I loved this Staffordshire country spa retreat with sprawling woodlands and delicious meals

Last week, my sister and I travelled an hour’s drive away from North Birmingham to Moddershall Oaks Country Spa Retreat near Stone, where we did just that.

Known for its 72 acres of beautiful forest and lakefront setting, Moddershall Oaks, provides a wellness experience that incorporates spa, fitness, nutrition, and plenty of relaxation.

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We had an amazing time making use of the country spa retreat's amenities during our overnight stay.

The trip came at a great time, with September fast approaching.

Many people use this time to prepare for the upcoming school year, and for my sister, that means looking forward to a busy year ahead as she joins a new school as a teacher.

Without a doubt, this retreat located near Stone will leave you with a better appreciation for the simple outdoors.

A stay at a woodland pod

As soon as we arrived, the staff at the front desk shared lots of useful information about what we could expect during our stay.

I had never stayed in a woodland pod before but it felt like a cool way to spend time amongst the trees and with nature.

We quickly settled in, the room was cosy and it was a great place to bond and enjoy sisterly catch-ups.

Instead of room numbers, the woodland pods had lots of adorable names such as Willow and Holly. We stayed in the pod called Holly, and instead of a room key we were given a code to enter.

As I said, the room was so cosy, so I don’t recommend bringing massive luggage with you, rather take a nice minimal overnight bag. There isn’t lots of space - so that’s a heads up.

A cycle ride through the woodlands

Cycling through the woodlands was a joy for me, and it reminded my sister and me of our childhood summer holidays.

Bicycles were readily available here, and we enjoyed cycling through the woodlands for about an hour.

To be honest, it had been quite some time since I’d been on a bike.

In any case, there was a lot of upward incline, and I'm not sure whether I have the same stamina at 27 as I did at 11.

Interestingly enough, as you drive into the property you can spot horses as well.

Spa experience - what it is all about!

Once we worked up a sweat, it was time to check into the spa - after all that’s what it was all about right?

I was charmed by the spa’s facilities, and we quickly dressed up in the fluffy robes and towels and were shown the location of the indoor pool, jacuzzi and steam room.

It was so peaceful and I felt even more relaxed going into the steam room - steam rooms are great as they're beneficial to your breathing, skin and hair.

One thing I'd recommend is going into the steam room with conditioner on your hair or a hair mask, then washing your hair straight afterwards.

This is something that was recommended to me by a friend, and in the 6 months I’ve been trying this at my gym in Birmingham, I can see the difference in my hair. Of course, make sure this works for you - but I definitely need the hydration and it leaves my hair feeling much smoother.

A hydrating facial

Then it was time for a facial, much needed in my opinion. An extra dosage of hydration in what has been a rather dry summer in Birmingham was deeply appreciated on my end.

There is a wide selection of beauty treatments available at Moddershall Spa, but I selected to try the demi glass beauty facial.

I would really suggest this facial to anyone who is fascinated by the world of K-beauty. It had a really strong citrusy smell. I was also treated to a lovely head massage as part of this treatment, and it made me want to sink into the massage table. So relaxing!

The facialist was really helpful and explained the treatment to me in a calm manner, all in all, this entire treatment took about 25 minutes.

Cuisine at Oak House Balcony Bar & Restaurant

Then it was time to head to Oak House Balcony Bar & Restaurant for a late dinner. We enjoyed a delicious two-course meal. For the starter, I selected the prawn and mango cocktail which included mango mayonnaise, crispy shallots baby gem lettuce ciabatta croûte. It was a rather light meal, and I appreciated how fresh the ingredients tasted.

The main dish was the stand-out, I was a massive fan of the flavours on the tandoori spiced seabass. This dish also included sweet potato fritter, roasted green beans, tandoori cream, and coriander oil. This was mouth-wateringly delicious and I appreciated the flavours of the fish in particular, it was seasoned well, and cooked really well.

After that, we went to bed, and I had a wonderful, restful sleep in the woodland pod nestled amongst the trees.

We had a freshly prepared breakfast with plenty of choices on offer the next morning before returning to Birmingham with our bellies full of croissants, eggs and fruit.

All in all, it was definitely a trip well-spent and I definitely left feeling much more relaxed than when I arrived.

Stay, Dine & Relax – Woodland Pod Packages

From Monday to Thursday, the Woodland Pod is available at £150 for Bed & Breakfast, £210 for Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, or £320 for A Night Under the Stars.

Guests can also choose from the Woodland Pod B&B Spa Bundles, including the Twilight Treat Spa Bundle for £320, or the Misty Morning Spa Bundle and Lazy Afternoon Spa Bundle, both priced at £335.

From Friday to Sunday, the Woodland Pod is available at £180 for Bed & Breakfast, £240 for Dinner, Bed & Breakfast, or £370 for A Night Under the Stars.

The Woodland Pod B&B + Twilight Treat Spa Bundle is also available at £370, while the Misty Morning Spa Bundle and Lazy Afternoon Spa Bundle both cost £385.

This trip for the journalist’s stay was provided by Moddershall Oaks Country Spa & Retreat in partnership with SA Communications.