New spa facility for highlands and islands

Crerar Hotels is launching the biggest spa in the Highlands and Islands with the opening of a new, impressive facility at the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa at Craignure Bay on the Isle of Mull.

The £2 million Leisure Club and Spa will officially open in March and provides the first swimming pool and leisure club on the Isle of Mull. The club, including a 17-metre indoor swimming pool and children’s pool, is the result of a five-year ground-breaking partnership between the hotel and local community. It has been designed to deliver a luxurious experience for guests staying at the hotel, the local community and visitors to the island.

An obvious benefit is for the island’s children as they were required to do a three-hour trip for swimming lessons on the mainland. Now, the Isle of Mull and Iona will have a much needed community swimming pool essential for the island’s younger inhabitants to learn to swim, plus a leisure club and spa for local residents.

The Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa has provided its grounds for the whole Leisure Club and Spa as well as donating a significant sum, well in excess of £1 million to the project. The hotel has also coordinated and managed the project and will operate the swimming pool at no cost to the community.

Facilities at the Leisure Club and Spa include:

• 17-metre swimming pool with panoramic views
• Children’s splash pool
• Air conditioned state-of-the-art fully equipped gym with outdoor decking area overlooking the bay for stretching and exercise classes
• Treatment rooms for couples and individuals
• Steam room
• Norwegian spruce sauna
• Heated Roman-style bench designed to warm the back while enjoying a hydro foot spa
• All over body spray tanning room
• Mud room offering heat treatments using six types of health benefit “mud” including treatments just for couples
• Nail treatment bar offering Jessica treatments
• Hair salon
• External health spa (outdoor hot tub)
• Temperature controlled relaxation suite

In addition, the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa now has a custom built meeting and conference room providing a much needed facility for local organisations, business meetings and company away days. The conference suite has full audio and visual capabilities, break out space and is furnished to the highest specification.

Commenting on the new Leisure Club and Spa, Paddy Crerar, Chief Executive of Crerar Hotels said:

“We are delighted with the new Leisure Club and Spa and to be involved in this project. It has been a mammoth effort by the community over the last 25 years, and the islanders are an inspiring team. I want to pay particular tribute to the efforts of Duncan Swinbank, the pool chairman whom I have been working with for five years and Andy Knight of TSL Contractors who has delivered a difficult project with great patience and flexibility.

“The facility will encourage more people from Scotland and beyond to visit this beautiful island which has so much to offer with its spectacular wildlife, friendly people and some of the most beautiful scenery in the world.”

A full range of pampering packages will be available at the Leisure Club and Spa ranging from day visits to luxurious overnight spa breaks. Day packages start from £65 for the Pamper Package which includes a back, neck and shoulder massage, Décleor facial, light lunch and full use of the leisure facilities. In addition, residents of Mull can also enjoy a selection of monthly membership packages with prices starting from £38 for use of the leisure facilities*. Each member will be given a full induction including blood pressure and fitness tests.

The Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa is also planning a number of new health and fitness initiatives in 2008 including setting up triathlon, running and swimming clubs as well as sponsoring and hosting local sporting events and activity camps for children during the school holidays.

With grounds stretching to the shore, the Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa offers panoramic views over Duart Castle, the Isle of Lismore and across the Sound of Mull towards Oban. Most bedrooms have recently been renovated and enjoy breathtaking views over Craignure Bay.

For further information visit Crerarhotels.com.