Treat all your senses in one weekend
Where: Fishmore Hall, Fishmore Road, Ludlow SY8 3DP
Set the scene: Fishmore Hall is a luxurious boutique country house hotel just outside Ludlow
Top Santé tried: Lava Shell Thermal Relax Experience
What is it? A tranquil treatment using hot lava shells to soothe and deeply relax you
And what else? If you love to eat good food you won’t be disappointed when you sit down to dinner in the restaurant.
One of the bedrooms at Fishmore Hall, Ludlow
Something for all the senses
“How many courses have we had?” I was trying to keep track of a tasting menu that had included scallops, venison, halibut and beef and continued with a white chocolate cheesecake with passion fruit and mango sorbet.
It was all part of a relaxing and luxurious day staying at Fishmore Hall in Ludlow and we were enjoying the six-course tasting menu in the peaceful hotel restaurant. Each course was prettily presented and cooked to show off a great balance and intensity of flavours. I loved the scallops served with parsley, lemon and laverbread butter. But the highlight for me was the beef which was so tender that the knife really did go through it like soft butter.
A stay at Fishmore Hall can be a genuine treat for all your senses because as well as the top-quality restaurant, there is a recently opened spa in the grounds there too – the SPAshell – offering a range of Elemis treatments.
I tried the Lava Shell Thermal Relax Experience in which hot shells were used to ease out my tensions with aromatic oils. For me, this involved a welcome focus on my back and shoulders that went a long way to ironing out those pesky knots that come from hours at a desk and in a car.
The outdoor hot tub at the Spa at Fishmore Hall, Ludlow
While I was enjoying my treatment, my partner was sampling the great facilities there, relaxing with a cup of green tea in the outdoor cedar wellness pool while listening to the birds and watching the sun go down on the Shropshire countryside. Perfect.
We also tried the sauna and enjoyed the invigorating scent of the steam room with its many interesting settings, including a rain shower.
The outside of the new SPAshell at Fishmore Hall
All in all it was a very relaxing way to enjoy a part of the country I had not visited before – we took a stroll into nearby Ludlow, which is teeming with interesting shops and cafes as well as a market. The hotel was elegantly decorated, with some interesting art on the walls and the staff were helpful and friendly.
We left the next day having eaten a great breakfast made from quality ingredients to set us up for the day including perfect poached eggs and gluten-free bread. From expert cooking to relaxing treatments and pretty surroundings we felt we’d been treated from head to toe.
Other USPs (unique spa points!)
* Romantic retreat: This is the perfect place for a couple to take some luxurious time out together. Ideal for Valentine’s day.
* Gastronomic getaway: The head chef is Andrew Birch who was on the BBC’s Great British Menu in the autumn.
* Shop and stroll: Ludlow, with its quaint streets, market and shops is just a 20-minute walk from the hotel.
Telephone 01584 875148 email reception@fishmorehall.co.uk Online fishmorehall.co.uk
