I hate January! There I've said it; I know I am not alone in this hatred but on cold, dark days it can feel like you are alone so it's important to do little things that make you and this turgid month feel better.

It is particularly important for a girl (or boy, don't want to be sexist here but for the purposes of this review, its girl!) to make her skin and soul feel a little more at peace with elements so what better way to spend the day than at a spa? The Gaia Spa at Boringdon Hall, Plympton to be precise. Brand spanking new- it opened last October- it is just the place to relax and rejuvenate with luxurious surroundings and not too much of that awful whale or pan pipe music that so many venues feel the need to inflict on us.

The changing rooms are a revelation, spacious, even the cubicles for the loo are huge! Little touches like deodorant, hairspray, straighteners and cotton buds on each mirror station are simple but make you feel like you are somewhere a bit special. Big bottles of shampoo, conditioner and moisturiser in the showers again make it feel like a boutique hotel rather than just a swimming pool changing room.

Now, I am a bit fussy when it comes to treatments, I struggle to relax, but on this occasion with a thirty minute back massage followed by a facial I found myself drifting off to sleep and awaking with plumped up and refreshed skin.

Lunch was served in their "spatisserie" which again was spacious, modern and with far reaching views across the moors. No rabbit food on offer here instead spiced lamb with flatbreads and a greek salad and chocolate brownie to follow; just what was needed after a heavy morning relaxing!

The pool was large and the hot tub almost as big with metal beds to lie down on and let the jets do their work. Sauna, aromatherapy room and steam room also grace the edge of the pool.

If I had to complain it would be about the general temperatures of the building which on a cold January morning felt too chilly. In the relaxation room there was gas fire that could've been lit but was not and despite loungers with warm fabrics on offer it just wasn't warm enough to "relax."

To be fair my friend and I were suffering with "girl flu" so probably would've felt the cold more severely anyway.

So that you know this is an impartial review; I haven't been paid for it and indeed paid for the spa day myself so whilst this is just my humble opinion, it is an unbiased one. I am sucker for a spa day especially at this time of year so have experienced quite a few but I can happily say this is definitely in my top five and I will be back!