Keeley Rodgers wallows in strawberries and cream during an indulgent day in a stylish spa

It smells good enough to eat was not something I imagined saying after making the most of the delicious buffet lunch during my spa day at Whittlebury Hall.

But as the therapist rubbed the fragrant strawberries and cream scrub into my skin I could have made room for more.

The new treatment is perfect for the start of our great British summer and if the weather isn’t holding up, Whittlebury is the place to be to get away from it all.

Our Whittlebury Day Spa package included a two-course buffet lunch; full use of the Heat and Ice Experiences and all the spa and The Leisure Club facilities; plus we could choose two spring/summer treatments from The Day Spa Signature Massage (treatment time: 50 minutes), Elemis Skin Specific Facial (treatment time: 50 minutes); ESPA Skin Purifying Facial for Men (treatment time: 50 minutes) or the Day Spa Strawberries and Cream Delight (treatment time: 50 minutes) – a luxurious strawberry and cream exfoliation treatment with a sensory salt scrub to smooth away dead skin, combined with a scalp or foot massage and finished with an amber and champagne gold dry oil for the perfect spring or summer shimmer.

Once inside you soon forget about the outside world and drift off to somewhere so relaxing it’s hard to stay awake.

We began our day making the most of the Heat and Ice Experiences on offer, and there are plenty to choose from.

My personal favourites are the warm benches, foot baths and crystal steam room.

While I’m not so keen on the ice cave it’s a great way to cool down in between the saunas, and quite fun to give others a bit of a cold shock too.

It was soon time for our Day Spa Signature Massage and I didn’t want it to end.

Good job the floating beds weren’t far away because I needed another lie down afterwards to continue the relaxation.

The trick is to not drift off for too long though because the buffet lunch is well worth a long visit.

We certainly made the most of it with several trips back and forth, although we resisted the temptation of a glass of fizz.

After our food had gone down, it was time for more relaxing, and we had a trip to the main swimming pool, with a diversion to the hot tub of course.

We just about had time for a spot of tea before our next treatment and it’s service straight to the lounge from the restaurant, which saves the legs.

I needn’t have worried though because the Strawberries and Cream Delight was enough to soothe any muscle aches.

It began with a scrub, complete with the nicest feeling brush, then a quick dip in the shower before a scalp massage to top it all off.

My therapist then treated me to an amber and champagne gold dry oil, leaving my skin with a perfect summer shimmer.

Scrubbed, shiny and sparkling, I was all set for the outside world...but maybe after a quick lie down in the water bed.

* Whittlebury Hall is a conference and training centre, spa and hotel, offering modern facilities situated in rural Northamptonshire. It employs more than 300 staff and has 213 double bedrooms including five individually designed suites and specialises in conference, training and meeting facilities for up to 500 delegates.

It boasts 20 principal training suites supported by 28 fully serviced syndicate rooms, six spacious meeting rooms, executive boardroom and three secluded private dining rooms.

* The Day Spa at Whittlebury Hall won the Readers’ Choice Award for the Midlands & East. at the prestigious Good Spa Guide Awards 2014.

Oxford Mail:

Director Michael Stott said: “We are extremely proud to have won such a prestigious award for the third year running.

“It’s a true reflection of how our customers are the heart of all that we do and we aim to continue to exceed our guests’ expectations every time they visit.”

The Day Spa at Whittlebury Hall is one of the largest in the country and a key selling point for the hotel.

With 23 treatment rooms, it has a choice of more than 60 treatments delivered by a team of skilled therapists complemented with Heat and Ice Experiences.

* In addition, the hotel boasts three restaurants: Astons – offering a relaxed atmosphere to meet with family and friends with a blend of classic and contemporary cuisine.

Murrays – award-winning 2 AA Rosettes fine dining restaurant.

Bentleys – offering an Italian pizza and pasta menu.

* The hotel also offers exclusive Hospitality Packages for the 2015 Formula One British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July.

Call on 0845 400 1407 for details or visit the website.

Prices start from £139 per person per day (excluding race tickets). It includes VIP entrance to the hotel, refreshments and shuttle bus transport to and from the hotel to Becketts Corner.

Essentials

Whittlebury Hall Hotel, Whittlebury, near Towcester, Northamptonshire, NN12 8QH.

Spa reservations: 01327 850489.

Keeley’s Whittlebury Day Spa package was from £109 per person.

Other spa days begin from £59 per person, with Twilight Spa from £39 per person.

Packages include men’s top-to-toe and mums-to-be, both from £109, and spa and stay deals.

Go online at whittleburyhall.co.uk to view full details of the hotel, spa and all of the packages.