Weekend swim break: Yorkshire Spa Retreat, North Yorkshire

Digital editor Abigail Whyte had a birthday to remember at this natural spa retreat in the North York Moors

The speed at which I got out of my clothes and into my swimming costume when I arrived at Yorkshire Spa Retreat is testament to how excited I was to try out the beautiful wild swimming pond. This is a place I’d so been looking to visiting ever since booking it to celebrate my 40th birthday with a group of friends. 

I first read about the retreat in an Outdoor Swimmer article (April 2023 issue) about natural swimming ponds, and it featured this very one created by Ellicar Gardens. As soon as I saw that sparkling clean water flanked by waterlilies, I just knew it was the perfect place to celebrate my 40th, indulging my love of wild swimming – with a bit of pampering thrown in! 

Yorkshire Spa Retreat is tucked between the North York Moors and the Howardian Hills, surrounded by hamlets villages and towns of golden sandstone, rivers, waterfalls and heather-clad moorland.

The accommodation

Surrounding the spa is a variety of elegant lodges with modern interiors, sleeping two to six people. All of the lodges have a barbecue and some have an outdoor hot tub.

Our lodge (The Blacksmiths) had a spacious master bedroom with an ensuite shower room (fitted with a rain shower, I hasten to add!), and a large open plan living area with comfy sofas and French doors opening out onto a decking area. 

All of the lodges are a short walk from the spa garden. No one bats an eyelid as you roam the grounds in your fluffy robe and flip flops (provided by the retreat), but you can hear lots of giggles at the mini robot lawnmowers perpetually on grass-cutting duty.

The swimming

The jewel of the crown of the retreat is the wild swimming pond in the spa garden. The pond has a shallow swim zone at 13m long X 4.5m wide, surrounded by a ‘regeneration zone’ filled with aquatic plants that filter the water. 

It’s a joy to swim among the dragonflies, watching bees dart between the rudbeckias and salvias, and swallows swooping to feed. The clarity and feel of the water is just gorgeous – I couldn’t resist going in again and again and again.

And what a treat to hop in and out of the hot spa facilities between the cold swims, such as the Himalayan salt sauna, the herbal steam room and hydrotherapy pool. This hot pool had the strongest jets I’ve ever known in a jacuzzi – they gave my shoulders and glutes a good pummeling! And I loved the Dome chill out area, furnished with cosy loungers and blankets. Each lounger can be curtained off so you can read, relax and slumber in peace. Perhaps even order yourself a Prosecco from the bar.

Eating

A welcome hamper is provided for guests containing a generous selection of local produce, including tea, coffee, crackers, chutney, chocolate, even a tub of Yorkshire popcorn! Each lodge has a kitchen and barbecue, so a trip to a nearby deli or farm shop will provide you with all you need should you wish to cook up a feast.

The on-site restaurant, The Dome, rustles up healthy Buddha bowls as well as hearty Yorkshire fare, and its bar serves great cocktails, too. 

The market towns of Helmsley and Malton (the food capital of Yorkshire) are a short drive away, each boasting a variety of independent cafes, pubs and tearooms for you to gorge on local delights.

Best of the rest

With the York North Moors and Howardian Hills on your step, not to mention the Yorkshire coast with gems like Robin Hood’s Bay to explore, you’ll find yourself with plenty of things to do during your stay. 

During our weekend we went on a waterfall walk to Mallyan Spout (of course we had a dip there), hiked on Spaunton Moor and visited Helmsley, which has a walled garden and ruined castle to explore. 

Yorkshire Spa Retreat has e-bikes to hire should you wish to take in the sights on two wheels. The retreat also hosts weekly Yoga and Pilates classes and offers a range of spa treatments, should you fancy some pampering. 

Our favourite thing

After a swim in the pond, reclining on a sun lounger with a Prosecco, watching swallows swoop to catch insects on the wing.

Find out more at yorkshire-spa-retreat.co.uk