A slice of heaven in Cavan

REVIEW

Last week I was once again reminded of how blessed we are in this county to have the Farnham Estate on our doorstep. I was asked to try out their Twilight Tranquillity Spa Package and write a review. Personally, I love an experience tale and I like them to include a few cons along the way, but honestly, I am struggling to find any; the experience was bliss from start to finish.

Upon arrival my husband and I were immediately given our robes and slippers and were shown where to go. I had been to the Farnham Estate spa a few times before therefore I thought I knew what to expect, however the place has completely changed. Anybody looking for a bit of home decor inspiration should head into the changing rooms and take note of the calm, relaxing and neutral colours. Furthermore, I loved the non-chaotic layout leaving a large open space, because nobody likes to change with several others milling around them.

We poked our heads into the Vista Lounge before making our way down to the lower level to what I consider to be the main event; the infinity hydrotherapy pool. Upon stepping in, I headed straight for the outdoor section, and despite the chill of the day, the warm water felt like a big bear hug.

Looking out at the rolling green hills, with my arms resting on the poolside and legs lazily kicking beneath, I was transported away from the stress of the day.

People from beyond the Breffni county visiting the spa have in the past commented on how lucky I am to have the hotel so close by, and it's true. In those moments, I began to appreciate the fields and woodlands, the cool air and even the grey clouds too.

I have been in this pool during winter and summer, and no matter the time of year it is always a joy. It's a great place to visit with guests, especially from abroad, as it gives a wonderful snapshot of Cavan's scenic countryside and hospitality.

There are abundant sun loungers both inside and outside, however I didn't avail of them that day. After the pool, I went straight to the spa facilities, stopping for a refreshing cup of grapefruit infused water along the way.

Feeling a slight chill after stepping out of the water, I decided to avail of some artic freshness by grabbing some ice from the fountain and rubbing it on my skin in a small test of my endurance, before jumping straight into the Finnish Sauna which was conveniently located beside the fountain. I love the wooden smell and the dry heat which was between eighty to one hundred degrees Celsius.

We spent about an hour lazily roaming around each spa facility, relaxing and enjoying the different sensations. My favourite experience in this area was the Aroma Steam Bath, a small inhalation room with individual heated seats and walls, the space is infused with steam and essential oils.

Fully baked at this stage, I wandered around the Kneipp Walk, experiencing the sensation of hot and cold water on my feet, and later enjoyed the gentle heat of the Laconium. This area was quite busy however not uncomfortably so; there was always space in each experience we visited. There were people of all ages in the spa including couples and friend groups chatting and enjoying each other's company, and people savouring the experience alone. I believe the spa is a great day out with or without an occasion, alone or with company. It's suited to those of any age or gender, although families should note it is an adult-only spa.

In what felt like no time at all, it was time to make our way back up the stairs for our treatments. I had opted for a back massage, something which I hoped would help my back which is slouched over a laptop on most days. That it certainly did.

My therapist's name was Erika, and I'm not sure if I got extremely lucky or if all the Farnham Estate's therapists are this kind, yet so professional. She took me down the stunning corridor of treatment rooms and into one, where I was given the option of orange or lavender massage oil. I opted for the sweet orange and geranium bourbon Balancing Body Oil by the brand 'Ground'.

After slightly heating the liquid, my therapist asked me to inhale it deeply in a short breathing exercise before the massage began. It was divine. To my delight, the back massage became a full body massage with expert hands delivering just the perfect amount of pressure. Just as I was drifting off to sleep, the massage finished and I walked in a satisfied daze to the relaxation room. There I met with my husband again and we were both treated to the most delicious chocolate gelato I have ever tasted.

We skipped from one relaxation room to the next, picking up a green tea along the way, before finally resting in the Vista Lounge which is home to a breathtaking view of the greenery surrounding the hotel. I picked up a copy of BBC's Countryfile magazine and nestled into one of the loungers overlooking the scene. After an insightful read on the role of secret service pigeons during the second world war, it was the time for us to make our way to Maxwell's Restaurant for the next segment of this wonderful experience.

The package includes a two-course meal, an excellent idea in my opinion, as you don't have to think about cooking when you get home after a day of relaxation. At 7pm, we were seated at what I considered to be one of the best tables in the place overlooking the estate's well-maintained gardens.

The menu was one of those where there were so many options, I didn't know what to choose. I eventually opted for the confit duck croquette for starter and the chargrilled chicken breast as a main course, with cauliflower cheese on the side. The starter came with a hefty portion of three croquettes with shredded duck meat inside partnered with wasabi aioli, celeriac and apple slaw; my only complaint was that I wasn't able to finish it by myself (to my husband's delight). The main meal came with abundant vegetables which is always a bonus for me; confit sweetcorn, tender stem broccoli, crushed butternut squash potato and beautifully smooth sweetcorn velouté with a sundried tomato and ricotta spring roll. It was a beautiful melody of flavours what with the creaminess of the velouté, the slight buttery taste from the vegetables and the succulent chicken. After interviewing the head chef in the hotel a few weeks ago, I expected the best, and the Farnham Estate brought it that evening. Both my husband and I were well impressed.

At the recommendation of one of the servers, we finished off the day by strolling through the beautiful woodlands to the Boathouse, where we took a seat on the swing chair overlooking Farnham Lough. We listened to the creak of the chair swinging and the faint sound of wings rapidly flapping and webbed feet landing on the water, completely immersed in Cavan's countryside.

The experience, as one can probably tell by this stage, was first class. I would rate the experience at a solid 9.5 out of 10, only missing out on that .5 because I have seen bowls of fruit at spa counters or in tea rooms before and it was something I was looking out for, having not had lunch beforehand! However, the meal afterwards surely made up for it. At a cost of €135 per person, I believe it is good value for money.

Included in this is your robe and slippers, three and a half hours to spend however you wish around the spa facilities, and a half hour treatment, where you have the choice of a taster facial, a salt and oil scrub, a back massage, a scalp massage or a foot treatment. The two course meal in Maxwell's Restaurant is also included. You can pay an extra €80 per person to stay the night, something I would love to have done if I wasn't working the following day. If the evening time doesn't suit you there are a range of alternative packages to choose from.

For the purposes of the review, the experience was free of charge for myself and my husband, however I would absolutely pay this to do it again in the future, and I look forward to it already.