A Soothing Get-Away at Frimley

It was hubby’s birthday and with not much time on our hands I had to find a get-away that was accessible, relaxing, had a gorgeous environment and most importantly a restaurant to dine for. A little research uncovered the Frimley Hall Hotel.

We found it tucked away in a top notch residential area in Camberley.  As we drove into the drive-way, a gorgeous ivy-clad Victorian building came into view overlooking 4-acres of well tended wooded gardens. Compared to the grandeur of the architecture, the reception area was surprisingly intimate, but the receptionist was ready with a smile and the amazingly ornate wood carved staircase added a fantastic sense of grandeur.

Our home for the night was room 211, a compact yet elegant en-suite room which came with a view over the gardens and in the morning the high windows let in lashings of fabulous sun light. At tea time we took high tea of scones, jam and cream in the darkly decorated sitting room with an extraordinarily high ceiling, period d?cor and a collection of superbe pieces of inlaid mahogany furniture – we made ourselves at home and enjoyed a spot of gracious living in a gracious room.  Fimley Hall comes with its own spa just next door. I booked an Aroma Facial and back massage.

At the spa gentle music, easy lighting and a sense of calm set the scene. My shoulders were already beginning to relax even before I lay down in the treatment room. Susanne Summers runs the Vital Spa Centre and she was my therapist for the hour. Apparently my shoulders and back were far too tense for comfort but I could help myself by breathing more deeply. As for my skin, mostly fine but lumpy around the jaw area and this was entirely due to diet. Susanne used a series of Decleor products to polish and rejuvenate my skin and most pleasurably to massage my face. I had no idea a face could be massaged but it was quite simply a divine experience. Dinner, a three course meal reasonably priced at just £27 a head (without wine) was enjoyable, but we took port and coffee in the romantically lit sitting room - an ideal setting for the arrival of the chocolate birthday cake I had pre-ordered. 

It was only a 24 hour get-away, but a comfortable bed, a relaxing attractive environment and a superb massage was just the tonic we needed.  

Macdonald Hotel and Spa Frimley Hall Hotel
Camberley, Surrey, GU15 2BG  
Located off the M3 near Camberley town centre
Tel: 0870 400 8224  98 newly refurbished rooms
Doubles from £126

Vital spa centre offeres 17 metre indoor swimming pool, gym, sauna, steam room and 5 beauty room using  Decleor treatments.Nearby attractions: Legoland, Windsor Castle, Ascot Racecourse,Wisley Royal Horticultural Society Gardens and Virginia Water

21 October 2005