USP Arran’s largest spa resort has all the facilities to fill a rainy day if the island’s weather lets you down. As well as the treatment rooms, the Spa Resort has a 20-metre indoor swimming pool, which has a childrens’ pool and water features, a steam room, sauna, footbaths, rain-soak shower and ice-water bucket shower.

AMBIENCE The room was not the sanctuary you look for in a spa – candles were a nice touch, but there was too much clutter. Mismatched shelves and units, bottles, jars and knick-knacks didn’t do much for the zen factor.

The outdoor surroundings, though, are therapy alone – green fields, moorland and woodland rises up to Arran’s tallest peak, Goatfell, which looms over the resort, with its peak often obscured by cloud.

The Resort also has a gym, fitness studio, indoor tennis, badminton, table tennis, indoor bowls, football, basketball and volleyball. These facilities means it attracts a families, so courting couples need to pick a time to visit outside school holidays to get some peace. The Spa Resort was built in 2001 and has 36 bedrooms, although there are a further 28 bedrooms in the original hotel next door.

QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE My massage was good – the therapist heeded my request for a firm, but not agonising massage and she spent a good ten minutes working the knots in my shoulder, which were all the better afterwards for her efforts.

The usual choice of aromatherapy oils, offered before most Espa treatments, means you’re guaranteed to like the scent. I’m not convinced that the oils would have the relaxing or energising effect they lay claim to – I felt sleepy after “energising” citrus rub.

It’s worth remembering that if you want to try the pool, sauna, steam room and so forth, you should go before your massage, because afterwards you’re advised not to shower for a while to give the oils a chance to be absorbed.

IN CROWD The leisure facilities are busy with families during the school holidays, but Arran residents also use the pool. In the spa the visitors were mostly female guests from the hotel, who hailed from Scotland, USA, England and Scandinavia.

FOOD The Spa Resort restaurant, Cruize Café Bar, is trying to be contemporary and fashionable, with bright colours and beech wood, but it looks dated and a little cheap.

The food was better – an Arran sharing platter, which costs £15 for two, and £8 for one had a tasty selection of local hot and cold smoked salmon, cheese, chutney and bread. It was fresh, as you’d expect, and nicely presented. Healthy options include seafood and asparagus couscous salad (£8.50) and pasta with wilted spinach and roasted cherry tomatoes (£8.50), but there’s also fish and chips (£10.50) and a burger (£9.25) if you want to indulge.

The best seats are by the window, away from the childrens’ games zone, with views over the Arran countryside.

WALLET WATCH Prices are good: the full body massage costs £40 for one hour, or £28 for just back, neck and shoulders. Facials start from £40 for an hour, or £25 for a 30-minute express facial, and there are beauty treatments such as manicures and pedicures, from £20.

NEED TO KNOW Auchrannie Spa Resort, Brodick, Isle of Arran, KA 27 8BZ (01770 302234; www.auchrannie.co.uk/spa_resort )

For more than 225 independent spa reviews log on to timesonline.co.uk/goodspaguide

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