MISSION To find somewhere luxurious, calm and relaxing in the Lake District without the need to trek up a mountain or actually to move at all.

USP The Lakeside Hotel spa features a 17m (56ft) pool that overlooks Windermere and is surrounded by glass panels featuring etched impressions of the Lakeland. Treatments are on a natural theme: for example, Air Nature to nourish dehydrated and mature skin; Fire Nature to soothe irritated, sensitive skin; Water Nature for blemished skin; and Earth Nature for purifying normal to oily skin. These give you the same healthy glow as a yomp up Langdale Pikes, but with none of the effort.

AMBIENCE Serene and tranquil, surrounded by still lake waters and pure mountain air, the idea is to be cleansed in mind, body and spirit. And it’s nice to see a line of ducks waddling past as you flop on the day beds. They are fed next to the spa every day at 11am.

QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE Rather splendidly the Lakeside Spa has heated water beds on which clients lie while being ministered to. This, surrounded by aromatic candles, has the effect of making you feel mildly drunk: a good thing. I had a dreamy Elemental Nature Signature Facial, a facial and arm and hand massage. My treatment was going to start with a foot soak, but my therapist decided against this as I’d recently ripped off my big toenail and the soak involved sea-salt exfoliation, which she thought might sting.

PRODUCTS All Aveda; 100 per cent plant essences, no animal testing, no pesticides.

IN-CROWD A proper pick ’n’ mix. The hotel has many regulars who have been coming for years, but also a lot of stressed-out executives, empty-nesters and romantic young couples, some of whom come specifically to propose at the lakeside.

FOOD The Lakeside Restaurant offers a “fine dining experience”, which might be too formal for those hoping to relax. But the other restaurant, John Ruskin’s, is a more modern option, with dishes from around the world. Alternatively, light meals, sandwiches and home-baked biscuits are served in the conservatory.

WALLET WATCH Rooms start at £280 a night; family rooms from £315, including breakfast. Treatments range from a 30-minute manicure at £25 to £115 for the two-hour “Purely Volcanic”, which involves the dramatic use of hot basalt rocks and cold marble to massage face, body and scalp.

NEED TO KNOW Lakeside Hotel, Newby Bridge, Cumbria (015395 30001; www.lakesidehotel.co.uk)

More spas highs

Delphi Mountain Resort, Co Galway, Ireland. Tai chi and herbal massage are combined with hiking and fishing among the mountains and rivers. ( 00 353 95 42987; www.delphiescape.com)

The St Moritz Spa at the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains offers a good-value taste of Swiss high life with lavish treatments after fun days of skiing and Nordic walking. ( 00 41 81 8383838; www.kempinski-stmoritz.ch )

Camelot Spa at Le Franschhoek Hotel in South Africa’s wine region, with Thalgo products. ( 00 27 21 876 8900, www.lefranschhoek.co.za; www.camelotspas.com)

For more than 225 independent spa reviews: timesonline.co.uk/goodspaguide

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