lake, plus use of the indoor thermal suite, salt inhalation room and the herbal sauna.  

You can also pay an additional £15 each if you want to try the rasul mud treatment or £18.50 per person for afternoon tea.

When we arrived, we were checked off by the welcome team and were shown to the orangery where we had to sign a health and safety disclaimer. Then we were provided with fluffy brown robes, white cloth flip flops and towels so we could go and get changed.

The atmosphere in the spa was scented in lavender and there was relaxing music played.

We were so lucky with the weather, crisp and bright.

To keep yourself hydrated, we were asked to help ourselves to flavoured waters in this central area which was surrounded by the different treatment rooms.

We took a look round all the facilities and then the hot tub on the main deck was free so we decided to start there. There were 6 other guests there using the facilities at the same time, but we rarely saw each other and we just took it in turns to use the different spots. 

This is a very different experience than the Ramside even though there are clearly similarities. But the result from both is that I came away feeling pampered and relaxed.

Wynyard feels exclusive as there isn't many people there at the same time, the view from the hot tub makes you feel like you have truly switched off as you only had birds for company.

Ramside's facilities are more grand as they are on a larger scale and it can accommodate more people, it too has an outside hot spa pool but this can fit up to 15+ at one time so no real escapism but fun all the same. I can see positives of each but this allows you to choose what kind of spa experience you are after.

The views from the jacuzzi really were amazing, and there was also relaxing music played outside which you could hear when the bubbles weren't on. 

We then ventured inside to try the thermal suites and my favourite was the sauna. I honestly felt like I was in the middle of nowhere when I looked out of the window.

The 2 hours went by pretty fast but we spent the last 30 minutes back out in the jacuzzi this really was the highlight. 

We had found a deal on itison.com and I had booked a voucher for entrance to the walled gardens and lunch for 2 including a hot drink so instead of opting for the Afternoon Tea at the spa, we headed up to the gardens to spend the rest of the afternoon.

We had much needed hot chocolates, then I opted for a quiche with salad and B had a yummy toasted cheese sandwich before heading out into the walled gardens. The gardens really reminded me of the rose garden at Alnwick and I can't wait to come back here in spring and summer as I am sure it would look beautiful in full bloom. 

We were so sad our day was over by the time 3.30pm came around, so we had 30 minutes before the cafe closed so we headed back inside to get warm and share some green tea and raspberry cake with some coffee and tea.

I think this is a very affordable way to have a taste of spa luxury. It is located half way between Durham and Middlesborough so it wouldn't be far to travel from both. The facilities are of a high standard and the service provided in both the spa and cafe / gardens was perfect.

I would certainly recommend trying out the mid week spa option or you can also view other packages available.

Location - Wynyard Hall, Teesvalley TS22 5NF

Visit Wynyard Hall 

Love Miss K xx

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Disclaimer - This is not an advert, I paid for this experience with my own money and all opinions are my own.

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North East | Twilight spa experience - Ramside Hall Hotel and Spa, Durham

Last week I was lucky enough to go to 2 spa's in County Durham. 2 very different experiences but both equally luxurious and relaxing. On Thursday, I went to the Ramside hotel approx 5 mins drive from Durham City centre for a Twilight Spa 'catch up' evening.

This costs from £55 per person (£10 extra Fri-Sun) and is from 5.30pm which includes 2 course evening meal at the spa's Thai Fusion restaurant and then use of the amazing facilities until 9.30pm. This is just one of the experiences offered by the spa at different times and prices.

As a guest of the spa for the evening, I was fortunate to be given this experience as a gift and was provided with a full tour of the newly built £8million development including treatment rooms, nail bar and 5 pools. 

After the tour we were treated to a thai buffet where we were able to taste some of the options on the menu followed by use of the facilities. I had no idea what to expect as I had been to the hotel for events but not had the opportunity to visit the spa before. I was blown away by the vast choice of ways to relax during my evening, it has certainly opened by eyes that I should be indulging like this on a more regular basis especially with this on my doorstep.

The facilities are split into different areas - 
Fitness suite
Treatment rooms
Wet Spa which includes 2 outside heated pools
Thermal suite
Thai Fusion Restaurant - (We did eat before the spa but I will pop this to the end of the post).

Firstly we visited the Fitness suite which is the extensive gym offering with scheduled gym classes and optional personal training.

This then led to Treatment Rooms including a fabulous Nail Bar, Well polished. This area was quiet and tranquil to make sure the customers having treatments were given the best possible experience.

The luxurious Nail Bar with crushed velvet chairs and cushions with sinks for soaking tired paws was my favourite part on the tour. 

It would be amazing as a hen party location for a pamper following onto the chill out room with comfy seating and hanging chair, which looked out onto the outdoor heated infinity pool...dreamy vibes.

We then made our way downstairs via another chill out zone to the Wet Spa and thermal suites. 

I had no idea the volume of pools available, 5 in total including the infinity pool upstairs. 

We were provided with robes, towels and flip flops to get ready and then dive into our twilight spa session.

Within the Thermal suites were a number of different rooms including a Herbal Sauna, Himalayan Salt Steam, Aroma Steam, Tepidarium, Sunken Sauna and Drench Showers.

5 pools - including a full size 25 metre swimming pool plus bubble pool (jacuzzi), large Hydrotherapy pool with swan necks and massage jets (so relaxing and actually very high pressure so you could feel them working on your body, outdoor vitality pool in the Spa Herb Garden plus the newly reopened balcony infinity pool, which is only available for private hire or signature spa day experiences, so make sure you do ask if this is included in your booking to avoid disappointment. 

You can read more about the facilities here

My dates for the evening Laura & Kayleigh

Thank you Kayleigh for letting me use this picture 

As I mentioned we did eat before our spa session but I thought it made sense to pop this at the end. The Thai Fusion Restaurant was simply delicious, I have been here before with my friend for an evening meal and I cannot fault it. I love Thai food and the selection on offer and setting really is lovely. 

Thai restaurants are hard to find and I can highly recommend the food at Fusion especially the Satay Chicken, Duck Spring Rolls and Phad Thai. 

I also absolutely love the table covered with a tree in blossom - I would love to book this table for a special occasion, I was advised this is possible and would be suitable for more than 5 people.

I will certainly be booking to go back to the spa in the new year. My friend Natalie and I have our eye on the afternoon tea experience to beat the January blues.

Massive thank you to Ramside Spa and Sorted PR for organising this event and my invite as I would not have realised the amazing facilities on offer without this.  

I am more than sure there will be an experience to fit your budget and time available and you will come away fully revitalised.

View the full list of experience available here

There is some amazing winter offers on at the moment including one with 1 nights stay and use of the facilities including a meal at Fusion, so please enquire if you are looking for somewhere to escape and unwind after the xmas craziness,  or even buy it as a gift for a loved one. 

Location - Ramside Hall, Carrville, Durham DH1 1TD

Website - Ramside Hall Hotel 

Love Miss K xx

You can follow me on @Misskeveryday

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Please contact me before using my images.

Disclaimer - This was a gifted spa experience from the hotel, all opinions are my own.

The Handmade Bakery at Slaithwaite

This is where I wish I was right now, spending my Saturday morning surrounded by family eating yummy bakery items. Instead I am having a much needed lie in....

Finding a cafe I love where the coffee is good and the food is presented perfectly is harder than you think. I spend my weekends in either Yorkshire or in County Durham so I can always be on the look out for a new favourite. 

The handmade bakery, Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire. 

My brother and his family discovered this cafe and I have been a couple of times with them over the last few years. 

It is located down by the canal in Slaithwaite and if the weather is nice you can sit outside. 

However, last Sunday is was raining cats and dogs so luckily my brother had got there before me and reserved us a seat, it was pretty busy in there at 10.30am on a Sunday morning.

There isn't loads of tables so you might need to wait or share with some other customers. It is a really lovely place to be and the staff are very warm and friendly.

As soon as you walk in the entrance you are welcomed by the fragrance of freshly baked bread and goodies, then everything is out on display on the counter. 

Look at all these beautiful handmade breads with prices mostly around the £3 mark. There is no guarantee what breads will be available when you pop in, but I am sure you would find something you would like. 

I will take them all.

Did I mention the beautiful pastries? 

Look at this yummy 'pulli' cinnamon bun - I got this to take away as there was only a couple left, and I knew there wouldn't be any by the time I was leaving after brunch. Shhh it's in my freezer for this Sunday...

There isn't a menu on table,  but there is a board behind the counter with the items available on that day. 

Between us we tried 3 different dishes - 2 orders of Mushrooms on Toast, 2 Bacon Sandwich and my Cinnamon Toast with Apple Jelly and Creme Fraiche. 

Long tables are perfect for family time 

My parents and brother

Everyone really enjoyed their food, my brother said he had food envy when mine arrived, but there was no way I was trading for his half demolished mushrooms on toast. More excuses to go back again soon.

Just as we were leaving the breakfast menu was over and lunch had arrived, lots of cakes, flapjack and some delicious savoury cheese & onion rolls had just arrived and were selling fast! My nephew wasn't leaving without one.

The photos speak for themselves, this really is what I expect from bespoke and local cafe. Some might think I have high standards, but there is something special about finding the perfect instagramable coffee and foods. 

I can highly recommend visiting the bakery/ cafe - they even do organised cookery classes and you can find out more about those on their website. 

The Handmade Bakery - Unit 6, Upper Mills, Canal Side, Slaithwaite HD7 5HA

Opening Times - Tuesday - Sunday 9.30am-4.30pm

Kristina x