Review by Leigh van den Berg
A mere hour outside of Cape Town, Celtic Manor & Spa in Gordon's Bay is an oasis of bliss by the sea. In fact, the moment I hit Faure Marine Drive en route to the spa, I rolled down my windows so as to breathe in the fresh ocean air...
The first person I met at the Manor was the charming Angi Venter, the Spa Manager. Thing is, I barely managed to shake her hand before being drawn, as if by a gigantic magnet, to the incredible floor-to-ceiling windows behind her. They offer a panoramic view of the bay that's just, well, insane! It smacks you in the face with its magnificence from the moment you see it and you simply can't help but be taken aback by its picture perfect splendour.
'Ooh, this is just too beautiful,' I cooed to Angi. 'There's no way my camera's going to be able to pick up just how amazing this looks!'
'Yes, it is lovely isn't it? We haven't had whales in the bay for a while though...,' she replied. (Unlike me, a true 'city rat', Angi's clearly used to working alongside awesome natural beauty on a daily basis. The poor girl practically had to peel me off the window like a little baby squid!)
As for the rest of Celtic Manor and Spa, while it may have an outwardly cosy appearance, this totally belies the fact that it's actually very spacious and boasts four treatment rooms (including one for couples) as well as a wet area, sauna, Jacuzzi and swimming pool. Also, despite being called Celtic Manor (it's owned by a Welsh and English couple), it's done up with the most opulent Moroccan and Middle Eastern-style decor, most of which was sourced from the seven years the owners spent living in Dubai. Think lush Persian rugs, ornate room dividers and exotic-looking silver tea servers
According to Angi, the majority of the spa's clients are couples that stay over and take advantage of their packages, their most popular one being the Tip-to-Toe for R950,00. This includes a heavenly hot stone back, neck and shoulder massage; foot pressure point and lower leg massage; hand and forearm massage and last (but certainly not least), a skin replenishing facial with a head massage! 'We're an intimate holistic spa that people can escape to', says Angi. 'People come here to detoxify and de-stress or simply relax and escape the city'.
Now, while we're on the subject of relaxing, 
let me tell you about my deliciously indulgent half day Spa Journey, a popular long-running special that includes a full body exfoliation, Sticks and Stones massage and luxurious Theravine aromatherapy facial all for a mere R950,00.
First off, the exfoliation was absolutely divine. Angi used a gentle yet effective Theravine exfoliatior spiked with a few drops of invigorating lemon oil to help get my circulation pumping and ward off le evil cellulite. And her technique was so skilful it felt like a lovely massage – one that left my skin feeling soft as a newborn baby's!
Next up was the Sticks and Stones massage, a signature treatment of the salon. It involves a mix of hot stone massage therapy as well as the rolling of tiny wooden dumbbells across your back. In short, it was one of the most relaxing experiences I've had in the longest time. However, what I appreciated most was that Angi (she of the magic hands) wasn't afraid to stop her routine whenever she found a nasty knot in my shoulder on lower back. I loved that she was more than happy to down tools and get to work on the little bugger until it finally gave up and released.
By lunchtime, I was beyond blissed out,
but another treat was to come my way – the food itself. As it turns out, Celtic Manor has a very talented Guest House Manager in the form of Daniela. Not only does she do body treatments, but she's also their resident chef! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed her delicious homemade chunky lentil soup and salad - made with organic greens plucked from Celtic Manor's very own garden. I also liked that I was able to enjoy my lunch seated by the window, so as to watch the sea lap up onto the cove while a few little ones build sand castles on the shore.
With a happy tummy and meditative state of mind, I was then handed over to the lovely Lean, another therapist, for my Hydrating Theravine Facial. (The spa uses Theravine and RegimA products - both are local brands that don't test on animals). I liked how she explained each and every product she used and practically fell asleep in her hands. The facial, you see, includes the option of a scalp or foot massage while you benefit from a mega-moisturising Theravine Hydrating Gel Mask!
Once my treatments were over and the weeks' tensions were nothing but a distant memory, I reluctantly traded my gown for the sundress I arrived in. It was time to say good bye to my newfound sanctuary by the sea, but you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be back.
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