Time to Relax by Kate Stanforth

With holidays abroad mainly on pause at the moment, many people in the UK are looking at ways they can have a nice break without leaving the country.  One of my favourite things I love to do to relax is to visit an accessible spa.  So, you can imagine my excitement when my friend Demi and I were invited to Ramside Hall recently for a luxury spa day!  Spas aren’t always the most accessible places so I’d like to share my experience of the trip and how I made it work for my needs.

Around the Spa

Once we checked in we went to the accessible changing room.  This consisted of a large changing area with a shower, toilet, shower stool, handles and plenty of emergency alarms.  Once we got into our swimwear (and fluffy robes – they’re the best!) I took my wheelchair by the pool and rested on a sun lounger for a while.  It was tight getting my wheelchair around the pool with the loungers spread out but I was grateful I could take my own chair and not have to be pushed around in a pool chair.

The Facilities

We went to both the outdoor pool and the hydrotherapy pool as I struggle to regulate my temperature so warm pools are a must for me.  This spa doesn’t have pool hoists but since I can walk short distances I was OK getting in and out.  We both had a massage which I find incredibly helpful for my pain and I was very impressed by the massage tables which could adjust to help me transfer on and off the bed.  Finally, we had lunch that catered for both of our dietary requirements which was a huge bonus!

Managing My Conditions

Even though the day was about relaxing, of course, I still had to manage my medical conditions.  I made sure I was well hydrated and had time to cool down outside if my heart rate was peaking.  We skipped the rooms which would be potentially difficult for me, like the sauna and steam rooms, and I took extra antihistamines so I could go in the water.  It’s all about balance and because we spread everything out we had a successful day!

My Top Three Tips

1) Consider your accessibility needs, particularly if you need a hoist and/or a changing table because unfortunately, they’re still few and far between.

2) Refine what you want to get from your spa day before you go.  Very few spas are completely accessible but if you’re not that bothered about going into steam rooms etc. then that might help!

3) Contact the spa before going to discuss your visit – you could for example need suitable parking for your wheelchair accessible vehicle.  I visited Ramside previously to look at their access with them so I was confident it was suitable for me.

*Gifted Experience – This review is about a spa day that was kindly gifted to me, but of course, I’ve still shared my honest opinions*