REVIEW: Embrace the restorative powers of nature at iconic Sherwood Forest spa

Just a short drive from Mansfield and Worksop is the stunning Aqua Sana Forest Spa, an oasis of calm and tranquility located at Center Parcs. And believe me when I say it is the setting which truly sets this place apart.

There is something special about the calming and restorative powers of nature and this spa has been carefully designed to incorporate the beauty of the iconic forest with state of the art luxury spa facilities.

From a forest view relaxation room and terrace to hot tubs surrounded by nature and even a treetop sauna with a birds eye view of the forest – every detail has been designed to encapsulate this special setting and make it feel just a little more magical that your average spa day.

In fact approaching the spa felt more like discovering a hidden sanctuary in the forest but with all the technology and luxury of a modern day award winning facility.

I was visiting the spa with my husband to test out one of the brand new signature day spa packages – one of three new ‘Signature Forest Spa Days’, each featuring a 50-minute hero treatment from one of its luxury spa partners.

We were booked in for the Signature Forest Spa Day with [ comfort zone ], Tranquillity Wellbeing Ritual massage. The package included lunch and a glass of prosecco along with use of the facilities from 9.30am to 5pm.

With an impressive 25 spa experience rooms to try, set across two levels, it really feels like you need a full day to truly explore and appreciate everything on offer.

The serene spa experience rooms are all set around an open-air courtyard pool, in which we enjoyed swimming a few laps whilst enjoying the glorious sunshine.

Stand out rooms included the treetop sauna where we happily sweated whilst watching squirrels scale the huge pine trees, the aromatic salt and herbal infused steam rooms, foot spas and multiple experience showers.

And if you fancy curling up with a good book or indulging in a nap there’s plenty of zen-filled spaces to choose from. Highlights included the sweet slumber area with heated beds and the deep slumber area – who knew water beds were so comfy?

Whilst excitedly making our way from room to room we also decided to take advantage of one of the free spa wellbeing sessions. Throughout the day a number of free wellbeing sessions take place from sounds baths to skincare sessions.

We opted for a sleep meditation session in the forest meditation room – a guided meditation with sound bath, stunning essential oils and heated muscle rub all whilst watching the soothing changing images on the ceiling moving from day to night.

After our snooze filled slumber session we were ready to refuel and enjoyed lunch in the bright and airy Vitalé Café Bar with a glass of prosecco – a real treat of a touch.

We both opted for the Moroccan chicken, chargrilled pepper and spinach focaccia served with a lovely crisp salad. The food was tasty and filling and the menu of included options available with the package were varied from pasta dishes to salads and sharing platters.

Staff were a real stand out feature throughout the day – friendly, warm and attentive. It was also nice to see staff checking pool chemical levels and ensuring areas were spotlessly clean. Last but certainly not least was our treatment – timed perfectly at the end of the day to ensure we had dried out (nothing worse then having a treatment in cold, damp swimwear)

The Tranquillity Wellbeing Ritual massage was billed as a deeply relaxing face and body massage ritual, designed to nurture your skin, soothe tension, and restore inner balance.

The treatment did not disappoint, it felt like so much more than just a massage and facial and instead like a complete reset. My lovely therapist Yulia took so much care to ensure it was deeply relaxing and when I emerged from my almost dream like state I can honestly say the results were obvious. Tension and muscle aches had vanished and my skin felt soft, nourished, and had that lit from within radiance.

We left feeling relaxed, revitalised and googling ‘best places to to buy a water bed.’

• Kate Mason visited the Aqua Sana Forest Spa at Sherwood Forest on a ‘Signature Forest Spa Day with [ comfort zone ], Tranquillity Wellbeing Ritual massage – the spa days include spa access between 9:30am-5pm with lunch and a glass of prosecco at Vitalé Café Bar plus the 50 minute treatment. Prices for the package start from £189 per person. For more information click here