A new way to chill out! (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

A new way to chill out!

Looking for a new way to chill out? Louisa Davison visited the Swan Hotel, where a weekend break was complimented by a spot of pampering at the adjoining Swan Sanctuary.

Bibury's Swan Hotel not only has a great place to stay and eat, but also 'beauty and health haven,' The Swan Sanctuary.

The plush hotel, in England's most photographed village, bought up the cottage next door and converted it to a beauty salon. You can drop into the salon for a full day of pampering or just to get eye brows shaped, or make a weekend of it with a stay at the hotel. And yes, men can get massages (named the manly 'sports massage') and facials too.

My mum dropped big hints when told I was having a treatment so she came to do a mother-daughter comparison.

At the Sanctuary we filled out an extensive form asking us about our skin/health issues. Mum didn't enjoy deciding whether she had eye wrinkles, but realised it was necessary to get a tailored treatment. I opted for the Pevonia stones relax massage and Plantomer facial. Mum decided on the anti-free radical facial, Jessica manicure and eye brow shape.

I relaxed on the massage bed whilst Anita, my therapist, took out the warmed stones. They are specially chosen, she explained, for their size and ability to hold the heat.

She asked me to sit up and laid the stones along both sides of my spine up to the neck to relax the muscles in between, and put one under each hand. A large stone was laid on my stomach and abdomen.

Then my legs, arms, feet and hands were massaged with smaller stones. The hands and feet work felt especially good. Then over I turned and Anita checked my back for red areas, a sign of tension.

She picked up on the knotting in my left shoulder and concentrated there during the back massage. The stones are great for deep kneading and unknotting and the heat they give off is incredibly relaxing and comforting.

Next came the facial. I have sensitive skin, prone to eczema, and my face was feeling particularly itchy. Anita explained the Plantomer treatment was designed for sensitive skins.

My face was double cleansed with hot towels (an effective method I've since used at home), exfoliated with steam, followed by a Propolis ampule to sooth and calm. My eyes were covered with gauzes soaked in an anti-stress eye solution containing lettuce and cucumber.

Anita applied the Plantomer lift off mask which set like rubber and left me to it for 15 minutes. I was worried I'd get bored but instead felt so relaxed I fell asleep. The mask was followed by moisturiser. My skin felt calmed with no trace of prickling.

Joining mum back in reception, she waxed lyrical about her treatments and agreed it was totally relaxing. "I lost sense of time," she said (which, to be fair, is nothing unusual!) and added "I feel really invigorated."

Not that she'll appreciate the explanation, but her facial was suitable for mature skins with the same application as mine. Her therapist used a Vitaminic ampule which is good for collagen production - it makes your skin plumper and evens out the wrinkles.

The mask heated up mum's face and contained lavender and minerals. "I could smell peppermint too which cleared my sinuses," she explained. Mum had a shoulder, neck and chest massage while the mask did its work.

Mum's manicure involved a hand and finger massage, filing, pushing back the cuticles, moisturising and buffing. Mum chose lily of the valley cream from a range including milkshake, tangerine & mango and grapefruit. Then the finishing touch of nail varnish - Mum picked Chic, a pearly pink colour.

The brow shape was thankfully quick and painless and lifted mum's eyes, adding to the glowing youthful effect of the facial. A week later text updates told me she was still enjoying the benefits.

Saying goodbye to mum, I hooked up with my husband to enjoy the meal and room at the hotel. The Gallery restaurant walls are adorned with Katherine Lightfoot's oil paintings and the surroundings plush but I find the large room lacking in atmosphere when not full.

The modern European-style food was tasty and imaginative, with a good range of wines, seasonal and local produce on offer. We had tuna and carpaccio for starters, sea bass and duck for mains and crme brulee for sweet.

The superior double room was homely without being twee with plush furnishings, matt colours and individual furniture pieces, maybe not to the taste of those who prefer the uniform anonymity of city hotels.

The bed was king size and bathroom spacious. The complimentary refreshments included The Swan's own water, bottled at source on the hotel grounds. The view was of the River Coln, bridge, courtyard and of course the tourists.

The bar was cosy though lacking in locals or residents, but at least there were seats and no queue at the bar. We were married at The Swan seven years and have fond memories.

We liked the modern tasteful furniture next to more traditional paint work, and the touch of humour with the rubber ducks in the posh marble bathroom of the four poster bedroom.

After a good night's sleep a we enjoyed fruit, cereal, pastries, as well as an English breakfast.

Afterwards we took in the delights of the 'most beautiful village in England,' as recommended by artist William Morris, and wandered the hotel gardens next to the river and trout farm which supplies fish to the restaurant.