THE MISSION A quest to unearth a hidden gem. Could the rumours be true? Is there really an award-winning day spa hidden on an A-road between Huddersfield and Dewsbury?

USP A family business in a lovingly-converted former family home, where super-friendly staff oozes West Yorkshire warmth and the locals can’t resist returning. Winner of Best Day Spa at the British Beauty and Spa awards last year, and on the shortlist again in 2008.

AMBIENCE All of the clocks at Eastthorpe have been deliberately stopped, while mobile phones, Blackberries and anything else that beeps are banned. In their absence, white-robed visitors pad around the beautiful gardens or curl up in the lounge reading Hello! between treatments, their faces a picture of bleary-eyed relaxation.

The only element of the day that felt slightly rushed was the use of the pool, steam box and sauna. This was carefully timed at the start of the day before the pace slowed with mid-morning snacks on the patio, after which everyone dispersed for their various treatments and lounging around sessions.

Background

• Amberspa, Loch Lomond

• The Carrick Spa, Cameron House, Loch Lomond

• Westin Turnberry Resort Spa, Ayrshire, Scotland

• Auchrannie Spa Resort, Isle of Arran

• The Balmoral Spa, The Balmoral, Edinburgh

Background

• Bryn Meadows Hotel Spa, Caerphilly, South Wales

• Lake Vyrnwy Hotel Spa, Powys, Wales

• St Bride’s Spa Hotel, Saundersfoot, Pembrokeshire

• St David's Hotel & Spa, Cardiff

• Celtic Manor, the Usk Valley

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QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE Top notch. From start to finish, Eastthorpe’s staff were incredibly welcoming and down-to-earth, putting one self-conscious client at ease and making the rest of us feel completely at home.

The elegantly-furnished treatment rooms, communal areas and gardens all added to a peaceful, calming day without a hint of the clinical feeling you can get at other spas. Although one of my treatments, the “Space” Tibetan head massage, was a little too light-touch for me, it was extremely pleasant.

A facial and aromatherapy massage were both excellent, removing any memory of a long and arduous drive from London in near-torrential rain.

The spa is an easier drive from Leeds or surrounding west Yorkshire towns. However, for those from further afield or who want a completely restful day at Eastthorpe (complete with a glass or two of fizz) the delightful Old Rectory, a 14th century listed building and home to a wonderful host Angie Lorimer, offers a B&B bargain less than ten minutes walk away.

PRODUCTS My facial involved products from the Swiss range Karin Herzog, which apparently “deliver the essential elements, oxygen, vitamins A and E, water and glucose directly to the skin”, while my therapist Nicola Foleher blended frankincense, geranium and neroli with sweet almond oil to suit my demand for a completely relaxing aromatherapy massage. Other product lines used throughout the spa include Elemis, Thalgo, Ayurvedics, Jessica and Mama Mio.

FOOD Plentiful. Half-day packages begin or end with lunch, and include mid-morning refreshment or afternoon tea. Full day extravaganzas include all three, and participants should be careful to avoid arriving in tight-fitting clothing that they may struggle to leave in. A large, warm croissant plus a delicious juice made from apple, mango, honey and ginger was the 11am treat. Lunch, served in the orangery and complete with pink champagne, was a buffet of organic breads, quiches and salads complete with salmon, chicken and cheese. Two hours later, just in case you weren’t feeling indulgent enough, there is tea and homemade cake.

IN-CROWD Eastthorpe inspires serious loyalty – 80 per cent of those through the front door these days are repeat customers. On the day the Times visited, most had local connections, although that included a family of women – mother, daughters and sister-in-law, who had travelled from across the country for a get-together. It’s a cosy place where other clients included a new mum who had left her baby for the first time to get a few hours peace, young couples, and spa novices using their Eastthorpe gift vouchers.

WALLET WATCH Full-day packages including treatments and lunch cost around £185 mid-week and slightly more on Saturdays. A DIY day, on top of which you must pay for at least two treatments, costs £70 or £80. Half day packages cost around £125-£140, with DIY half-days at £65-75 excluding treatments. The Old Rectory costs £50pppn for bed and breakfast, and dinner is available at extra cost.

NEED TO KNOW Eastthorpe Hall, Huddersfield Road, Mirfield, West Yorkshire WF14 8AE (01924 498507; www.eastthorpe.co.uk). The Old Rectory, Pinfold Lane, Mirfield, West Yorkshire, WF14 9PS (01924 489 070; www.theoldrectory.org).

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