The new Woodland Spa at South Causey Inn is absolutely stunning, and what sets it apart from I think all other North East spas, not to mention other spas I’ve been to elsewhere, are the private suites. When I was invited along recently for a visit to experience them for myself, it felt like the perfect excuse for a relaxing afternoon with my mum and sister.

We spent the afternoon there, starting with lunch from the spa menu in the restaurant before heading over to the Woodland Spa for three hours in one of the private spa suites. I also added a 30-minute neck, back and shoulder massage to the experience.

Disclaimer: We received a complementary experience for the purposes of a review on social media – view my reel here. I’ve chosen to write this review additionally and as always all opinions are my own.

If you’re looking for somewhere to celebrate a birthday, catch up with friends or simply enjoy a spa day without sharing the facilities with lots of other people, the private suites offer something a little different from a traditional spa. Here’s everything that’s included, how the experience works and whether I think it’s worth booking for the cost.

What are the Woodland Spa Private Spa Suites?

The Woodland Spa is South Causey Inn’s new luxury spa experience, with a collection of private spa suites that can be booked exclusively for your group. Rather than sharing facilities with other guests like in most spas, each suite gives you your own space for the duration of your visit, making the whole experience feel much more relaxed and private.

Each suite accommodates up to four people and includes your own hydrotherapy pool, sauna, steam room, shower room and outdoor balcony with loungers. So for a start they’re very spacious! They also have an outside terrace with four loungers and an umbrella for sunny days, and four loungers inside too. Robes, flip-flops, towels and a welcome drink are all included, along with thoughtful extras like iced face towels after using the sauna, butler drinks service and even a waterproof bag to take your swimwear home afterwards.

You can book morning, afternoon or evening sessions, with a minimum stay of three hours. There are a range of packages available depending on the type of visit you’re after, whether that’s simply using the spa facilities or adding lunch, dinner, treatments or even an overnight stay at South Causey Inn. They have so many room options, and package options that prices vary depending on the package and the size of your group. Visits for just the private spa suites though generally start from around £250, making them surprisingly good value when the cost is split between four people especially for the facilities you get.

Inside the Woodland Spa Private Spa Suites

The private suite facilities

Each private suite has everything you need to spend a few hours switching off without ever needing to leave your own space. The hydrotherapy pool is the centrepiece, its huge and comfortably sits four people. With the sauna, steam room and cold plunge just a few steps away, its easy to move between each one at your own pace or repeatedly throughout your visit.

There’s also a spacious shower room and an outdoor balcony with loungers overlooking the surrounding woodland. Even though we visited on a warm summer afternoon, I could imagine this being just as nice in the colder months, wrapped up in a robe after spending time in the sauna. Very cosy winter vibes.

The thoughtful little extras we all love

It’s often the little details that make somewhere feel more luxurious, and there were plenty of those throughout the afternoon. We were welcomed with a drink on arrival before changing into the robes and flip-flops provided, with separate towels available for both indoors and by the hydrotherapy pool. We were never dealing with wet towels.

There were iced face towels in the bucket by the sauna, and there is a butler drinks service available throughout the session if you wanted to order anything without leaving your suite. They leave it on the table outside for you to collect when ready.

My mum really liked being given a waterproof bag for taking wet swimwear home afterwards. They were in the basket we each got when we arrived with our robes and flip flops in. It’s a small touch, but one that saves you having to find a carrier bag or wrap everything up in your towel before heading home and it’s always the thing I forget.

Our Afternoon at the Woodland Spa Private Suites

Our afternoon started with lunch in the South Causey Inn restaurant when we arrived, where we each chose three small plates from the spa menu along with a cocktail. The spa menu is a bit lighter which was great if you’re going on to have treatments, nobody wants to be too full. It was a nice way to ease into the experience rather than arriving straight at the spa, and once we’d finished, a member of staff came to collect us and walked us over to the Woodland Spa entrance.

It’s gorgeous inside, very modern and on theme for the woodland experience. They use Temple Spa products which are available to buy in the reception area, and there’s a waiting area to fill in the spa forms before you go in. This is also the area you wait if you’re having a treatment. As it was our first visit, they showed us around the facilities before taking us to our private suite and explaining how everything worked. Once we’d changed into our robes, the next three hours were completely ours.

We spent most of the afternoon in the hydrotherapy pool, ordering drinks to be delivered too. We also ventured into the sauna and steam room, making the most of having the whole suite to ourselves – but none of us were brave enough for the cold plunge. That’s what really sets this experience apart from a traditional spa. There was no waiting for space in the sauna, no sharing the hydrotherapy pool with strangers and no feeling like you had to move on because someone else was waiting. We could spend as long as we wanted in each area, take breaks out on the balcony and simply enjoy the afternoon at our own pace.

Part way through the session I headed upstairs for my 30-minute neck, back and shoulder massage. The treatment rooms are located separately from the suites, and afterwards I was given a wellness shot and a small bowl of frozen grapes before heading back downstairs to rejoin my mum and sister. It was a really lovely relaxing experience, and I came back to a drink waiting for me in the suite. My mum and sister had spent the time out on the balcony enjoying the view.

Before we knew it, the three hours had disappeared. I think that’s largely because having the facilities completely to ourselves made it so easy to switch off. Rather than feeling like you’ve booked a few hours at a busy spa, it felt more like we’d borrowed our own little wellness retreat for the afternoon. My one tiny thing I would say I think the suites need a clock, so you dont lose track of time and especially if you’re having a treatment. However they have thought of literally everything else.

There’s a shower, hair dryer, bathroom and plenty of hooks to hang robes.

Packages, Prices and Booking

The Woodland Spa Private Spa Suites can be booked for morning, afternoon or evening sessions, with a minimum booking time of three hours. There are a range of packages available depending on what you’re looking for, from spa-only access to experiences that include lunch, dinner, treatments or an overnight stay at South Causey Inn.

Prices vary depending on the package you choose and the size of your group, but private spa suites generally start from around £250. As each suite accommodates up to four people, splitting the cost makes it much more affordable than it might first appear, particularly if you’re celebrating a special occasion. I think it’s really excellent value considering some spa breaks basically include only two hours in the main spa, and they’re pretty expensive these days upwards of £160.

I visited as part of a complimentary review, but based on my experience I’d happily return and book again for a birthday, family celebration or a catch-up with friends. I’m planning a winter visit already.

Getting There and Practical Information

The Woodland Spa is located within the grounds of South Causey Inn in County Durham, just a short drive from Newcastle and the wider North East.

There’s free parking on site and you’ll check in at the main South Causey Inn reception when you arrive. If it’s your first visit, a member of staff will show you across to the Woodland Spa before taking you to your suite.

Everything you need for your visit is provided, including robes, flip-flops, towels and toiletries, so all you really need to bring is your swimwear and if you prefer your own flip flops. The waterproof bag provided at the end of your session is another thoughtful touch, meaning you don’t have to worry about packing away wet swimwear for the journey home.

Is the Woodland Spa at South Causey Inn Worth It?

For me, what makes the Woodland Spa Private Spa Suites stand out isn’t the hydrotherapy pool or the sauna, it’s having them all to yourself. It really felt like no other spa experience I’ve done even the more exclusive private ones.

I’ve been to plenty of traditional spas where you spend part of the day waiting for space in the sauna, sharing pools with other guests or changing your plans because somewhere is busy. None of that happens here for three hours the entire space is yours and it completely changes the pace of the afternoon.

If you’re looking for a spa day in the North East that’s ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, mother and daughter days or catching up with friends, I’d definitely recommend the Woodland Spa Private Spa Suites. It was one of the most relaxing spa afternoons I’ve had, and I genuinely think the privacy is what makes all the difference.