Wellness breaks are such a balm for our souls. Taking a short break from the hectic social whirl of London is always a good idea. I spent a few days the luxury spa resort, Galgorm in Northern Ireland and came back rejuvenated.
A very welcoming smile from David the doorman @GalgormResort in his tweet suit and bowler hat. #discoverni @Lon_Unattached pic.twitter.com/oD7FKHl7UP
— May (@eatcookexplore_) June 16, 2017
Luxurious bedrooms
Galgorm has been expanding over the years with new accommodation added at each phase. Our room is in the newest block. The rooms are large with a massive bed, dressign table and sitting area with a big screen TV which we didn’t have enough time to really use.
Greeting us in the room is a plate of macarons and patisseries. The totally complimentary mini bar is stocked with local beers, soft drinks, local crisps, biscuits and chocolates. Fluffy robes, slippers, aromatherapy toiletries in the bathroom, a walk in shower and deep bath tub is just what you need to cocoon yourself in. The room’s French doors open over the Thermal Spa with views of the river.
Views from around the Galgrom resort and grounds
View of the greenhouse and the dining room from the gardens
The greenhouse at Galgorm where they grow their own herbs and vegetables
The Love Swing – a favourite spot for wedding photos
The Platinum Suite for Weddings and Events
Your ride to the airport in one of these Rolls Royces
Cottages for rent at Galgorm Resort and Spa Northern Ireland
Cosy fireplaces at the Galgorm Resort and Spa Northern Ireland
The River Room Fine Dining Restaurant
There are quite a few dining options at the Galgorm. We had a beautiful dinner at the River Room which offers a fine dining menu. The menu is designed around great local produce and their own home grown herbs and vegetables. We were very impressed with the produce, the quality of the cooking and the beautiful presentation. The amuse bouche and petit fours made the whole meal a fabulous treat.
The wine list has a good selection of old and new world wines and quite a few available by the glass.
The River Room Fine Dining Restaurant
Local Quail, summer truffles and girolles
Scallops, sea aster, globe artichoke, white bean, chorizo
Dry aged beef, foie gras, white asparagus, chard, onion
Beautiful puddings
Breakfast is served at the River Room in the mornings too. A different team is in charge of the food which explains how different the plates look. You can order a hot breakfast and help yourself to the buffet spread. There’s a selection of local cheeses, smoked salmon, fabulous butter and healthy options that include protein balls.
From the buffet, farmhouse butter, farmhouse cured ham and salmon
An Ulster Fry, the ultimate Northern Irish cooked breakfast
French toast with sourdough bread
Healthy Option – Salmon Gravadlax
The Thermal Village at Galgorm
Sitting on the sofa in my hotel room at the Galgorm resort, I was mesmerised by the looping video promo of a hunky chap clad in a sarong and muscle shirt, biceps bulging, doing a dance like movement in the sauna. Intriguing. It’s a bit like watching Aidan Turner in that scene with the scythe in Poldark.
I found out that this is the Finnish Aufguss sauna ritual, one of the activities in the Celtic Sauna. It is part meditation, part relaxation and is meant to be clear your energies. Unfortunately, I missed the session but indulged myself in all the other wonders of the Thermal Spa.
Celtic Sauna – Here’s your Sauna Master for the Finnish Aufguss sauna ritual
Unlike the spas in Europe where clothing is optional, here we get a robe and slippers to wear over our swimsuits. Even though it was early summer, it was a bit rainy and cool. The robe was a nice touch.
I started with swimming a few laps in the indoor pool to work off some of the earlier indulgences. Then warmed up in the snail sauna and braved the snow cabin for about 10 seconds. Box ticked.
Then, I had a soak in the outdoor Beltane Hot Tub, sat for a while in the sauna, inhaled the aromatic steam in the next door steam room and got pummeled by the water jets in the aqua therapy pool. The warm water and all the thermal options make all the tension melt away and it’s the perfect preamble to getting a massage. It’s better if you had a whole day to spend enjoying the facilities of the spa. I had about 2 hours before my spa treatment, more of that below.
It’s better if you had a whole day to spend enjoying the facilities of the spa. I only had about 2 hours before my spa treatment, more of that below.
If you come here as a couple, you can rent one of the private wood fired hot tubs by the river. The glass enclosed cabin at the end of the walkway was the perfect spot for my own yoga practice. You can see and hear the river flowing and the abundant greenery adds to the serenity of the place. Yoga classes are offered on certain days but not the day that we were there.
A view of the hot tubs and the river
A view of the thermal spa and the river Galgorm Resort and Spa Northern Ireland
Next to the indoor pool are these day beds to relax on, after you have a session in the “snail sauna” and the snow cabin (not many people in there). By mid afternoon, the spa gets quite busy with both hotel guests and day spa visitors. Swimming in the pool will be a bit tricky then.
The Thermal Spa
Indoor Pool at Galgorm Resort and Spa
Warming Seats at the Indoor Pool Galgorm Resort and Spa
Private Outdoor Tubs by the river
A quiet room overlooking the river. Great for your yoga practice.
By the river at the Galgorm Resort and Spa
The Beltane Hot Tub and Fire at Galgorm
The Thermal Village at The Galgorm Resort and Spa
Another hot tub !
Gold Quartz therapy and other spa treatments at the Galgorm Spa
Their newest treatment at the spa is the Gold Quartz massage. This treatment is done on a quartz spa table, filled with warmed sand. It starts with the vibrations of a Tibetan singing bowl to clear your energies. The therapist then uses works with a top to toe hot quartz poultice massage. The Quartz bed is tilted to increase your circulation which is supposed to boost your immune system.
The warm sand is meant to reduce pain and relax muscles. During the treatment the Quartz bed is tilted to increase your circulation which is supposed to boost your immune system. After the treatment, you are taken to the dimly lit relaxation room to slowly wake up again.
This bed and therapy were designed by a German man for his mother after he saw that her ailments were better after her warm and sunny beach holidays. So he designed this warm sand bed for treatments. This is probably the only quartz bed in Northern Ireland so the only place to have this treatment.
It certainly was other worldly, I’d highly recommend it.
Beauty and Body Treatments at the spa
I’ll leave you with more images of the resort. You can book your own Luxury Wellness Getaway on their website.
Galgorm Resort and Spa
136 Fenaghy Rd,
Ballymena BT42 1EA
Northern Ireland
EatCookExplore was a guest of Galgorm Resort and Spa
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