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Oxley's Underscar (Blue Fish Spa), Keswick - 4 bubbles
Our Good Spa Spy wandered lonely as a cloud, when all at once she saw a small spa, where she could work out, swim, and chill. She waxed poetical about her very deep massage but could have done with a little more TLC from the staff, and some water. The Blue Fish Spa offers a very good value spa day with a great range of treatments.
First impressions?
How did they welcome you?
What happens next?
Which treatments did you have?
What were the treatments like?
How did you feel afterwards?
What happens afterwards?
Long-term effects
Was it worth it?
What else could you have?
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
Driving in past a host of golden daffodils! Well, this is Wordsworth country, and the spa's location in the northern Lake District is stunning. Oxley's at Underscar is a nineteenth-century coach house and grounds that have been converted into upmarket time-share properties. The Blue Fish spa is part of this resort. You don't have to be a time-share owner to use the spa.
How did they welcome you?
They knew who I was, and I didn't have to queue at reception. I didn't get a guided tour, just a point to the changing room, gym, restaurant and treatment room. But Blue Fish is quite a small spa, so there was no danger of getting lost. I filled in the one-page consultation form, which was refreshingly clear of irrelevant boxes. At the end it said, "Do you like your massage a) light b) medium c) deep?" I ticked "deep".
What happens next?
I had the morning free to work out, swim, and chill, which I did in that order. The changing rooms at Blue Fish Spa have big private cubicles, which I appreciated.
The gym was empty of people and very clean. I think it could feel a bit cramped if it got busy: you wouldn't be able to use a Swiss Ball or an abdominal exerciser if someone was on the fixed-weight machine. I headed straight for the rower and rowed 2,000 metres. The gym was quiet when I went in but, just as I started rowing, very loud music came on. I jumped out of my seat!
After my workout, I had elevenses in the café, where they have a wide range of herbal teas and an espresso machine.
The pool area is light and airy, but it's a pity that it has no views over the surrounding countryside. I had visited Oxley's at Underscar before, but everything has been refurbished since my previous visit: the pool, Jacuzzi and sauna are very clean and in good shape.
Although there are notices by the sauna and Jacuzzi advising people to rehydrate, there's no water-cooler in the pool area and you have to go out to reception in your slippers to get a drink. I noticed other people had taken bottled water in with them.
A member of staff gave me a time to turn up for lunch, which was included in the price of my spa day. Two courses, with no restriction on choice. I enjoyed a Greek salad and sea-bass fishcakes, which were light and refreshing. Also on the menu was a Lakeland Meat Platter showcasing local produce, and the option of organic wine from a local distributor (yes, I'll confess to a nice glass of Pinot Grigio). The café was quiet and the staff very attentive. It's a pity that the café looks out on to the car park and the bins, and not out to the lovely Lake District beyond.
Which treatments did you have?
I had a Blue Fish Signature Massage (60 minutes, included in my £75 spa-day package) using Mother Earth products, made locally in Grasmere.
What were the treatments like?
Gorgeous. Jeanette, my therapist, had clearly read the instruction for "deep" massage. She explained that the technique she would use was forearms and elbows. This is deep! She said she liked doing massage this way because her wrists and arms didn't get so tired. Clearly, a happy therapist makes a happy customer. Jeanette offered me a choice of massage oils and I opted for lavender and chamomile rather than rose. The oil gave a subtle aroma, not too overpowering.
The treatment room was large and airy. I felt that therapists would have plenty of room each side of the couch without squeezing by. I asked Jeanette to keep talking throughout the treatment as I like to know what's coming next and a little bit about the products being used.
How did you feel afterwards?
A bit stiff! Jeanette did warn me, and suggested that I apply a hot pack to my back. I mentioned that I had a wheat pillow at home and she said that would be ideal.
What happens afterwards?
The 60-minute session went by far too quickly. Jeanette finished the treatment with a head massage. She then brought peppermint tea to the treatment room so that I could come back to reality nice and slowly.
Then it was time to drive home -- carefully!
Long-term effects
I used the wheat pillow for two evenings and I wasn't stiff at all after that. I slept like a log for three nights, so the combination of massage and pillow was really effective.
Was it worth it?
Yes. My spa day was a good-value £75, including a two course lunch and a 60 minute treatment.
What else could you have?
There's a range of Li'Tya and Decleor facials and body treatments on offer at Blue Fish Spa, along with traditional massage, and Li'Tya massage rituals. I'm definitely going back to Jeanette for the ritual Li'Tya massage "inspired by traditional Australian Aboriginal techniques... Pressure points and spiralling movements ground and uplift, leaving the body's energies laughing with joy." Can't wait!
The usual manicures, pedicures and beauty treatments are available, along with lush-sounding Li'Tya hand and feet treatments. Men can try a Wet Shave facial or "Man"icure.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
To take a water bottle into the pool area.
Who do you think would like it?
Women in pairs: a big group here could wreck the calm for individuals. There are only 11 loungers around the pool area at Blue Fish Spa. The men I saw at the spa only went for a short dip in the pool or Jacuzzi, I don't think they would want to be there all day.
Walkers: It would be great to come off a brisk walk on the fells to have an intense massage.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Blue Fish Spa 4 bubbles. The spa scored well on most elements and my massage was definitely 5 bubbles. But I thought that the welcome could have been a bit warmer. I'd have liked a guided tour and someone going around the pool area to that check everyone was OK. I know it can be irritating to have someone saying "Is everything all right for you?" every five minutes, but it's nice to think that someone is discreetly checking. The only person I spoke to in the pool area was the water-quality man on his monthly visit. If you have a question, you have to go back to reception.
See more on how we rate the spas.
Would you go again?
Yes -- maybe not for the spa day but certainly for a Li'Tya treatment.
We visited Blue Fish Spa in March 2009
See also:
* Contact Details for Oxley's at Underscar
* Massage
* All Spa Reviews
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