Vita Skin Spa Shaftesbury

There’s no gym at Vita Skin Spa Shaftesbury, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your fitness goals at home.

If you’re here in the summer, a trip to Shaftesbury Lido is a must. Open from June to September, there’s lane swimming and aqua aerobics to enjoy. No cossie? No problem. They even hold naked swimming sessions to improve self-esteem and help you get that all-important vitamin D. Swimming au naturel will cost you just £7.50.

If you’re keen on walking, jogging or cycling, the Shaftesbury Loop passes right by the spa’s front door and takes you on quite the tour. The full route covers four miles around the town and neighbouring countryside and although challenging, it’s a fun outdoor orienteering experience that offers plenty of picturesque rest stops on the way. 

You can download the map from the Shaftesbury Council website, or just look out for Shaftesbury Loop routemarkers on wooden stakes and lamp posts along the journey.

You’ve felt serene at the spa, now it’s time to feel satiated and, when it comes to eating and drinking, you’re spoilt for choice. 

Some spa packages include lunch or afternoon tea, served in the serene surroundings of the relaxation room. Not to be missed, both of these indulgent options include tasty sandwiches and a menu of teas and coffees that you enjoy together as part of the relaxing spa experience. 

A well-known foodie destination, Shaftesbury is home to one of the largest one-day food festivals in the South West, showcasing the best in local produce. There’s also a great mix of traditional pubs, bistros and cafés right on the Vita Skin Spa’s own doorstep, many with great views of the famous cobbled street as well as the rolling hills of the Blackmore Vale beyond. 

For something a little more extravagant, the town has several fine dining restaurants just waiting to be discovered. In addition, various hotels offer exceptional dining experiences that will leave you feeling thoroughly spoiled.

There’s no swimming pool at Vita Skin Spa Shaftesbury because this boutique day spa has no wet facilities. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pack your cossie! 

Time in the warm and toasty infrared sauna is included with many pamper packages, so check your booking confirmation to see if this applies to you. With a myriad of health benefits from cardiovascular fitness to detoxification, it seats four people and you’ll have it all to yourselves for the time you’ve booked.

Can’t live without your laps? Just a six-minute walk takes you to Shaftesbury Lido, the open-air pool that’s open from June to September.

Yes, there are double treatment rooms where you can enjoy facials, massages, manicures and pedicures together. Perfect for friends, mums and daughters or couples, that let you reconnect as you unwind.

No, there’s no accommodation on offer at this beautifully boutique day spa. But Shaftesbury is a bustling Dorset town with a number of tourist attractions. As such, you can take your pick from a number of charming guest houses, bed and breakfasts and large hotels nearby.   

Although children under 16 can’t use the infrared sauna, there are child-friendly treatments on offer for younger ones. Kids aged 8 to 16 can join you on your pampering day and enjoy their own mini massages and manicures.

You can request a ground floor treatment room and staff are on hand to assist you. But because the spa is in a listed building there are no accessible toilets and there are small steps up to the front entrance. 

Sorry, no dogs allowed.

Love to pamper and putt? Sadly there’s no golf club at Vita Skin Spa Shaftesbury. But Henstridge Golf Resort is just 12km away and it offers a 9-hole golf course set in 70 acres of beautiful Dorset countryside. Visitors are welcome to tee off on its lush, wide fairways. Just watch out for those testing water hazards, lakes and water features.