Visit to The Orange Tree - 19th July

My friend Laura has been to The Orange Tree in North Yorkshire a couple of times before, and I fancied a trip, so she booked us in on the 19th of July. I picked her up and we drove to Pickering in gorgeous sunshine.

We paid £85 which gave us a whole day, and included lunch, treatments, and access to the grounds and hot tub in the garden. They also give you a room to keep your things in and to shower in.

We arrive around 10 and were offered a hot drink. I was impressed because they had decaffeinated coffee (I don't drink caffeine at all). We drank in the very comfortable living room, which has tons of books for guests to browse through. Then we went through to a very comfortable bedroom which had two beds, and a small shower room. Laura got changed and went for her treatments first. She'd chosen an Indian head massage and a facial. Meanwhile I read my book and also napped for a little while. It was so peaceful! I had the window wide open and it was so warm and breezy and quiet. All I could hear were a couple of tractors and some sheep!

The view from my bedroom window, isn't it lovely?

I had chosen an Indian head massage and a foot pampering session. I was shown into the treatment room which was quite dark and which had nice tinkly music playing. The therapist left the room as I undressed my top half and wrapped a towel around my boobs and sat in a chair. I've never had an Indian head massage before but I really liked it. The oil she used smelt lovely and was really nice and warm which made it all the more relaxing on my neck and shoulders. I'd have liked her to go a bit harder on my neck and head, actually! I was so relaxed I could have cheerfully fallen asleep.

Then I moved on to the bed to have my feet done. I'm always a bit wary of massage beds as they never seem sturdy enough for me, but this one barely even moved! The therapist found me another pillow (I find it hard to lay on my back without getting too much boob in my face) and got one for my knees too.

The foot pampering was lovely - she used exfoliant and moisturiser which both smelt lovely too. Again I was totally relaxed and could have happily napped. At the end the therapist brought me a glass of water and then left me to get dressed.

By this time it was around 12.30, so Laura and I read and chatted for a bit in our room before going through to the dining room at 1. All the food is homemade and vegetarian. We had a delicious mushroom, courgette and Stilton quiche, a salted jacket potato and a delicious salad. For pudding we had orange cake and natural yoghurt, and then more coffee for me.

My hair post head massage!

I had a shower to wash the oil out of my hair and then we went into the hot tub, which is in a small shed so could be used in the winter as well as when the weather is nice. We had the windows open to let some breeze through as it was so warm (around 31 degrees apparently!). The jacuzzi is really warm and it was just lovely. There were two other women in there too. When Laura and I had finished, I sat in the garden reading and drip drying in the sun while Laura got dressed, and then I got dressed and we left around 3.40!

Laura has ME and really likes the Orange Tree because she has a room to sleep in if necessary. I really liked it too, and would love to go back maybe next year. It is quite expensive, but for me it was definitely worth it.

And here I am in the hot tub, look at that beautiful view behind me!