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Cedar Falls Health Spa, Taunton - 3 bubbles
The Good Spa Guide visited Cedar Falls to see how somewhere that proudly calls itself a health farm rather than a spa compares to other dedicated spa retreats. We found good classes, a very wide range of treatments, and fresh food. But the décor is rather dated and a few spa luxuries were missing.
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?
Any special features?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
Cedar Falls is an impressive traditional country house, dating from the 1700s, in vast and equally impressive grounds. Inside, the house is rather dated, although the architecture is still good. In some ways, the house hasn't changed much over the years. The wooden sign in the reception area announcing the "Members Notice Board", which lists the classes and talks of the day, sets the tone. Cedar Falls is a health farm and not a spa.
How did they welcome you?
Promptly and enthusiastically. Staff gave us our health consultation forms and took us to our room on the ground floor which overlooked the rose garden. Newly decorated, the room was bright with red-painted walls below the dado rails and cream above, red bedspreads and floral curtains.
What happens next?
We went on a tour of the spa. The tour is very necessary as Cedar Falls has a slightly higgledy-piggledy layout. The supplied map is very useful. The dining room and lounges are at the front of the house, while further back are the treatment areas, gym, pool, and conservatory which is used as a large relaxation area. Bits of the building's history, first as a country house, then as a school, then as a classic health farm, still linger in the air. The main exercise room was once used as the school hall and it still has wooden panelling and a working organ!
Which treatments did you have?
I had an ESPA Aromatherapy Body Massage (55 minutes, £58) and the next day I tried an ESPA Hot Stone Back Treatment (40 minutes, £60). My husband had a pedicure (45 minutes, £36.50).
What were the treatments like?
Carol, my therapist, met me in the beauty treatment reception area and took me past the pool and along to the natural therapies area and treatment rooms. The treatment room was plain and rather small. At points in the treatment, Carol nudged the bed as she moved around.
The treatment itself was great. We spent ten minutes discussing my health and what I wanted the treatment to achieve. Carol listened carefully and then suggested using a mixture of oils; including bergamot to help me recover from a recent kidney infection, rose germanium, and neroli to de-stress and uplift.
The massage was very enjoyable. Aromatherapy massages tend to use sweeping strokes to deliver the oil rather than the deeper strokes associated with Swedish-style massage. Since I was feeling rather fragile, this gentle massage suited my mood. The oils were a lovely combination and the smell was just right. Carol did a ten-minute relaxation session before beginning the massage, talking me through some deep breathing. The breathing helped me relax and let go of the everyday worries which Carol urged me to "leave at the door".
Carol changed the position of the bed once I had turned over. This meant that she could massage my neck and shoulders well while stretching my spine. Putting the bed into an S-shape felt a bit strange. With my eyes closed, I could not be sure just how upright I was.
Carol added some peppermint oil when she came to massage my feet at the end of the treatment, which was invigorating and a good wake-up. I had almost drifted off to sleep.
My husband went off to have a pedicure. His therapist exfoliated his feet, trimmed his cuticles, and removed his rough skin with an electric device. As a keen handyman, he was fascinated by the procedure and felt it was just like using a sander on wood. Poor therapist -- his skin must have been tough!
The following day, I had a hot stone massage. The massage took place in a treatment room upstairs, which was rather on the small side and very hot. But the treatment itself was very competently done and combined some good initial massage to loosen the muscles, then deeper massage with the hot stones. At the end of the treatment, my therapist took me back to the waiting area and told me to drink plenty of water. I looked around and couldn't see any water dispensers, so asked her for some. She went off and brought me a plastic cup of water. I realised that you need to go out to the pool area for the nearest water dispenser. A shame, as it wouldn't take much effort to put a jug of iced water on the coffee table.
How did you feel afterwards?
Sleepy at first but then, as the oils soaked in, I found myself quite awake and uplifted.
My husband's toes looked very smart.
What happens afterwards?
We went off to relax in the conservatory on one of the 18 recliners -- yes, 18. It's a pretty big conservatory. Mid-week, it was empty, but we were reliably informed that most weekends it would be full. The swimming pool is small and oval-shaped so you cannot swim lengths, though the Jacuzzi is quite large. The steam room and sauna are alongside the pool, and there is a changing room for day guests as well. Later we had dinner in the restaurant. You are allowed to lounge around in bathrobes for breakfast and lunch -- although many people do dress for breakfast -- but they ask that you put some clothes on for dinner, which is eaten in the larger of the wood-panelled dining rooms. There is a club table system so, if you are alone, you needn't feel lonely. The restaurant caters for special diets and uses fresh local food wherever possible. The menu is not grand, but the dishes are fresh and well cooked.
Long-term effects
We both felt relaxed and very clean.
Was it worth it?
Cedar Falls is good value. A spa pamper day with use of facilities, lunch and one express treatment costs from £75 on weekdays (£85 at weekends). A spa afternoon costs from £40 on weekdays without treatments, and from £50 on weekends. A one-night stay costs from £180 and includes dinner and two treatments, while a two-night stay offers dinner and three treatments from £295.
What else could you have?
Almost anything! There are over 20 natural therapies on offer, including Bowen technique, clairvoyance, and Thai foot massage. You can have Clarins and Espa body and face treatments, Jessana nail treatments, and the usual waxing treatments. Cedar Falls also offers personalised training, yoga and Pilates. And there is a hair salon, so you can have top-to-toe treatments and leave with a complete new look.
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
To bring my flip-flops -- Cedar Falls don't supply these. Thankfully, I had sandals I could use, but a group of spa goers who set out for the outdoor pool barefoot regretted it when they reached the gravel section of the drive. And some of the carpeted areas felt quite sticky underfoot so I wouldn't have wanted to wander around bare-toed.
Any special features?
Classes and talks. We attended a very entertaining talk on nutrition; it could have been very dull but it wasn't; there were quizzes and enlightening information and everyone enjoyed it. There are different talks each day and plenty of classes from exercise sessions to walks in the grounds.
Who do you think would like it?
Cedar Falls Health Farm would suit you if you're trying to kick-start a new diet, or improve your lifestyle. If classes and exercise sessions work for you, then this spa is a great choice. The lack of pretension means that it suits anyone not keen on a full-on spa -- including many men. The surroundings are terrific, with the Quantocks on the horizon, yet you're not too far from main road, which makes Cedar Falls accessible for a weekend visit from London or further afield
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Cedar Falls 3 bubbles. The spa is clean, the food good, and you can experience a wide range of spa treatments. Cedar Falls specialise in complementary therapies. On the down side, the spa's décor is quite dated and the layout rather confusing. Various extensions have been added over the years, so you step from a corridor to what looks like an outside area only to find that it is now inside. To get to the treatment waiting area, you have to walk around the pool which means on busy days there is much coming and going. To reach the outdoor pool, you have to go through the reception, out the front door, round the building and almost back to where the indoor pool is -- but there is no direct route from pool to pool. Some of the towels are quite thin and one guest was wandering around in a robe with a rent in the sleeve.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
We spoke with several guests, some of whom were repeat visitors. They all liked the relaxed atmosphere and the fact that the spa is not intimidating. Some came expressly because Cedar Falls is a health farm; they could choose to have calorie-counted meals and do lots of exercise classes, as well as use the gym, where you can run, cross-train or do free weights to keep you toned. Spa days are good value, so I might well come with a group of friends. But I wouldn't come to Cedar Falls if I wanted a bit of luxury or a solo experience.
We visited Cedar Falls in June 2010
See also:
* Contact details for Cedar Falls Health Spa
* Do I have to take my own robe to a spa?
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