Maeve O'Lynn | cheriecity.co.uk

Maeve O’Lynn discovers the luxurious new Thermal Spa Village at the award-winning Galgorm Resort and Spa in Northern Ireland…

Despite only being an hour from Belfast, Galgorm Resort and Spa feels like another world entirely. The drive up takes you along winding, tree-lined roads until you reach the elegant swooping driveway to the hotel, situated right on the banks of the River Maine.

We were greeted on arrival by a natty gent in a tweed suit who ushered us into a decorously appointed lobby with high ceilings. Light poured in through the windows, while couples lounged on opulent sofas by an open fire; a team of concierge staff were on hand to fetch our luggage from the car.

As we were staying in a Deluxe Riverview Room, we got to take advantage of the VIP Deluxe Reception down the hall, which not only made the whole experience quick but totally seamless. The cucumber water and canapés on arrival were a classy touch.

We arrived early in the afternoon, so our room was not quite ready but this posed no issue to the staff who were genuinely warm, professional and welcoming in every respect. Bags were whisked away, and we were straight off to the spa downstairs.

The Spa and Thermal Village are the ultimate in luxury and serenity, but with a laid-back feel, best encapsulated by the staff member with whom we booked in for the Celtic Sauna Ritual. On being told where to rendez-vous with our sauna master ahead of the commencement of the Ritual, I asked if one was to address him as “Master”. Without batting an eyelid, I was informed that I could certainly try…but I may find it difficult to keep a straight face, as he would be wearing a sarong.

I should mention, however, that this Celtic Sauna ritual takes place in a beautiful log cabin sauna with a stunning river view, it does indeed involve a sarong and a mindfulness meditation and it comes highly recommended by me.

Elsewhere in the stunning riverside Thermal Village, you can find numerous outdoor jacuzzis, hot tubs, a fire pit, elegantly appointed sculptures, a hydrotherapy pool, steam room, aroma grotto, laconium, heated loungers and Snow Cabin.

You could (and we did) easily spend a full day just enjoying the different thermal experiences, reading on the loungers, taking in the view of the river and refreshing in the sumptuous, newly-opened Orangerie space, which serves up delicious light lunch items and drinks to spa guests. There’s also a gym with personal training services, golf and tennis for those more actively inclined.

The Spa, adjacent to the Thermal Village, offers a wide programme of treatments, from massage therapy and a full beauty menu to packages for couples. I opted for the Quartz Bed signature treatment, a new addition to the Spa line-up, and the only MLX Quartz Treatment Bed to the island of Ireland. From Moroccan tea and truffles on arrival, to a full walk-through of the treatment by my therapist, and finishing with a glass of Prosecco, the whole experience was a cocoon of bliss.

After an afternoon of pampering, we were then able to go directly up to our room in our robes and take the lift straight up, which deposited us in a spacious, light and classically stylish space.

The room design is under-stated but every possible desire has been catered too – Aromatherapy Associates products in the bathroom, a lavish walk in shower, low level LED lighting in the bathroom and a fully-stocked complimentary mini bar with everything from Galgorm’s own malt beer (Steamin’ Stag!) and soft drinks to oat biscuits and artisan crisps. We had a juliette balcony overlooking the river and thermal village, a huge TV with access to a music library, free WiFi and glossy magazines.

I was almost overwhelmed and considered just eating crisps for dinner overlooking the river, but the promise of the Gin Library in the Conservatory downstairs eventually lured me from my reveries. They have such an extensive variety of gin and corresponding tonics that there are, apparently, 8000 different combinations on offer. I couldn’t try them all in one evening but I did visit the library (it’s an actual room!) to verify their existence. I never wanted to leave!

But first we adjourned to dinner in Gillies, the bar and restaurant at the heart of the resort. Fine dining is available in The River Room and Fratellis offers Italian fare, but Gillies seems to be the most popular spot both with hotel guests and many locals who seemed to be there to celebrate family events and birthdays too, so it was a lively and fun spot.

The menu is varied with sections dedicated to the Wok, the Pan and the Grill and we ordered a broad selection of choices to taste them all to be thorough! I can report back that the Potted Duck was sublime: salty, sweet, rich and tangy.

Equally impressive was a seared Rib Eye, perfectly cooked and tender enough to dispense with the need for a steak knife, served up with a piquant Sriracha butter. We were also quite taken with their Monkfish curry, which was filled with fresh produce and an excellent, subtly spiced sauce.

We rounded off the evening in The Conservatory, checking out a few botanical-filled volumes from the Gin Library and enjoying the live entertainment.

Having fallen asleep on the largest king-size bed I have ever laid eyes upon to the sound of the river outside, the morning was equally tranquil with a delectable breakfast in the The River Room. Coffee came in a cafetiere, the orange juice was smooth but freshly squeezed, pastries were buttery and light and the choice of hot breakfast items extended from Eggs Benedict, to more adventurous fish dishes and the traditional River Grill. I can’t go past a sausage I am afraid to say, and these certainly did not disappoint.

The early morning sunlight on the river was a beguiling sight to enjoy and it was difficult to leave, but, as with arrival, reception and concierge staff made this saddest of tasks utterly seamless and relaxing, even driving our car round to meet us at the front door. The resort staff at every level deserve so much credit for the multitudinous ways in which they make each guest feel welcome and ensure you are relaxed.

Twenty-four hours in Galgorm does not feel like long enough to fully discover every aspect of the resort but it somehow conspires to bend time to make you feel as relaxed as if you had been away for a fortnight.

For more information and booking, visit: www.galgorm.com

Maeve O’Lynn was a guest of Galgorm Resort and Spa

Photos by Galgorm Resort and Spa and Maeve O’Lynn

W[r]ite Noise blogger Maeve O’Lynn ditched the pop-up tent and waterproof this summer for a chic, eco-friendly yurt overlooking the wild coast in Big Sur, California…

As tickets for Glastonbury and Bestival go on sale for next year, we who embrace the Cherie City lifestyle have to make some very serious decisions. Can we sacrifice basic hygiene in order to see heaps of bands in just a few days? How will we ever keep our clothes dry and avoid contracting festival trench foot when you have to spend all day in wet wellies? Does the fun on offer make up for the high likelihood of having your head trod upon by a cider swilling festival zombie careering into your tent at 4am?

Maeve O'Lynn

We’re seriously over the camping thing. Unless it’s the kind of camping you do in Treebones Resort, Big Sur, California. The whole concept of Big Sur is wonderful. We’re talking miles and miles and miles of wilderness, so remote that you can’t get radio reception in the car, your phone goes off the grid and the only public internet access for literally miles around is located at the Henry Miller Library. And it will probably be broken. This long stretch of California wilderness is full of unspoiled acres of gorgeous trees, dramatic cliffs, crashing waves, uninterrupted panoramic views of the pacific ocean, star spangled velvety blue skies unobscured by streetlights and beautiful sandy beaches.

Big Sur

There are a number of options of places to stay. You can try Plaskett Creek State Campsite. I seriously would not recommend this should you value your life – it is the only place I have been to where a scary man standing guard over a fleet of massive motorbikes told us we’d better ‘turn back round’ and I had to perform the most frightening three point turn on a narrow dirt road with trees on one side and aforementioned bikes on the other. You can check yourself in (and check your mind out) at the Esalen Institute where wealthy new agers partake in a bewildering variety of workshops on such topics as gender studies, shamanism and somatic studies before getting naked and piling into the hot springs together. There are also a number of other highly priced hotels, motels and cabins for hire because one thing is for certain – with the area’s building restrictions and national park status accommodation options are sparse and much in demand with visitors from San Francisco to the north and Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara and LA to the south.

Yurt

So back to Treebones. The concept? Yurts. Beautiful, roomy, airy yurts. Resplendent with huge double beds, your own personal gas fire place that operates on a timer so you can leave it on when you go to sleep, luxuriantly comfortable sofa, wash basin and mirror and glass dome through which you can look at the stars as you fall asleep. If you splash a little more cash you can upgrade your stay to an ocean view yurt which offers unparalleled views from your private terrace of the sea below, which stretches on for miles and miles into the horizon and all the way to Japan.

yurt

Breakfast is granola and waffles and fruit and coffee served up in the lodge, where you can also have delicious dinners, play board games, read novels and research hiking trails you might want to go on during the day. Bathrooms are beside the lodge and are immaculately clean and fully stocked with eco-friendly Method hand soaps and air freshener. The incredibly friendly owners will happily throw your bags on the back of a golf cart and whizz them round to your yurt for you from the carpark down below and then all you have to do is relax and then relax some more. When you get sick of the lodge there is a small but perfectly formed outdoor swimming pool, an organic flower and vegetable garden to explore, a teepee to hang out in and a treehouse/nest perched on the edge of a cliff you can kick back in.

Sure Big Sur with its lack of street lights, perilously windy roads with no safety guard to stop you plummeting to your doom on the rocks below might not be the best place for clubs and people watching. But after you gorge on chipotle chicken, a huge homemade slice on chocolate fudge cake, drink a bottle of merlot and watch the stars for a while all you want to do is fall asleep in front of the fire listening to the gentle sounds of the seals barking on the rocks below. Bliss. Now this is the way to do festival camping – they even have bands! Check out the events listing at the Henry Miller Library, Big Sur.

Maeve O’Lynn is a Belfast-based journalist, academic and Creative Director of W[r]ite Noise.

Maeve O’Lynn

Galgorm Resort and Spa, Northern Ireland

Guest blog – Maeve O’Lynn: Gone Glamping…