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An 18th-century country house in 18ha of mature landscaped gardens is the setting for this elegant but unpretentious health spa. The original interior - where the Boles family once entertained the likes of Winston Churchill at their famously lavish dinner parties - has been lovingly restored to accommodate 32 ensuite bedrooms. Public rooms boast superb carved panelling and welcoming open fireplaces. The 'no children' policy helps to keep the atmosphere serene.

Facilities include 25 treatment rooms, indoor and outdoor pools, sauna and steam room, gym with fitness class timetable and personal training, tennis and badminton courts, croquet lawn, French boules and a nine-hole golf course. For walkers and wildlife enthusiasts, the Quantock Hills, coastal walks and Exmoor National Park are within easy driving distance. Cedar Falls does make an effort to appeal to male visitors, with a dedicated treatment menu, so although the majority of guests are women, it's a good couples getaway too.

Treatments run the gamut from reiki to sports massage, with a wide range of holistic options including meditation, hypnotherapy and one to one counselling - the reflexology treatment was particularly impressive. Cedar Falls' beauty therapists use Clarins, Elemis, Moor and Phytomer products, and alongside the expected range of body and face treatments, there is the aqua jet massage, cellulite-busting wraps and a dry floatation tank.

The restaurant uses local, seasonal products and willingly caters for special diets and healthy eating plans, although nothing is off limits so you can indulge yourself if you want. Informal after-dinner talks and demonstrations on health and well being topics - from natural skincare to stress management - are an unusual and welcome extra. It's a three-to-four hour drive from London and the nearest train station is Taunton.

FEEL MARVELLOUS AT CEDAR FALLS...

Designed to offer the ultimate in personalised pampering, the practioners at Cedar Falls are totally devoted to making you feel marvellous. Margaretha is considered to be one of the best reflexologists in the country and an hour spent with her is invariably a profound experience.

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PERFECT PAMPERING.

Know someone who needs spoiling? Pack them off to Cedar Falls for a well-earned rest, says Joanna Haywood.

Before having a family, I used to be the sort of person who wouldn't even go to buy milk without a perfect French manicure. Now I am lucky if manage to find a hairbrush down the side of the sofa that hasn't been used to brush a pet with first. That's how I arrived at Cedar Falls near Taunton - desperate for some serious pampering.

Cedar Falls exudes calm. Rushing simply isn't an option. There is, however, plenty to do if you want to be active: croquet, golf, swimming, gym, exercise classes, etc. Personally, I just wanted to lie on a couch and have things done to me.

Simple pleasures, like being able to float on my back in a classically styled pool without a child demanding that I inflate their armband, had been long forgotten, and I almost had to be dragged out for my first treatment.

Margaretha gently led me on a journey which began in a tangled forest of stress and strain and ended with me being so deeply relaxed that I had to be helped back to reception. Margaretha is a reflexologist, the therapy based on the principle that there are reflexes in the feet and hands that correspond to different parts of the body. With tranquil music in the background, she took me through whole body relaxation, which felt truly spiritual. When I left her room I felt I could cope with anything that life might throw at me.

Next came the Jessica Zen Spa Pedicure, which included a luxurious foot soak, sea-salt scrub, foot massage, cuticle and nail trim, peppermint foot masque, heel balm and nail paint. My feet were in tootsie heaven.

Deep relaxation can be hungry work, but you are well catered for at Cedar Falls, where all the food is prepared using the freshest local ingredients. Nothing is off limits but the menus are created with healthy eating in mind. The buffet-style lunch included both hot dishes and a huge range of imaginative salads, home baked bread and wonderful yoghurt, full of summer fruits. The evening menu looked even more tempting.

Lunch over, it was time for the Holistic Total Body Care with Hot Stone Therapy. This all-encompassing treatment takes two hours and starts with full body skin brushing and exfoliation, followed by a deep body, face and scalp massage using hot stones and a blend of essential oils which I could choose for myself. I could also choose whether to feel relaxed or invigorated after my massage; I chose the former, as in my case there is no such thing as too much rest.

What really shines through is that the practitioners here are totally devoted to making you feel marvellous. Climbing into the car afterwards, I switched the radio from Pop FM to calm and classical and promised myself that I would be back, and next time with my mother.

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN.

Are you feeling tired, stressed or just fed up?  How about visiting a health spa, says Emma Lovelock.

What better way to get in shape for summer than to spend a couple of days in the splendid surroundings of one of the country's leading health spas?

Cedar Falls has a devoted clientele thanks to its lovely setting - a handsome country house set in over 44 acres of manicured grounds.  Built by Charles Winter in the 1700s, the house itself is listed as being of architectural and historic interest and was used as a weekend retreat by Sir Winston Churchill and Lord Baden-Powell.

A healthy break can do more for your body than help lose those extra pounds.  Health spas can help you get the most from your looks and your life and trained therapists can help relieve the aches and pains that cause stress and can lead to more serious problems.  Quite apart from the benefits, it's fun!

Cedar Falls boasts the highest number of natural therapists in any UK health spa.  Therapies include Champissage (Indian head massage) and holistic therapeutic massage, as well as the more familiar aromatherapy, reflexology treatments, body wraps and facials.  There is also an indoor and outdoor swimming pool, gymnasium, steam rooms, saunas, whirlpool, tennis court, croquet lawn and a number of daily exercise classes.

“The majority of our guests are people who are suffering from stress and the pressures of modern life,” says Lucille Christopher.  “Our job is to give people the kind of break that not only is fun but will actually make them feel more refreshed. It is not just about having a healthy body but having a healthy mind.”

”Women (and increasingly men) are now realising that if they look after their bodies they will feel stronger within themselves and more able to cope with life's stresses and strains.  Everything at Cedar Falls, from the food through to the stunning surroundings, has been created so that our guests want for nothing and leave feeling totally recharged and relaxed.”

Cedar falls Health Spa in Somerset certainly puts the "ah" back into spa writes Emma Pearcy.

My overnight stay left me feeling refreshed, relaxed and raring to go.Prior to going I felt jaded and lethargic: the summer months were slipping away and my tan was fading as rapidly as the nights were drawing in.

What better way to battle the onset of Seasonal Affective Disorder and escape the cut and thrust of daily life than a stay in one of the most comprehensive health spas in the UK?

Cedar Falls is set in 44 acres of woodland, lakes and gorgeous gardens near Bishops Lydeard. It is a stone's throw from Taunton and the Quantocks beckon in the distance.

The resort offers a wide range of natural therapies and pampering sessions to relax the senses. It also has a gym, indoor swimming pool with whirlpool and steam and sauna rooms, an outdoor pool and tennis courts. Various exercise classes are run daily and in the evenings talks on subjects like stress and meditation are held.

I was welcomed on arrival by assistant manager Lucille Christopher who told me - in no uncertain terms - to relax and soak up the atmosphere. It sounded like great advice...

First, I enjoyed a full-body aromatherapy massage which did a great job of untying deadline-driven knots. The aromatic concoction of frankincense, lemongrass and neroli soothed away the stress and afterwards I collapsed on a sun-lounger by the pool. How I ever moved from that spot I'll never know.

I was also treated to an ESPA facial. I highly recommend it because my skin was glowing and Trish, my consultant, was excellent. She gave me a full lowdown on what products she was using and why. I left Cedar Falls feeling not just rejuvenated but also with a huge hole in my wallet after spending a small fortune on ESPA products.

Then it was time for an aqua-jet massage. You lie down on what looks like a waterbed and, underneath, jets of water spray shot up and massage up and down your body. You can adjust the firmness at the touch of a button. I must admit, this was not one of my favourites but those who shy away from conventional massages would prefer it.

I found nothing was too much trouble for staff - even when I hankered after more Merlot in the evening. The food was delicious and I ended up chatting to more women who, like me, had come to escape it all.

Cedar Falls was wonderfully relaxed and it certainly left me feeling unruffled.

Now, where is that notebook?

RELAX THIS AUTUMN says Joanna Bowden.

Although our little darlings provide us with a constant source of amusement and entertainment, I am sure that you will join me in the notion that sometimes it is good to get away from it all for a while and distance yourself from all of your day to day stresses.

For me, the most sublime way in which to do this is by spending time in a secluded spa, whiling the time away being pampered and preened in a fabulous environment. However, though this may seem an inviting prospect the reality usually entails a month of preparation (kids off to grandma's, dog sent to kennels, etc) and a 400 mile round trip and re-mortgaging the house to cover the cost! Happily here in Devon we are lucky to benefit from the close proximity of Cedar Falls, a majestic mansion house set in 44 acres of beautiful grounds and just 30 minutes drive from Exeter.

Dating back to the 1700's Cedar Falls emanates understated English style at its most elegant and with the range of spa treatments, therapeutic massages and health and beauty treatments coupled with lush grounds encompassing secluded woodland, tranquil lakes and immaculate gardens, you could think that you were a million miles from civilisation.

With summer drawing to a close and the kids packed back off to school, now is the ideal time to treat yourself with a spa or day break. Why not indulge yourself in a weekend break which starts from just £199, then on your return you could drop us a line here at Little Times.

Relax, Revive, Refresh. Spa experts Daphne Metland and Anna McGrail give their recommendations for getting pampered to the max.

What it offers: Set in 44 acres of beautiful secluded woodland, with a tranquil lake and immaculate gardens, Cedar Falls has fans who return year after year. Some come to lose weight, others to restore their mind-and-body balance. The complementary therapies on offer here are abundant. You could incorporate homeopathy and Hopi ear candle therapy alongside a luxurious Espa facial and an Ionithermie treatment, and still find time for a peat bath, pedicure and dry floatation. Cedar Falls offers a relaxing, laid-back atmosphere, where guests are encouraged to make themselves at home.

Must-have treatment: Chiropody. Complete care for your feet that's so much more than just a pedicure.

Highlight: The yoga classes - welcoming for complete beginners.

Great for: A reasonably priced restorative spa break.

The Independent included Cedar Falls in their round up of the 50 Best Spas in Britain & Ireland. Please click here for the article.

A haven of relaxation for women says Susie Weldon. 

OVERALL: Cedar Falls is the grand dame of the West's spas, having opened 25 years ago as a health farm. But don't worry, you won't be supping organic carrot juice and munching lettuce. Nowadays, it's much more about healthy indulgence then strict abstinence.

AMBIANCE: The 300 year old mansion house is set in a magnificent 44-acre secluded wooded landscape. Inside there are superb carved ceilings, oak panelled rooms and large open fireplaces, with more modern spa facilities tucked in at the rear and a large conservatory, where you can relax next to the swimming pool. The atmosphere is comfortable and relaxed rather than excessively chic. People wander around in bathrobes and the aroma of essential oils wafts through the air.

EXPERIENCE: I tried the ESPA Totally Blissful Back, Face & Scalp with Hot Stone Therapy (one hour 40 minutes, £87). As the name suggests, it's a totally luxurious experience, with a full aromatherapy facial with potent essential oils and a back, face and scalp massage using hot and cold stones on vital energy points. It was so relaxing that I almost fell asleep and my skin looked so relaxing afterwards.

Cedar Falls is known for its Natural Therapies: I tried reflexology (one hour, £55) which is based on the principle that reflexes in the foot correspond to different parts of the body. It's used to rebalance the body and afterwards I was zinging with energy.

TREATMENTS: Cedar Falls uses ESPA and Clarins; a 20 minute back massage starts at £22 or you could try a Natural Therapy, such as an Indian Head Massage or reiki (both £48).

IDEAL FOR? Quite a number of couples come here (especially golfing duos; Cedar Falls has its own golf course). But it's a real haven for women, in groups or single. One woman said: "This is my treat - I save up all year to come here."

MEN DESERVE SOME PAMPERING, TOO...

Self-admitted male dinosaur Martin Hesp discovers that relaxation and beauty treatments are not just for women.

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