Ashdown Park spa and hotel review

MF’s art director Ped Millichamp heads to the Sussex countryside for a relaxing break

Looking for a country house hotel that offers a winning combination of outdoor activities, spa and fitness facilities and fine dining? Then Ashdown Park Hotel & Country Club, set in the beautiful surroundings of Ashdown Forest – the inspiration for AA Milne’s Winnie The Pooh stories – fits the bill perfectly.

Upon our arrival, we immediately felt transported back to a bygone age of decadence and elegance. The decoration and furnishings of our Master Suite were stunning, and with the croquet lawn on view just outside our window along with the sprawling Ashdown Park forest, we could have been in an episode of Downton Abbey. 

As I was halfway through a three-month body transformation for MF, my first port of call was the gym. While not the largest hotel gym I’ve visited, it was well equipped with a good mix of cardio and weights machines and free weights. A quick Tabata session on the rower got my heart rate up before I hit the weights for some bench presses and single-arm dumbbell pulls. Afterwards it was off to the sauna and steam room – unfortunately these are in the changing rooms, which meant I couldn’t rejoin my wife Claire until we went through to the swimming pool and whirlpool spa. This proved to be a tranquil area, and I enjoyed an hour relaxing before my massage.

I’d opted for the VitaMan Sports Massage as a treat for reaching the halfway mark of my transformation (my body had taken a bit of a beasting!) while Claire decided on a facial. My masseuse assessed the areas of my body that I felt needed the most attention and started the treatment using the spa’s Desert Muscle Rub. After an hour of pummelling I certainly felt relaxed and alleviated of any muscular tension. Claire emerged from her Ashdown Classic Facial – a treatment combining exfoliating peel, massage and a deep-cleansing masque to nourish the skin – looking and feeling healthy.

After a game of snooker in the cocktail bar (and a failed attempt to teach Claire the words of ‘Snooker Loopy’) we took our table for dinner in the impressive Anderida Restaurant. It has two prestigious AA Rosettes, so our expectations were high and even though I was restricted by a strict dietary plan, I was suitably impressed. My main course was the fillet of beef Wellington with dauphinoise potatoes, wild mushrooms and caramelized shallots which was cooked and presented to perfection – I couldn’t eat the pastry, but it was the finest bit of beef I’ve tasted in a long while. Claire opted for the vegetarian option of goat’s cheese tart, aioli, pesto and spinach - not the largest portion but delicious.

Following a breakfast of poached eggs and salmon (both Continental and cooked breakfast options were also available) we headed out for a game of tennis, which I followed with a legs session in the gym. To end our stay we decided to take a couple of hours to walk one of the many trails the hotel has highlighted for its guests. The grounds and surrounding forest are stunning – a must-see. At one point I’m certain that I saw Pooh and Tigger crossing over an old wooden bridge to cross a stream but then again, I may just have overdone the Tabata rows that morning...

http://www.ashdownpark.com/

Wych Cross, East Grinstead RH18 5JR

01342 824988

Lifestyle

Reviews Ped Millichamp

7 Jan 2015

spa review

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The best fitness gear of 2015

Every month the MF editorial team reveals the gear they've used to up their fitness game

HUF Galaxy sneakers

Lifting weights in skate shoes might seem like an odd choice but the flat-soled responsive nature of board-ready boots means you can centre your balance easily during big lifts and ensure you're pushing through your heels. With their cushioning foam insole and breathable mesh interior, the Galaxies also protect your soles during box jumps and stop your feet from stinking. They're also excellent for their primary purpose too – skateboarding – thanks to the tough suede upper, a high lacing system that doesn't gear torn up by grip tape and lots of flex so you can throw all manner of technical board-based shapes with ease.

 

Price 

£36

Buy them here

Nike SB Everett Pullover Scuba hoodie

When the wind gets up, a conventional hoodie is normally too gappy to keep out the gale. That's not the case with this well thought out top, however. Its high collar works like a protective facemask and, when up, the hood wraps around your face balaclava-style. It's also got longer cuffs with thumb holes that work a bit like fingerless mittens and a kangaroo pocket at the front in case your fingers (or wallaby) gets cold. If you're planning to exercise in it, reinforced seams in high wear areas will stop it from opening up like an overstuffed bin liner.

 

Price 

£85

Buy it here

Legacy Pro Performance Ice White compression top

Compression tops have the annoying habit of riding up while you're training so you end up wearing the kind of crop top that would look damn fine on Beyonce, but less so on a pale, hairy British man in his mid 30s (we're talking about us here). Whether intentionally or not, Legacy have got round this problem by making this long-sleeve top out of a thicker polyester and elastene mix that most compression brands use, meaning it's heavy enough to stay in place, while still being light enough to not hinder your movement in any way. We've been wearing nothing more than this and a t-shirt up top during outdoor winter training sessions and have felt plenty warm enough during even the coldest runs. Where the science is concerned, there's still much debate as to how effective compression actually is at boosting recovery time – which it's meant to do so by improving blood flow to muscles – but if it keeps you warm and makes you feel light and mobile while you run, and stops you looking like a drag queen, it's already proved its worth in our book.

Price 

£40

Buy it here

Rogue Ohio Lifting Belt

If you're not squatting and deadlifting in a belt you're doing your strength gains and your back health a massive disservice. A good weight belt will protect your spine by keeping your core muscles tight and your lower back straight so you're forced to use the right muscle groups to perform heavy lifts. And by improving your form you'll be able to go heavier with more confidence that you're not about to muller yourself. This one from Rogue is one of the best we've used. Chunky and supportive enough to offer you real protection, and featuring a quick-release single buckle locking system that means you don't use up entire rest periods trying to get it on and off, we've used this to put 15kg on our deadlift and 10kg on our squat over the past month. It's handmade from ultra durable, water resistant vegetable tanned leather so will last for years and can be used in any environment. A real game-changer for your lifting.

Price 

£70

Buy it here

Inov-8 X-Talon 212

Winter. It's the best time to run. Not only do you not have to share trails and roads with the fair-weather set, you're far less likely to overheat, which can be a real speed killer. If you're spending any time trail running this winter and have a neutral gait, you need these running shoes in your life. The synthetic TPU upper offers a snug, fit with a plump outer layer around the toe to protect you from stubbings. The grip is – as the name suggests – talon-like, thanks to deep clawing lugs, and will keep you upright and in control on even the steepest, muddiest hill descents. A stiff sole means your delicate metatarsals and toe ligaments never get overly stressed while on the flip side, the small drop from heel to forefoot – 6mm – makes the shoe feel responsive to what's going on beneath your feet. Mesh lining on the upper also means they drain quickly after you've run through puddles. If you're planning to take on an obstacle race in 2015, the Talon will get you to the finish line with a lots less slipping and sliding than pretty much any other trail shoe on the market.

Price 

£53.95

Buy them here

Rab Inferno Basecamp Jacket

When we first got the Inferno we were a bit unsure as to how it would actually cope with winter. It's super light and flimsy feeling, packs down in nothing in a backpack and doesn't look in any way water resistant. But after wearing it just once, we can now see how it would handle genuine mountain conditions with ease. The recycled polyester Pyrotec insulation (200g/m2 in the body, 160 in the arms and hood) means you don't feel the wind, even though the jacket isn't much thicker than the air attacking it. A durable Pertex outer feels like you could rip it apart with a pair of chopsticks but it's stayed in one piece even though we've snagged it multiple times over the past few weeks. It's also water resistant enough to keep you dry during everything but the most vicious of deluges and the hood is designed to turn with your neck so you never end up talking into your hood when you're twisting to speak to someone next to you in cold weather. The relaxed fit offers excellent freedom of movements and two big chest pockets will comfortably fit oversized phones or training diaries.

 

 

Price 

£224

Buy it here

Lifestyle

Buying Guides Nick Hutchings

6 Jan 2015

fitness gear

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