Galgorm's Thermal Spa Village is a global luxury award winner: here's what I found when I tried it out
It wasn't many years ago that the idea of wandering around outdoors with strangers all wearing bathrobes and flip flops would seem a somewhat alien notion.
One notable location that has driven a change in this mindset is Galgorm, Northern Ireland's premier luxury spa. It attracts guests from far and wide who are keen to don their robes, forget about the outside world and sink into its fabulous spa and wellness facilities.
In fact, Galgorm is so highly rated that it regularly receives major international hotel and spa accolades, competing with top resorts across the world.
Galgorm's renowned Thermal Spa Village, nestled on the banks of the River Maine near Ballymena, is open to more than just hotel guests. It also offers a retreat for day visitors, with an extensive range of experiences for wellness enthusiasts, zen-seekers, or first-time spa-goers.
I recently booked one of the day spa experiences: the Quiet Time package, which promised 'restoration from the stresses of modern day living, cleansed of pollution and relieved from restlessness and agitation'.
It seemed like a big ask for all my stresses and irritations to be magically removed in eight hours, but I was certainly willing to give it a try.
I must admit, I settled into a chilled-out zone incredibly quickly. From the minute I walked through the doors of the Galgorm Spa, with its dimmed lighting and elegant nature-inspired interiors, I realised I was stepping into a world of calm and tranquility.
After a relaxing swim and sauna in the indoor pool area, I ventured outdoors to explore. With a variety of thermal pools, saunas, steam rooms, a salt cave and relaxation areas, there certainly is much to discover and enjoy.
The well-maintained site spans three beautifully designed zones - the Alpine, Riverside and Walled Gardens - blending world-class facilities with the serene beauty of its natural surroundings.
The first phase of Galgorm's exciting new nature-immersive Forest Spa Garden is also now open, marking the beginning of a multi-year development programme that will see more phases unveiled annually through to 2029.
Connected to the Thermal Spa Village via a bespoke bridge over the River Maine, this nature-immersive retreat features four luxurious waterbed cabanas, private hot tubs, a sauna and a firepit, all nestled within the resort’s tranquil woodland.
A glimpse of what lies ahead can be seen on a large display at the entrance to the Forest Spa Garden, where ambitious plans promise 'new spaces, new rituals and deeper moments of calm'.
At the heart of the new area will be the Crystal Lake, designed to bring open-water bathing into a serene woodland setting, along with sunken hot tubs. There are also plans for a Lava Sauna hidden deep in the woods; the Potting Shed, an 'easy-going yet elegant retreat'; and Reflections, a 'cocoon of calm hidden among the trees' where guests can enjoy an immersive hideaway suspended gently above the forest floor.
It all proves that although Galgorm is already a multi award-winning spa with global recognition, major plans continue to develop its facilities into an even higher level of luxury as it expands the resort’s wellness experiences with a multi-million pound investment.
A first-time visitor may find the expanse of the Thermal Spa Village site just a little overwhelming to begin with, but with helpful staff on hand to advise, it all becomes very easy to navigate.
While the facilities themselves are certainly top class, the real beauty is in the location. You can see and hear the rushing waters of the River Maine wherever you are and feel the benefit of being in a totally tranquil and relaxed natural setting. You'll probably hear birdsong, perhaps bump into a butterfly or two and if you're lucky, like I was, you might be able to watch a cormorant in the river eyeing up its lunch.
While it’s tempting to rush around trying to do everything, I found the most beneficial way to enjoy the whole experience was to just slow down and do whatever I felt like at that moment.
The Quiet Time package included a 60-minute private bathing experience in a riverside tub. For me this was the highlight of the day: the opportunity for total peace, away from all the other spa users, to let the stresses of life melt away. A delicious signature cocktail - or mocktail - is even included to enjoy in the comfort of the tub!
The water in the tub is blissfully still. Although you can certainly make it bubble by pressing a button, it's much more serene and delightfully quiet to just enjoy the sound of the river a few feet away. Even if it rains a little like it did on my visit, it's no big deal and just adds to the whole experience.
After an hour of tranquility in the riverside tub, my spa companion and I made our way to the intriguingly designed Elements cafe for lunch. This dome-shaped building at the heart of the Thermal Spa Village offers indoor and outdoor seating areas and a friendly waitress swiftly showed us to an upstairs table where we could enjoy the unique atmosphere of our surroundings.
We were pleasantly surprised that our day package included quite substantial lunch options, so we went for Butter Chicken and Seafood Chowder. Both were delicious and with generous portions we felt more than satisfied with our choices.
The Quiet Time package is available between 8am to 4pm or 2pm to 10pm, allowing guests to choose the option that suits them best.
It was certainly a blissful way to spend a day, everything was arranged as planned and friendly, helpful staff were on hand to offer assistance if required.
With a variety of day packages available offering different treatments and experiences, I’ll certainly be checking out some of the other options – and to check on how the Forest Spa Garden is developing.
And as for waddling about in flip flops wearing a bathrobe in the great outdoors ... don't knock it until you try it. You don't know what you're missing!