A decadent retreat worthy of a far-flung isle: Bedford Lodge Hotel and Spa in Newmarket is a hidden gem

Spa breaks are the ultimate in indulgent getaways; relaxing in a soft, towelling robe as a therapist kneads, buffs and polishes you to perfection has to be the best way to unwind.

Yet rarely do you find such an oasis of luxury on your doorstep; let alone in a bustling town famed more for a world-class racecourse than a decadent retreat worthy of a far-flung isle.

But drive past the infamous and historic Newmarket racecourse in Suffolk, past scores of shops boasting all the latest equestrian gear and a dozen tea shops, and you'll find exactly that.

Nestled in it's own patch of picturesque green landscape that just shields it from view lies the Bedford Lodge Hotel and Spa, Newmarket's very own haven for those that haven't blown all their savings on an ill-advised punt.

And for those that did see their luck come in at the racecourse, the spa is just metres away and all trussed up in an impressive crisp white Georgian house, poised and ready to invite you in.

Guests at the four-star hotel that stands on the opposite side of the green are treated to a view of the luxurious facilities in tempting fashion from the exterior - thanks to the almost floor-to-ceiling windows that give a hint of some of the decadence that lurks within.

But naturally the real treat lies within, which I discover as I walk through the leafy trees - noting the sight of pristine rattan sunbeds beside a still pool, as I head through a flower-strewn pergola and through the door of the grand house.

Stepping inside I'm immediately hit with the delicious scents of aromatherapy oils and perfumed candles, as I take in the newly-decorated, plush surroundings in creams, golds and lilacs.

Noticing a sitting room where cashmere blankets have been carefully placed over the arms of plumped armchairs and hanging chairs on my right, I turn left into the main reception where smiling therapists stand to greet my arrival amid shelves of the spa's signature beauty products.

A warm welcome to the spa and an offer of an assortment of herbal teas, I register for my treatments before the spa manager, a pristine and smiling Anna Ramsay, who takes me on a tour of the impressive facilities.

It's here where I'm to spend the entire afternoon being primped and beautified she explains, as she shows me up a flight of stairs and to the hydrotherapy pool I spied from the windows outside.

Reeling off the list of impressive capabilities the pool offers - I'd be happy to just do a few laps of breaststroke in it - she takes me on the balcony, where more hanging chairs and cocooned sofas are languishing unoccupied and tantastingly in the afternoon sun.

As I plot which I'll take for my own after my treatment, my therapist arrives to take me off for my first course of pampering - a ZenSpa pedicure.

Reclining in a sumptuous leather chair as my tired feet are dipped into a warm bath of water infused with oils, she talks me through my treatment - which involves the calming properties of green tea being used to massage and smooth legs before my feet are buffed and perfectly polished.

Working my way through a stack of magazines and sipping on a fruit tea, it's impossible to ignore the picturesque, lush surroundings from the window beside me - with only the sight of figures in bright white robes like mine punctuating the quiet.

Only once my legs feel as though every ounce of tension and stiffness has been massaged out of them does the glorious treatment stop and I'm told it's time for the next course - my own 'ESPA time.'

Coined by the spa's range of ESPA products - a British brand that's renowned for its luxuriously natural range of skin and body care - this treatment is truly tailored, allowing you to tell your therapist your body's needs before they create your own personal experience.

Like most who sit at a computer all day, I bemoan the tension around my neck and shoulders while the therapist nods in all too-knowing recognition.

After talking me through the range of products she's selected for my gripes (I listen but am distracted by the calming, citrus scents she's wafting around my nose), she gets to work on kneading my knots into submission.

I groan without embarrassment as the massage works down my lower back, rendering areas of tension completely helpless under her expert touch and soon find my eyes swiftly closing.

An hour later I'm gently awoken as my therapist tells me my hour of luxury has sadly come to an end and leaves me with a card explaining how to keep my muscles in check from now on.

But unlike most spas I'm not ushered from all the decadence out into the cold, as she steers me towards the glistening pool bleary-eyed to relax and sip on some green tea while I come to.

Making my way to one of those inviting cushioned rattan sunbeds - I'm too sleepy to walk over to the one I had my eye on earlier - I lie down as my tea is brought over, leading me to wonder if they'll enforce a cut-off point to my stay and just how long I can get away with.

When my body allows me, I'm up and taking a relaxing dip in the pool, surrounded by other, completely-at-peace spa guests attempting a calm few strokes around me.

Then it's back to the comfort of my padded lounger for the next few hours, where my biggest worries are what will be on the menu at the hotel's famed Squires restaurant tonight and whether work will miss me if I'm still here on Monday.

The newly-refurbished Bedford Lodge Hotel and Spa is located in Newmarket, Suffolk. For more information, visit www.bedfordlodgehotelspa.co.uk.