Something for the weekend: Careys Manor and Spa

Your guide to an instant weekend break. We check in to a modern Thai spa nestled in an 18th century manor.

  A treatment room at SenSpaBy Anneke Hak

Perfect for? 
A perfect haven for couples looking to escape the city and spend a weekend de-stressing in solitude.

Where is it? 
Careys Manor can be found in the tiny village of Brockenhurst in the idyllic New Forest, about 20 minutes south west of Southampton. 

Best bit? 
With most of the masseurs at SenSpa trained in Thailand, they’re famed for their traditional Thai massages. For something different try a Moroccan Hammam Massage, £77 for an hour. Relaxing on a heated hammam bed, silky Rhassoul mud is massaged over your body. The mud, from the Moroccan Atlas Mountains, improves skin texture, softness and elasticity while detoxifying and drawing out any impurities.  It’s a heavenly experience.

Worst bit? 
After 20 minutes in the sauna guests are advised to enter the Ice Room to continue their detox. Here, the brave can pull on a rope and have a bucket of icy water splashed over their body. The sudden change in temperature is said to encourage the body to flush out any impurities. If you’re not that brave try the experience showers, which simulate being stuck in a tropical shower or thunderstorm, complete with thunder and lightning.

Eating and Drinking 
Guests on a spa break can enjoy dinner in the three-rosette Manor Hotel restaurant, which serves traditional English food along with more interesting creations, such as the sweet potato and garlic soufflé, which was delicious. Breakfast and lunch will be taken in the Zen Garden restaurant during your stay, which serves fabulous Thai cuisine at lunchtime, and is a much-welcomed stopgap between treatments.

Venturing out? 
Embedded in the New Forest, Careys Manor makes the perfect starting point for bike rides and hiking. Bikes and maps are available from reception so you can find your way back to the hotel and spa.

  SenSpa's Hydro PoolAnything else? 
When you arrive participate in a Mind And Body class, which mixes yoga and tai-chi. You’ll leave your worries at the door and enjoy your stay that much more.

Schedule some time to be spend in the relaxation room. Full of comfy chairs and with complimentary green tea, it has the perfect atmosphere for zoning out after a long massage.

Getting there? 
The train from Waterloo to Brockenhurst station takes around an hour and a half.
Careys Manor Hotel is a five-minute walk through the village from the station, but the hotel offers a complimentary pick-up and drop-off service. Just mention it when booking. For more information visit Careysmanor.com

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