The doggie day spa experience for pet-perfect pampering

What you need to know about Sawcliffe Manor - Natural Spa

It's important to know that everything about Sawcliffe Manor is unique. The country house hotel has previously featured on Channel 4’s Four in a Bed competition, and invites guests to stay in a choice of B&B suites within the main house and across the historic family farm.

The Natural Spa is also one of a kind. Set within the walled gardens, it's largely natural and off-grid, and you pre-book private spa sessions to enjoy for two- to three-hours. The space is handcrafted in wood by local craftsmen - there are no chemicals or electricity, just fresh water and the incredible antiseptic and healing qualities of wood.

Experiences include a soak in a hand-filled wood fired larch wood tub, an Estonian Iglu-sauna, as well as treatments like their Cleopatra style milk and calendula flower copper hot tub.

The dog-friendly spa session

The dog-friendly spa session is an example of how the spa thinks outside the box when it comes to giving people what they want - and they want time out with their pets. The spa day costs from £95 per person and includes:

A Cleopatra Milk and Flower Hot Tub Ritual each

Natural doggie cosmetics for your pet

Refreshments

Two hours use of the spa facilities between 11am - 1pm or 2pm - 4pm

What you get on your spa day

Take time to enjoy the Cleopatra Milk and Flower Hot Tub Ritual, which simulates Cleopatra, Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt’s, famous milk baths, except that they use cow’s milk, where she is said to have used ass’s milk.

The lactic acid in milk can act as a gentle peel for the skin, promoting cell renewal and hydration. They combine the bath with essential oils and flower petals, all placed in a copper tub, which is said to improve circulation.

They also add Himalayan salt foot baths into the experience, Moroccan Beldi soap exfoliating scrubs (made from Argan oil) and bentonite clay face masks for a true top to toe experience.

Interestingly, Bentonite clay has been used as a detoxifying skin treatment since Mesopotamian times and their Iglu-sauna is also from Estonia, home of sauna culture. As with all things here, their sauna is something to behold - an iglu craft sauna, which was made for the spa and shipped to them. Apparently the Beckham's have one in their garden as well.

What your dog gets on your spa day

While you're bathing, dogs enjoy their own ‘paw-mpering’ experience. They spend time in a safe area with cosy sheepskin and enjoying natural doggie cosmetics like lovely fur sprays with essential oils, nose and paw balm, and chews and treats made from natural ingredients to keep their teeth clean and their stomachs happy.

They say: "Generally our spa is all natural and available only for private use. This means you can book in with your dog and not have to worry about dog-care. You can also come with your family and we’ll adapt it to your kid’s age, provide safe bathing equipment, adapt the cosmetics to the PH balance of the kids, and even provide a spa play area for little ones. For infants we even have a cosy sheepskin and wooden bouncer and natural baby balms to use on their sensitive skin."