Photo: Courtesy of The Newt in Somerset
The history?
For centuries, the land surrounding The Newt was used to farming. The spa is partially located in (as well as behind and under) what was once a Byre, or cowshed. Behind it, a barn was used to house the cows during the winter, and certain structural features were designed to accommodate them: Circular pillars, for instance, prevented the cows from dislodging bricks when rubbing up against them. Converting these historic grounds was a six year process, and the hotel and spa opened in 2019.
Photo: Courtesy of The Newt in Somerset
What should you try?
Some treatments, like the Garden Signature Massage, begin with a barefoot, sense-igniting meander through the gardens, where guests can harvest their own herbs (which are later put to use in teas or infused steam treatments). Other standouts include the transportive head-to-toe Turkish and Moroccan hammam soap treatments, where the body is gently polished inside a private marble-lined steam chamber with a mesmerizing blue mosaic ceiling. You can also go for a dip in the Farmyard’s spectacular indoor pool, built in a former high-rise barn with wooden beams crafted by local artisans.
“Finding ourselves in an increasingly fast-paced world, we like to think of The Newt as a refuge from the hustle and bustle of daily life—a place to reconnect with nature and yourself and reap the rewards of slowing down,” says Antonella Bonettie, head of experience at The Newt, listing cold dips, woodland walks, and bee safaris as some of the many ways guests can reconnect with nature on the property.