If you don’t know Ashdown Park, it’s a four star luxury hotel in the very heart of historic Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. The hotel itself is in a Grade II listed, 19th century Victorian mansion with Gothic elements largely built in the 1860s and later expanded in the 1920s. The main building and the estate have a fascinating past and the Country Club and Spa sit within the grounds and only a minute’s walk from the main building.
Ashdown Forest is a large area of open heathland and forest that used to be a medieval hunting forest. By the 13th century, it was enclosed and you may still come across place names indicative of the gates that once existed into the enclosure (like Chelwood Gate). It is also famously the home of Winnie the Pooh. With fantastic views, wonderful wildlife and lots of walking opportunities, it is a great place to escape for a while and lose yourself in nature.
In search of a little Sussex wellbeing
If you’re in search of a little time to yourself and a little self care, start your day with a walk on Ashdown Forest and finish in the sublime Ashdown Park Spa. You won’t regret it.
Local walks
Apart from carpets of bluebells, bright yellow gorse or the mauves of heather, and heady views across to the South Downs, if you want more purpose when you walk on Ashdown Forest, you can search out waterfalls, an evocative and abandoned Edwardian garden, a windmill, and, of course, a bear and his friends:
The Ashdown Park Country Club and Spa
After your walk, head to the spa. Ashdown Park Forest Spa offer a range of beauty treatments, massage therapies and body treatments and they have recently partnered with two innovative luxury UK brands, OSKIA and Ishga, both of which shine a spotlight on the art of science-based skincare.
We were invited to try their OSKIA Thermal Harmony treatment. Our hour long treatment included hot stones, a face mask and then a massage using melted oils from a natural OSKIA candle which smelt devine and included soya bean, bee’s wax and coconut oil (and is paraben free, of course).
But to take a step back, having been out exploring the forest on a gloriously sunny afternoon, we arrived a little disheveled and not quite in the glamorous style we’d have liked. This was not a problem, and despite the fact we looked like we’d been threw a hedge backwards (mainly because we had), the staff could not have been nicer or more helpful. There is a subterranean feel as you pass the pool and head to the treatment rooms and then bliss, it’s time to relax.
An hour goes all too quickly here as your aches and pains are soothed, your skin softened and cleansed and your stress slowly washes away. The OSKIA candle smells divine and you get to keep the candle so you can carry on using it at home. When you’re finished, there is no need to rush, and in your robe and slippers, you can head to the pool or the Brasserie for a little more relaxation time as your treatment continues to work its magic. The Brasserie does finish service at 5.30 pm but don’t worry, head on over to the hotel for a light bite in their lounge or even a full dinner in their restuarant. You could even stay the night.
Our treatment was courtesy of Ashdown Park but costs £120 for an hour. Hand and foot treaments start from as little as £20 and there is a delightful menu of treatments to choose from.
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