Hotel Review

Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa New Forest, Hampshire

As a Brit, I am truly in awe of my country and how many wonderful places there are to visit. There is so much to see and do, so it is really hard to prioritise what to do first, and it is not always the most known places that are the best to visit. So, when planning a weekend away, or something a little longer, don’t just focus on the more well known places, but look a little more off the beaten track.

A few years ago, a place like the New Forest would have been considered a ‘best kept secret’, but over the last few years more and more people have discovered this beautiful National Park. Indeed, the New Forest was voted Number 1 National Park in Europe in the 2022 Trip Advisor Travellers Choice Awards, and came 10th Wordwide. This idyllic destination is only one and a half hour’s away from London by car or train, nestled between Bournemouth and Southampton, and is so unspoilt and tranquil, it makes a perfect place to unwind from the hustle and bustle of modern life.

The New Forest was created as a royal forest by William I (William the Conqueror) in about 1079 for the royal hunt, (as he wanted to hunt mainly deer), and was allegedly created at the expense of more than twenty small hamlets and isolated farmsteads; hence it was ‘new’ in his time as a single compact area. This ‘new’ area now spans 219 square miles and is home to an abundance of wildlife, and is not only a National Park but also a UNESCO Heritage Site. Two little known facts that you can regale your friends with are that this is the only place in the UK where horses have right of way over all motor vehicles, (even on the main roads, so be careful as these animals are truly wild), and the second, is that it is the only place where you can find a New Forest cicada, the only cicada native to Great Britain.

Just outside of the charming village of Brockenhurst, is Carey’s Manor Hotel, with its delightful mix of styles and character and all the class of the converted 19th Century hunting lodge interwoven with more contemporary accommodation and a modern Spa. All the rooms are well appointed and offer guests the choice of character rooms in the Manor House, or more contemporary ones in the modern extension, but whichever you choose, after a hard day trekking through the unspoilt countryside (or in my case soaking in the Spa), there is a warm welcome waiting for you back at Carey’s Manor.

The New Forest is worth a visit in its own right, but when you can add in fine dining and the lure of a luxury Spa, the mix is surely irresistible?

The SenSpa is not merely an added extra for hotels guests, it is a destination in its own right, with numerous treatments and an outstanding hydrotherapy suite. The SenSpa is an authentic Thai Spa with extensive facilities which cater for your total wellbeing, as it provides relaxation for the mind as well as the body. At the centre of the Spa is the 14 metre ozone treated pool, perfect for swimming or just splashing around in, and at one end tall glass doors afford you views of the Zen Garden, which, if it wasn’t the middle of February, would have been perfect for relaxing in. Off this pool, for those who are using the Spa, is the hydrotherapy suite. Entry is via a smart-band which unlocks the door to a huge spa pool.

Water has many relaxing and recuperative powers, and here in this large warm bath they are all brought together. You can recline on the underwater benches and be gently massaged by the bubble jets, have your neck and shoulders pummeled by the water jets, or have your legs drilled by narrow water jets (my personal favourite), and stand in an almost circular ‘whirlpool’ Jacuzzi, and, being the ever diligent reviewer, I opted to test all of the above and left the pool with a calmer disposition and a considerably less knotted body!

A final mention must go to the ‘whirlpool’, which also provides your daily upper body work out for your arms, as you really do need to hang on to stop yourself from being bodily pushed out by the force of the jets!

Having tired myself out being massaged by the water, my next decision was to either choose the roomy herbal sauna or the steam room with a central crystal, and having seen so many films where energy crystals wreak havoc on the world, took the safe option and opted for the sauna! The additional benefit of it being herbal is that it enhances the revitalising and detoxifying properties, and the fragrance is nice too!

After being in such a lovely contented place I opted to pass on the Experience Showers which include a Tropical Storm one, a Health Shower (which has jets targeting different parts of the body) and the one that filled me with dread, the Ice Room, which I am reliably informed has a thunder and lightning shower and a tub that you can upend and douse yourself with ice cold water, but as I was already too warm and relaxed for such ‘torture’, I didn’t even open the door!

My journey through this tardis of treatment rooms finally took me past a Rasul and Hamman Thermal Treatment Room to my final point of call, a relaxing Tepidarium, where I stretched out on a heated ceramic lounger and drifted away whilst looking at the star-studded roof – a perfect way to end a perfect day. With all this relaxation I didn’t have time for a spa treatment which was a shame as there is an extensive range on offer, but be warned, do book early to avoid disappointment as they are extremely popular.

‘Foodies’ are also well catered for at Carey’s Manor with a range of restaurants to choose from, including the fine dining Cambium restaurant, which provides modern British cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, the less formal French Bistro, Le Blaireau, serving classic French dishes in authentic Parisian déco, to the Zen Garden which is situated adjacent to the Spa and during the day provides smoothies, snacks and Afternoon Tea for the Spa goers in their dressing gowns, but by night transforms to a chic Thai restaurant.

It is easy to see why the New Forest and Carey’s Manor have received so many accolades, as from the moment you arrive at both you just feel more relaxed. Carey’s Manor is a perfect place to stay when visiting the New Forest as it is so well situated to access all it has to offer, and alongside the location it also has a relaxing spa and fine dining. It caters for everyone from couples to families, from those looking for a base to walk and cycle through the miles of breathtaking scenery, to those just looking for a relaxing pampered break, and it is this relaxed welcoming feeling which remains with you long after you leave, and will entice you back time after time.

Careys Manor Hotel & Senspa Telephone: 01590 624467 Email: reservations@careysmanor.com www.careysmanor.com