Review of Aqua Sana Spa at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest

Aqua Sana Spa at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, Penrith - 4 bubbles

Aqua Sana Spa provides a friendly, sociable space for day guests, and a perfect retreat for parents wanting an afternoon's grace from their activity-filled holiday. Aqua Sana at Center Parcs Whinfell Forest, set in the Cumbrian countryside, has a large thermal suite that is fun to share, good Decléor and Elemis treatments, and spa days at affordable prices.

First impressions?

What's on offer?

Which treatments did you have?

What were the treatments like?

What else could you have?

Food facts

Was it worth it?

We loved

We didn't love

Who do you think would like it?

Why did you give the spa this rating?

Would you go again?

First impressions?

Because Center Parcs is a car-free zone, you’ll need to park in the main car park and walk over to Aqua Sana, so allow at least 20 minutes before your arrival time. When you book, let a member of staff know if you or someone in your party is disabled and needs transport across the site.

Whinfell Forest is lovely just before Christmas, because Center Parcs decorate the forest with fairy lights and fake snow, if the real stuff hasn't fallen yet. You could be in Scandinavia. As I walked over I could faintly hear "Walking in the Air" drifting across the forest.

The receptionist greeted me firstly with details of what the day involved and then informed me that, as I was on a spa day, I could book other treatments with a 10% discount.

The receptionist walked me to the changing area and gave me my robe, towel and slippers. There's lovely underfloor heating, and plenty of space in the changing room. Throughout the day it was kept clean and dry.

What's on offer?

A thermal suite entitled "World of Spa" – you'd have to put in around 15,000 air miles to experience these thermal rooms in their countries of origin. There are seven rooms, ranging from the mild heat and low humidity of the Roman-inspired laconium to the baking-hot Turkish hammam. Everyone has their favourite – mine is the Indian Blossom Steam Room, which is heated to around 45°C, with a humidity of 90–100%. The steam is infused with "eucamenthol" making it like walking into a Lockets throat sweet – fabulous for clearing the airways. If you don’t like it medicinal, the mint-scented Japanese Salt Steam Bath or the jasmine-scented Balinese Multi Steam Bath will be more to your liking.

All these rooms were in good clean order. There are good instructions on recommended "cooking times" and explanations about the rooms. There are plenty of water coolers and couches to relax on, arranged in little niches for privacy. There were a couple of larger groups there, but the layout means that they don't overpower couples or smaller groups.

A whiteboard announces special spa events. One group was having a skincare seminar, and there was a "Finnish Sauna Ritual" that was open to all spa guests. About 15 of us got together in the huge sauna with a member of Aqua Sana staff called Mark. He fanned warm air around us with a vigorous shake of a towel, with cape swirling skills to rival a Brendan Cole paso doble. Then he put crushed ice down our backs. Lovely!

The outdoor swimming pool and whirlpool hydrotherapy bath are open all year. It's nice to be outdoors in the warmth of the pool water, even in the chill of winter.

Make sure you leave plenty of time to try everything in the World of Spa (including relaxing between rooms) before you have your treatment.

Which treatments did you have?

I had the Décleor Slim Effect (£59, 55 minutes) and Hopi Ear Candle Treatment (£47, 45 minutes).

What were the treatments like?

Décleor Slim Effect

My therapist, Lisa, began this treatment by exfoliating my body, and followed this with some gentle massage on my legs and arms. The products she used had a very pleasant mix of herb and citrus aromas. Lisa applied a thick, pale-brown mud mask to my thighs and bottom, and then wrapped me in film. She massaged my neck and shoulders while the mud did its magic.

As I slid off the bed afterwards, it did rather look as if I had fallen over in a farmyard, as great gloops of mud fell to the floor. Showering the mud off without making a mess was a little tricky. The shower was open, with a curtain, and the water went everywhere. Lisa had put towels around on the floor, but unfortunately one I was meant to dry myself with also got damp.

When I was dry, Lisa finished off my treatment by massaging in a moisturising balm that smelt good and wasn't greasy to the touch. I had some time to chill before re-robing and moving to the quiet area for a nice cup of peppermint tea. My first robe was damp from my morning in the World of Spa, so I asked Lisa for a second one.

I felt good from 55 minutes of pampering, but if you want lasting results from this treatment, you will have to keep up a daily regime of massage, using the recommended products.

Hopi Ear Candles

Another therapist, Emma, explained what was going to happen during the treatment, and showed me the Hopi candles. I lay face down with my head to one side while she inserted a candle into one of my ears and lit it. The candle felt invasive to begin with, but I soon got used to it.

Hopi candles are made from linen rolled around beeswax mixed with honey and aromatherapy oils. They are claimed to draw impurities to the surface of the wax. Emma unrolled the candle afterwards and showed me a thin black line of gunk.

While it was happening, the Hopi candle treatment was very relaxing. During the second ear side, I fell asleep and woke myself with some unladylike snorts. Apparently this is quite normal.

I'm often blocked up with "clicky" ears (like you get on a plane journey). After this treatment, my ears didn't feel blocked and I felt quite light-headed. I lingered in the Quiet Room until I felt ready to venture out and back to the car, back to the real world. A warm hat was a good idea to stop the wind whistling through my newly cleared ears. But, the sensation was very short-lived and the next morning I was harrumphing and ear-clicking just as before.

What else could you have?

Treatments from Decléor and Elemis include a selection of facials, body rituals, dual treatments, treatments for men, massage, and manicures and pedicures.

Two fish pedicure tanks have arrived recently, and you can also treat your feet to reflexology.

For complete relaxation, we'd like to try one of the dry floatation treatments. In other words, you feel as if you are floating, but your body doesn’t get wet, and you can have a body wrap treatment at the same time. Choose from nourishing honey and milk, zesty citrus, volcanic mud, or energising marine extracts for your wrap.

Food facts

A Spa Day (£69 Monday-Friday, £79 Saturdays and Sundays) includes a complimentary lunch (and a rather nice glass of bubbly) in the Conservatory Café. I opted for a salad selection but it came looking rather tired. The Greek salad had one cube of feta, one cherry tomato and two olives in it – the rest was almost entirely red onion.

There was an appetising slice of lemon meringue pie at the counter (some may argue that has no place in the middle of a spa day, either, but I’ll fight them for my portion) but that wasn't included in the complimentary lunch, and my purse was in the locker. However, everything was resolved when a member of staff collected my plate of raw onion and I commented politely on the surprising lack of Greekness. Next thing I know, the waitress says "we're sorry about your salad, would you like to have that slice of lemon meringue pie with our compliments?"

Was it worth it?

The Spa Day is definitely worth £79 for the World of Spa experience.

We loved

The great thermal suite.

The fun group-session in the sauna.

The lovely forest setting.

We didn't love

The walk back to the car park in the rain.

The soggy towels after showering.

The red onion.

Who do you think would like it?

Aqua Sana spas are perfect for couples and groups as there is plenty of space, and plenty of fun to share. I liked it as a lone woman, and didn't feel like Billy No-Mates.

Why did you give the spa this rating?

We gave this Aqua Sana Spa 4 bubbles. The thermal suite is both relaxing and fun, and treatments are at a good standard. This isn't a luxury spa, and it is a sociable place, so it doesn't offer complete serenity or have special finishing touches, but it does provide an enjoyable experience and good value for money.