We check into Northern Ireland’s Spa of the Year and find a fire-and-ice ritual worth crossing the water for

By Rebecca McVeigh

The sauna master swirls his fan like a matador and the scent of eucalyptus hits, a wake-up call for body and brain. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling window the lush Antrim countryside and the River Maine meander past. It gets hotter. Then hotter again. After fifteen minutes the door opens onto a cold plunge pool for the brave. This is the Celtic Sauna at Galgorm, and the ceremony, an Aufguss run by a UK champion of the form, is a ritualistic experience blending heat, essential oils and music, at the heart of the sprawling Thermal Spa Village. 

The salt cave

Named NI Spa of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times, the Thermal Spa Village is hailed as the first of its kind in Ireland, laid out along the River Maine across four gardens, riverside, alpine, woodland and walled, joined by boardwalks and atmospherically lit after dark. Hugh Jackman checked in while filming in Northern Ireland. That’s two good reasons to visit, and by no means the only ones.

There’s enough here to fill a weekend and then some: a Snow Cabin, a Salt Cave, the Vitality Pool, red light therapy, hot tubs among the trees, and in summer, a hut in the woods stocked with ice lollies, reachable by a bridge that wouldn’t look out of place at Hogwarts. 

Relaxation at Galgorm

Cruise across with the car on the ferry from Cairnryan to Larne or Belfast. Galgorm lies about 40 minutes from NI’s capital city. Alternatively, it’s a short 45-minute flight away from Scotland. Leave after breakfast and you’ll be robed and relaxed by mid-afternoon.

We stayed in one of the estate’s stone cottages, cute as a button, with a whitewashed fireplace, kitchen with complimentary mini-bar and cosy bedroom all just a fluffy robe’s walk from the Thermal Spa Village. Galgorm has set out to have something for everyone, and a wander round the extensive grounds shows how far they’ve taken it. There are hotel rooms in the stately house, Cottage Suites with space for families and friends’ trips, and off through the woods, the magical Forest Dens and Shepherd’s Huts: little lodges with copper baths, hot tubs, private saunas and fire pits made for couples who want to cosy up under the stars. 

Copper baths at the resort’s lodges

There are plenty of dining options onsite, from Gillies, a brasserie serving up Irish comfort food to Fratelli, a family favourite with Italian-style dining. To round off the night, it’s down to McKendry’s Irish bar. A sign says, ‘No Riff Raff’, but thankfully, they made an exception for us.

Galgorm Resort is really a world unto itself, and it keeps growing. Plans over the next few years include a swimmable lake and more wellness and fitness facilities to come. Galgorm’s championship Castle course, academy with Toptracer Range and 6-hole pitch & putt have plenty to keep golf fans happy. 

The Thermal Spa Village

For us, what made the stay so special was Galgorm’s team. Northern Ireland is famed for its warm, friendly hospitality, and the staff here do the country proud: personable, five-star service that makes you feel right at home. So much so, you’ll want to move in.

Prices start from around £207 for a one-night stay for two guests including breakfast and access to The Thermal Spa Village. Head to galgorm.com for more info