Manchester’s Finest Mummy To Be Michelle Eagleton takes a trip outside of Manchester to investigate the ‘babymoon’…
With just 6 weeks to go until the impending arrival of Baby Eagleton it seemed the right time to try out what the North West has to offer in the way of relaxation for Mums (and Dads) to be. Already parents to a chatterbox daughter (aged 4 going on 40) we were struggling to find any time this pregnancy to unwind, sit back and contemplating 3 becoming 4, so Titanic Spa in Huddersfield felt like the perfect place to recharge the batteries and enjoy a mini ‘babymoon’.
Babymoon? For those not yet in the know babymoons are fast becoming a popular trend amongst couples itching for one last child free getaway to bond before their bundle of joy arrives and all hell breaks loose (I can say that having experienced childbirth once before).
We arrived at the idyllic spa, set amongst the lush greenery and rolling hills of Huddersfield, to be greeted by a friendly team of staff who if you ignored their Yorkshire accent wouldn’t be out of place in America for their warm smiles and helpful service. Gaby on reception made us instantly feel special and must have sensed we were a frazzled and stressed out pair as she led us to the restaurant to get us a drink and go through the delights we had in store.
Once upon a time Titanic Spa was a working mill but you would never guess from the inside as it has been transformed into a modern stylish spa, and is home to plush apartments. Our haven for the next 24 hours was a beautifully decorated boutique style boudoir with walls adorned in a sumptuous silver and pink flock, a walk in wardrobe Carrie Bradshaw would be proud of and a huge TV that managed to impress my high tech loving hubby.
We weren’t here to spend the stay in our room though, as delightful as it was, we were here to indulge in some well-needed treatments.
I’d opted for the Elemis Mum to Be (£70) which was an hour and 10 minutes of a specially adapted massage. Suitable for any ladies past their first trimester to relieve tension in the back and alleviate swelling in the hands and feet…(perfect for my growing ‘cankles’)!
To say it was relaxing is an understatement. I was cocooned in a comfy beanbag bed, which enveloped around my round shape and had me sink into serene state. My therapist Lucy worked her way around my body paying attention to my back, arms, legs, feet, hands and even my bump. By the time she had finished all the tension had rolled away and I felt I could have fallen asleep there and then. Thankfully the relaxation room was just a short walk along the corridor where I could prolong the heavenly feeling amongst other robed visitors in a quiet zone with beds and beanbags to chill out on or drift off.
My ‘Spa Virgin’ husband had been wary of the treatment I suggested he try, the Elemis Body and Face Sensation (£80). As a man who once tried fake tan only to scrub it off his face the next day using my body exfoliator and complain about the rash he broke out in, he has shied away from any kind of beauty products or metrosexual fads ever since. For nearly an hour he enjoyed a massage targeted at problem areas then was treated to a taster version of an Elemis facial. He came out with skin glowing and gushing about the experience, even proclaiming ‘we should do this more often’.
Like any woman I intend to keep him to his word!
Other highlights of our stay included the tasty 2 course evening meal part of the overnight package plus the use of Titanic’s facilities such as the swimming pool, gym and heat and ice experience (off limits to pregnant ladies due to health and safety but a great place for the ‘other halves’ to unwind). Titanic Spa is also fab for celeb spotting as famous fans include Coronation Street’s Michelle Keegan, Hollyoaks’ Lisa Jayne Dunn and as we found out during our stay, Loose Women’s Denise Welch.
VERDICT: Whilst cynics may say a spa break can be expensive – for us, and many other expectant parents, the quality time spent together without thinking about work, phones or emails is priceless. Totally recommended.
Titanic Spa, Low Westwood Lane, Linthwaite, Huddersfield HD7 5UN
