GETTING together with your girlfriends for a manicure or facial on your hen day is a lovely idea, but isn’t it a bit quick?

When you’re celebrating the end of singledom the last thing you want is to spend the day dashing about, flustered and trying to stick to rigid timetables.

This is where a long, lavish and pampering spa day or spa break could be just the ticket. What better way is there to include everyone in your hen day, from your best mates, to your grandma who, let’s face it, probably wouldn’t find the idea of spending the evening in a sweaty nightclub too appealing?

All in the name of research, of course, I paid a visit to Stoke by Nayland Hotel, Golf & Spa in the glorious Suffolk countryside to experience one of their hen party breaks.

Nestled in Constable Country, yet only a relatively short hop from the A12, the hotel was built 10 years ago and is a little bit of a hidden gem.

The majority of the public spaces, from the restaurant and country club to the suite of wedding and function rooms are positioned to be flooded with natural sunlight, and also to overlook the lake that has become such a focal point.

After checking in, we were led to our ground floor room which was very comfortable and equipped with all the amenities we could need, including a very modern bathroom.

We also had a quick swizz at one of the snazzy new bedrooms, which have been lovingly designed by Lindsey Rendall to a relatively neutral colour scheme, accented with hints of lime.

Having settled into (by which I mean littering with clothes, books and girly things) our room, we set out to the revamped clubhouse, which is open daily to the public.

What a fantastic space! The area is glass-fronted, leading out to a large decking area, and there is an open kitchen where you can watch the chefs rustle-up anything from homemade burgers, to freshly baked scones.

We had the latter, slathered with Tiptree strawberry jam and clotted cream, all washed down with a refreshing glass of Cawston Vale rhubarb and apple juice and hot tea – lovely.

Feeling refreshed it was time to tour the spa area where we were led to our own personalised table, complete with a flag emblazoned with our names, which was a thoughtful touch.

After a quick drink we slipped into our robes to explore the spa area, which consists of nine mood-lit, stone-coloured rooms and a suite of heat experiences situated around the 18m pool.

Above and around the pool are paintings of a Tuscan skyline and views, setting the scene for total bliss and relaxation, while comfortable deck chairs line the space, inviting you to collapse into them with a good book.

Rooms surrounding the pool include a saunarium with funky mood lighting, a steam room, and an experience shower. There are even sliding doors leading out to a suntrap terrace area.

Having acquainted ourselves with the poolside space, I made my way over to the hammam suite where I was to have a Cleopatra and Frankincense serenity wrap.

The tiled hammam suite really is like a little piece of Greece or Turkey in Suffolk, decorated in earthy colours and scented with drifts of fragrant oils.

Having de-robed, and equipped with disposable panties, I was instructed by the therapist to lie back on the hot stone bed. Although it didn’t feel ‘hot’ to the touch, the bed was gently warm and seemed to heat-up as the treatment progressed.

I made myself comfortable and the milky moisturising solution was applied to my body, before I was wrapped loosely with a plastic sheet and cocooned in a blanket to allow the magic lotion to do its work. In the meantime my scalp was massaged with clearing essential oils.

A final massage with finishing oils and the treatment was complete, leaving me feeling relaxed, soft and subtly scented.

Treatments for the day over and we snuck back to our bedroom in our robes (apparently it’s not a faux pas to do that here) and got ourselves ready for dinner in the Lakes Restaurant.

Spa breaks at the hotel include a three course set dinner with three options for each course, but we were so tempted by the a la carte menu we opted to select a few options from here.

Little over an hour later we were satisfied having nibbled on fine dishes including a buttery chicken ballotine with crispy sweetcorn and pineapple popcorn, tender lamb with swede puree, braised potato and smoked garlic jus, and a devilish chocolate marquise topped with tiny pips of orange sorbet.

The food served was stylish, inventive and delicious- we wondered why exactly we hadn’t eaten here before.

Plus, the service was charming and attentive.

Prizing ourselves from our chairs, we spent the rest of the evening in the lounge bar, a really vibrant space with an apple wood-burning fire at its heart. There was a fantastic buzz about the area for the whole night, with lots of people enjoying themselves – again, why hadn’t we been here before?

The next day, after a delicious self-service buffet breakfast, which included fresh fruit, pastries and all of the components of a good, cooked full English, it was back to the spa again for a Decleor Aroma Advanced Precision Facial.

My therapist chatted with me about my skin type and selected the products that would work best for me.

The treatment then began with a lovely deep back massage, after which I was wrapped in a blanket with a hot water bottle so the facial part of the facial could begin.

Included were a surprisingly relaxing facial massage, a cleanse and tone and then a soothing mask (during which a leg massage was given).

The treatment ended with the finishing touch of a massage with a skin-suitable oil and I looked positively glowing. I even left the treatment room with a little pouch of follow-on products so I could continue to care for my skin from home for a couple of days.

A bit of pool-side reading and relaxing followed, and after a delicious two-course lunch we headed for the rasoul.

Set in the same area as the hammam, the rasoul is a steam therapy room designed for four people to use privately, which makes it ideal for hen parties.

Having made our way to the suite, we were presented with a platter of various sludgy clays and muds – with a different colour for our legs, tummy, back, chest, arms and face. After applying the mud to one another (and looking like slightly deranged aborigines) we headed into the rasoul, which heated-up gently over 20 minutes, helping the mud to draw impurities from the skin.

It smelled lovely in the rasoul, and we had great fun applying the rest of the mud, and scrubbing our feet and elbows with salt to ease off the dry skin.

Twenty minutes up and the heavens above opened and showered us with warm water to rinse away the mud. Outside of the room we were encouraged to apply a few pumps of fragranced oil to our skin to seal in the moisture, and we definitely felt a whole lot softer coming out than we did going in.

We ended our break dipping in and out of the pool at leisure, reading and napping, before buying a few goodies from Pippin (the fantastic on-site shop) to take home.

All in all it was a wonderfully relaxing break. The facilities both in the hotel and in the spa were first-rate – very clean, modern and decorated impeccably.

We don’t think that should just be hens that have all the fun though – we’re both married and we fully intend on paying another visit very soon.

Hen party spa days at Stoke by Nayland Hotel cost £86 per person including a glass of bubbly or fruit juice on arrival, an OPI file and paint, Rasoul mud therapy and two-course lunch with wine or juice.

Plus, if nine hens book a spa day, the bride goes free!

Find out more by going to www.stokebynaylandclub.co.uk or by calling 01206 265820 or 265822.