By Katrina Doran

There's something about being somewhere warm and cosy when the wind is blowing a gale outside that fills a gal with such glee. Sitting in the sauna at the Spa at the Slieve Donard is one of those gleeful moments and on a windy Wednesday in January I had the blissful experience of spending the morning being pampered, and indulging in the Winter Rescue Spa Experience package.

The Espa spa at the Slieve Donard is a world-class experience and sometimes you do need to pinch yourself and remember you're in Newcastle County Down! I went to the spa with my mum and aunt and it's a great way to spend some quality time with 'the girls'.

At the Slieve Donard there is the main pool with unisex heat experiences including the most amazing Jacuzzi with views over the beach with the Mourne Mountains.

When you check in for a spa treatment there are also separate heat experiences in each changing area so you can relax in the jacuzzi, steam room or Jacuzzi with no make-up on and hair full of oil without any chance of bumping into any boys!

The Winter Spa Experience starts off with sea salt scrub for the whole body then into the shower with a mitt to rinse off the salt. A quick dry with warm towels and then you pop back up on the treatment couch for a relaxing full body massage. The facial element is blended into the body massage so the facial mask is left on while the massage is completed. Nearly two hours later I floated out into the relaxation room and chilled out with my mum and aunt in the sauna letting the oils really soak into our skins.

We got ourselves together and went for lunch in the Lighthouse Lounge, which was absolutely delicious! I have to say the service of the staff was excellent and we were even treated to a cute little traybake with our tea while we were waiting on our lunch. To a Sugahfix gal – this is the ultimate customer service – a mini brownie while I wait? Yes please!!

We went in the morning – rounding off the treatments with lunch but when I go again I'd make sure I had enough time for a swim in the main pool first and then have lunch before the treatments so we could lounge around in the heat experiences in the afternoon to really make the most of the whole day.

Hastings Spa at the Slieve Donard.  To book just call 028 4372 6166.