words by Julia Page
The sun is coming out – at last – and the diary is hotting up too, but before we all plunge into the summer madness of events, parties, unstoppable children’s timetables and general life craziness, now is the perfect time to take stock – or simply a day out – to rebalance and reenergise before it all kicks off. And what better place to do this than at the sublime Bamford Wellness Spa, at Daylesford Organic Farm, in the Cotswolds.
Set within hundreds of acres of luscious Oxfordshire countryside, the farm itself is a true escape and upon arrival there you feel your shoulders drop, your worries melt away, and as if you are stepping away from the treadmill of daily life and into a green and tranquil haven. The Bamford Spa specifically is a dreamy, nature-inspired, light-filled space, that offers a piece of calm and much needed respite from our increasingly busy worlds. Fresh white detailing shines throughout and the space is immaculately designed using soft wood and beautiful pale marble, reflecting the principles of sustainability and nature that are at the core of all Daylesford do.
In perfect time for summer and in preparation for all that is to come, Bamford are offering a heavenly “B Clear Spa Day”, which is a full day wellness retreat, combining mindful movement with the very best holistic treatments, thoughtfully devised to help you feel totally renewed and focused. The day can be enjoyed alone or with friends, but either way it is the stuff of dreams.
We started our day with a calming, but thorough, 60 minute yoga class in the lofty studios above the Spa, where we stretched and breathed and emerged feeling stronger, clearer and quite frankly much happier than when we began. We then floated on and into a truly exceptional full body massage that was designed to release deep muscle tension and soothe our nervous systems. And it was just this that it did. The therapists at the Bamford are second-to-none and the treatments they offer combine tip-top expertise, with charming and intuitive practitioners, all in beautiful surroundings. All the treatments are carefully curated and range from restorative massages and more targeted facials (including some fabulous new ones for this summer), to mind and movement classes that are designed to restore, nurture and balance.
Feeling yet more relaxed and indulged, we followed our massages with an hour or so in the tranquillity of The Spring, Bamford’s state-of-the-art wet spa, where we glided from the herbal sauna, to the steam room, to the hydro pool.
This was then followed by lunch at the Spa’s wellness café, The Orchard Bar, where we were spoiled with the exquisite menu that has been planned specifically with optimal well-being in mind, using the very best of seasonal and organic ingredients from the farm. A thoroughly cleansing ‘Wild mushroom and miso broth’ was followed by a rainbow inspired ‘Super Grain bowl’, with a “just right” ‘B Green juice’ on the side. We finished on a high by treating ourselves to a wonderfully indulgent, yet totally virtuous, “Cocoa & Almond” super-food smoothie (made with a divine blend of banana, cocoa, almonds, dates, hemps seeds and cinnamon) to take away and sip on the journey home.
In fact one of the true highlights about the whole Daylesford concept is their integrity and passion for wholly nourishing farm-to table-food and sustainable living, and this is reflected both in all the restaurants at the farm – their Green Michelin starred café, The Trough, included – as well as in the magnificent Farm Shop that is very much at the heart of the farm. From beautiful artisanal craftsmanship, exceptional natural skincare collections and thoughtfully crafted clothing and homeware, through to freshly harvested vegetables from the Market Garden, the farm and Spa as a whole have it all.
Coming here for a day was quite honestly an inspiration and bliss, and the “B Clear Spa Day” is the perfect way to clear your mind, strengthen the body, and give yourself the essential break and switch-off that we all deserve and need. By stepping into the dream world of Daylesford, you will be taken away from the stresses and grind of daily life, reconnect with yourself, and emerge gleaming as Zen-like goddess. I left my day, clutching a bag full of incredible goodies from the Farm Shop, chocolate smoothie in hand, but most importantly feeling unquestionably lighter, calmer and clearer than on my arrival. And thoroughly prepared for a busy summer ahead. Now we just need the sun to shine…
