At last, there is a new season on the horizon – the mornings start with dusty pink and florescent orange skies, the days are longer with a stretch in the evenings, and there is generally brighter weather ahead.
The brighter months of spring are well anticipated by most, with many of us being re-energised after the merry season and excited for new adventures the year ahead brings. After the end of a quiet and relaxing start to the year, it’s the perfect opportunity to enjoy the arrival of these new vivid days with a well-deserved getaway.
For some of the best spring getaways to relax and refresh, check out the globally renowned Galgorm Collection, Northern Ireland’s premier collection of unique hotels, bars and restaurants, to take in those enchanted moments that will make you want to jump right into spring.
Galgorm
136 Fenaghy Road, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, BT42 1EA
(B&B with Thermal Village relaxation from £200 per room)
Situated just 30 minutes from Belfast and close to both airports, Galgorm is Northern Ireland’s premier luxury hotel. Offering a range of elegant guestrooms and lodges, including the tranquil and charming Forest Dens, it provides a perfect retreat for relaxation and indulgence.
In 2024, The Spa at Galgorm was recognised by two prestigious global platforms, winning an unprecedented six awards at the 2023 World Luxury Awards including Global Award Winner for Best Luxury Spa Resort, and named Best Destination Spa 2024 in the prestigious Condé Nast Johansens Awards, making Galgorm the perfect spot to spend those awakening spring days.
With unique spa facilities and treatments, from invigorating Snow Cabins and rejuvenating Celtic Saunas to Symphony of Touch augmented massage treatments, Riverside Bathing Experiences and even 450 acres of lush parkland in which to enjoy a relaxing springtime stroll, Galgorm has everything you need to make the most of this new season.
Bathe in Spring Serenity in Galgorm’s gorgeous grounds
(Spring Serenity package available from £290 per room)
Springtime is the perfect time to stay at Galgorm to connect with nature again as we move out of the colder months and into warmer temperatures. Check into one of Galgorm’s luxury superior guestrooms, and head outside into the crisp air for a walk or cycle experience around the trails that are just a stone’s throw away from your accommodation. Or if you’re feeling more competitive, you can try out the tennis court for a new and exciting challenge.
Galgorm’s Spring Serenity package offers a perfect blend of luxury and relaxation, set in the heart of nature. Embrace the season’s calm with a day of relaxation in Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village, an evening of culinary delight with a two-course meal in either Gillies, Fratelli or Castle Kitchen + Bar, and a rejuvenating night’s rest in a Superior Guestroom, followed by a Full Irish Breakfast the next morning to complete the perfect stay.
Indulge yourself in some spring self-care in the Thermal Spa Village
If your resolution for the year ahead was to take more time out to enjoy some self-care, then Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village is the perfect place to do just that. The award-winning spa at Galgorm offers a great selection of riverside hot tubs, both indoor and outdoor heated pools – perfect for those crisp spring days – and even a cold water plunge if you are feeling really brave.
The Spring Serenity package at Galgorm offers full Thermal Spa Village access from check-in until check-out so you can succumb to the sights and sounds of spring as you reconnect with nature for a true spring awakening.
Or for an extra layer of refined luxury and rejuvenation, upgrade your stay with a Private Spa Experience designed to restore your soul. Choose from either a private bathing experience, Mud Rasul, Detox Therapy or Sound & Soul Therapy – a unique and innovative therapy which combines natural vibrations and binaural sound for complete mind-body synchronisation that will restore your calm and balance and align your spiritual self with the serenity of spring.
Cherish the moments shared around the dining table
Galgorm’s on-site restaurants each offer something different but equally tasty, and with the Spring Serenity package including a two-course meal in either Gillies, Fratelli or Castle Kitchen + Bar, there’s sure to be something to cover all tastebuds this spring.
Gillies Gill is a top pick for many guests who want to enjoy the atmosphere of a rustic bar, sip on a cocktail before tucking into a dinner bursting with flavour and made with the best local Northern Irish produce. Castle Kitchen and Bar, located at the Castle Golf Club has a real warmth and chilled ambience that makes it perfect for a relaxing evening during your spring getaway. Or for authentic Italian cooking, Fratelli is a family favourite that will keep the entire gang happy.
As part of the Spring Serenity package, you will awaken to a full Irish breakfast the next morning – the perfect way to round off your spring-inspired stay and leave feeling refreshed, revitalised and ready to take on the adventures of the new season ahead.
The Spring Serenity package at Galgorm is available from £290 per room and includes an Overnight stay in a superior guestroom, Thermal Spa Village relaxation, a two-course meal in Gillies Grill, Fratelli or Castle Kitchen + Bar, a Full Irish Breakfast, and Complimentary Mini Bar. Subject to availability. Valid Monday – Thursday from 1st March – 31st May. Excludes 14th – 27th April, 5th May and 26th May.
For more information or to book online please visit www.galgorm.com, email reservations@galgorm.com or call 028 2588 1001.
https://www.galgorm.com/spring.html
The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat
882 Antrim Road, Templepatrick, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim, BT39 0AH
(B&B with Spa relaxation available from £180 per room)
Further into the heart of County Antrim sits The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat. Just 10 minutes from Belfast International Airport, The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat is an idyllic retreat located in the picturesque village of Templepatrick in the heart of the County Antrim countryside.
Perched over a stunning lake, with a spa exuding a mix of sophisticated luxury and Bohemian glam, The Rabbit is acknowledged for its exceptional spa amenities, having been awarded Recommended Spa at the 2023 AA Hotel Spa Awards and ‘2024 Northern Ireland Hotel of the Year’ in The Times and Sunday Times’ prestigious list of ‘Best Places to Stay’.
With premier spa facilities, featuring the only man-made heated beach on the island of Ireland, residents and day spa visitors can make the most of all that spring has to offer, by bathing in the warmth of the season and soaking up the serene surroundings of the outdoor pool, complete with a showstopping overhanging disco ball.
Step into a Spring Escape with luxurious botanical bathing
(Spring Escape package available from £295 per room)
With the Spring Escape package at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat, you can treat yourself to true springtime rejuvenation with an overnight stay and relaxation in the award-winning spa, boasting an array of luxurious facilities including a sauna, outdoor roman bath, hot tubs and a 60-minute botanical bathing experience – allowing the stresses of the week to float away whilst looking over the lake surrounded by blooming trees.
In the evening, enjoy a bite to eat at the Rabbit Restaurant before burrowing down in one of the hotel’s quirky rooms for a unique spring staycation – from snug rooms to comfy boudoirs complete with outdoor bathtubs, you’ll not want to leave.
And if you’re looking for dog-friendly accommodation, you’re barking up the right tree as the Comfy rooms with outdoor bathtubs are now dog-friendly meaning you can make staycation plans that you pooch can be part of this spring.
The Spring Escape package at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat is available from £295 per room and includes an overnight stay, relaxation in The Spa from 12noon on the day of check-in until check-out, 60-minute lakeside botanical bathing experience, three-course evening meal and breakfast the following morning. Subject to availability. Valid Monday – Thursday from 1st March – 31st May.
Get yourself a Spring Glow that will last through to summer
(Spring Glow package available from £125 per person)
If you’re planning a girly day out, treating your beloved Mum for Mother’s Day or meeting up with a friend this spring that you haven’t seen in forever, a day at The Rabbit’s Spa is well deserved – and you’ll have plenty of time for chatting with early access to the spa from 8am until the afternoon.
After your time relaxing in The Spa’s outdoor pool, hot tubs and sauna, enjoy a spectacular spring glow treatment – including a luxurious back massage with facial – to refresh and rejuvenate yourself to have you hopping into spring. After The Spa, the ideal place to refuel and rehydrate following a day of pampering is the Palm House, with menu options including the classic Ceasar salad, comforting steak burger or sumptuous scampi.
What better way to destress and reset for the season ahead than to chill out in The Rabbit’s balearic inspired beach, pamper yourself with an indulgent treatment, and sip on spring-inspired cocktails by the pool.
The Spring Glow Day Spa Package at The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat is available from £125 per person and includes leisurely access to The Spa from 8am, a one-course lunch and soft drink in the Palm House, and a 60-minute Spring Glow treatment which includes back massage with facial. Subject to availability. Valid Monday – Thursday from 1st March – 31st May.
For more information or to book online, visit www.rabbithotel.com, email stay@rabbithotel.com or call 028 9443 2984.
https://rabbithotel.com/spring.html
The Old Inn Crawfordsburn
15-25 Main Street, Crawfordsburn, Bangor, Co. Down, BT19 1JH
(B&B with Treetop Spa relaxation available from £175)
Nestled in the charming village of Crawfordsburn, located just 10 minutes from Belfast, the Old Inn is perfect for a uniquely rural retreat this spring, with the hotel overlooking stunning views of a beautiful country park. With a history dating back to 1614, The Old Inn is one of Ireland’s most historic inns, and is just a stone’s throw from the local beach where you can see the unique change in the season and embrace the great outdoors.
Named in the Irish Independent’s Top 100 hotels in Ireland in 2024, and recently awarded ‘Atmospheric Destination of the Year’ in the Georgina Campbell Awards, within the Special Irish Hospitality category, this unique hotel, which is a firm favourite with foodies, bursts with character and charming interiors sure to help you unwind and recharge.
Step Into Spring with a tranquil countryside spa break
(Step into Spring package available from £295 per room)
Embrace the new season of spring in luxurious comfort at The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn, where classic Victorian design meets elegant authentic luxury, and the rich history and scenic surroundings offer the perfect destination for a blissful getaway.
A new season brings a spring in your step; and there’s no better way to spend the brighter days than in the scenic village of Crawfordsburn – where you can enjoy walks along the beach, admire the stunning changes which spring brings as daffodils begin to flower, and embrace the brighter outdoors. After a swift amble on the sand, kickstart your getaway at The Old Inn with a full day of relaxation at the Treetop Spa, offering unrivalled forest views stretching out to the North Down coastline, featuring a hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna, hot tubs, and relaxation space set within tranquil grounds.
After a day spent relaxing in the fresh countryside air that envelops the Spa, head to The Old Inn’s AA Rosette Restaurant which offers guests a mix of homely classics and modern dishes with an unrivalled service. Enjoy a three-course dinner and a bottle of The Old Inn’s finest house wine, before retreating to the 1614 bar as the night falls and you delight in your favourite tipple.
This tranquil escape offers the perfect relaxing remedy, making it an ideal retreat for anyone seeking to rejuvenate their mind and body this spring.
The Step into Spring package at The Old Inn Crawfordsburn is available from £295 per room and includes overnight stay, relaxation in the Treetop Spa from 12noon on the day of check-in until check-out, three-course dinner with a bottle of house wine, and a Full Irish Breakfast. Subject to availability. Valid Sunday – Thursday from 1st March – 31st May.
For more information or to book online, visit theoldinn.com, email reservations@theoldinn.com or call 028 9185 3255. https://www.theoldinn.com/spring-stays.html
