THE rain was lashing down and an excessive amount of drivers on the road were being extremely impatient and bad-tempered as I negotiated the twists and turns and incomprehensible roundabouts through Chippenham on my way to Lucknam Park Spa.

But as the road opened up on to the straights and the rolling hills in the distance I began to think about the treatment I had booked, possibly swayed by its description: ‘ideal for emotionally exhausted souls.’ That was certainly me. It had been one hell of a week and the ILA Kundalini treatment promised to use Chakra and sound-healing to activate and channel the dormant energy at the base of the spine, thereby realigning natural rhythm and restoring balance.

So far so good.

The approach to the main Lucknam Park Hotel is quintessentially English, with its tree-lined and seemingly never-ending drive towards the grand, stately house at the end. Stable-hands were exercising horses nearby, setting a scene as close to a Constable painting as it is possible to recreate.

There is a separate entrance to the spa but I had overshot it and I was so glad I did. Inside, the welcome was akin to a greeting from an old friend even though I had never been there before. We were shown to the Brasserie where coffee and pastries arrived as if by magic.

My spa treatment was a long way off so there was nothing else to do but change into a robe and stretch out around the 20-metre, beautifully heated pool and plan the rest of the day.

First there were the thermal cabins to try which include Japanese salt and aromatic steam. We moved on to the amethyst room and sauna, then ventured into the outdoor salt water plunge pool, which was seriously enjoyable in the rain.

Then it was time for a little snooze on the thermal beds before lunch. Such a hard life.

By lunch we were ravenous, despite having done nothing all morning. After being shown to a table by the window in the stylish and contemporary Brasserie the biggest and only decision of the day was what to choose.

Cauliflower soup and fresh crab salad for me and duck terrine followed by Caesar salad for my companion were simple but exquisite, bursting with fresh flavours and perfectly executed.

As the light began to fade the flames of a bio ethanol style fire at the side of the pool sprung into action and soft, golden spotlights began to shine down from the glass roof creating a soothing warm glow.

Just when I thought it couldn’t get any better I was guided to one of the spa’s state-of-the-art treatment rooms where I drifted in and out of slumber for the next 90 minutes as I was gently and expertly massaged.

As we sat having a drink back in the Brasserie before setting off for home my hellish week was a distant memory and that night I slept like a baby.

<li>Lucknam Park Hotel and Spa is at Colerne, six miles from Bath and close to the M4 and train station. 
www.lucknampark.co.uk Tel: 01225 742777