Temple Country Retreat and Spa is the perfect place for an indulgent weekend, and lives up to its new Failte Ireland’s destination spa rating, writes Fiona Ness.

Can it be true? Could there be such a thing left in Ireland as a spa virgin? Don’t be silly, of course not; that’s why I had to pluck one from abroad to partner me on a short break to Temple Country Retreat and Spa in Co Westmeath and put its credentials through the ringer.

You see, Temple has just been rated by Failte Ireland as one of only two ‘Destination Spas’ in the country. The rating system aims to help those who don’t know their thermal pools from their thalassotherapy determine exactly what they should be getting in terms of spa facilities from their chosen hotel.

So why not rate the rating system, and find out if Temple offers everything we should expect from a destination spa?

It certainly promises much: pampering, luxury and self-indulgence with the calm, comfort and friendliness of a country retreat.

It also promises to restore energy, revive spirits and recover life balance through activities that relax minds and care for bodies.

I reached into my contact book and extracted someone so in need of relaxation and rejuvenation that they would test to the limit every shot in Temple’s wellbeing armoury. The spa virgin is a thirtysomething mother-of-two who teaches science to six classes of 30 adolescents by day and studies by night - in between the school run, swimming lessons, dinners, baths and bedtime stories.

She battles daily with depressing Scottish weather and the temptations of the fridge. Stress? Ireland’s spa-savvy, SUV-driving yummy mummies dare not even speak its name.

The spa virgin was the perfect foil for someone with my impeccable spa credentials (Conde Nast might well be my middle name). And as I still had dirt under my nails from two weeks of climbing, surfing and sleeping rough in the west of Ireland, together we would surely put Temple Spa’s relaxation and rejuvenation credentials through their paces.

The crack spa team primed and ready, all we had to do was find the place. Just outside of Horseleap, near Moate in Co Westmeath, blink and you will miss the tiny sign that directs you down an equally tiny road towards Temple. But doesn’t that make it all the more exclusive, if it isn’t even on the map?

Arriving at Temple we were met by manager Declan Fagan, who owns the hotel with his wife Bernadette. A rack of bikes were parked outside the front door and we could see walking trails snaking through the surrounding fields and wooded copses.

Fagan, dressed in a tracksuit rather than ubiquitous hotel manager garb, explained how spas originated as a close cousin of the health farm, and from the outset it was obvious that Temple bridges the gap between the two.

A glance at the evening menu confirmed this; while it provoked all the right responses in the salivatory glands, there actually was nothing even a teensy bit naughty on offer.

Alcohol, coffee and tea were not forbidden, but they weren’t recommended. The snacks available were a range of freshly-made fruit juices, smoothies and herbal teas. I immediately began to suffer withdrawal symptoms, although technically there was, as yet, nothing to withdraw from.

The decor of Temple is refreshingly clean and simple when placed next to the lavishness of many hotels and spas, and it has the added bonus of not dating quite so quickly either. Temple’s no-nonsense approach to luxury also takes the guilt out of the getaway break.

You are indulging yourself at Temple, but the beauty is you don’t feel self-indulgent. The packages are designed to help you on your way to achieving your aims, whether it be kickstarting a healthy eating or exercise plan, or just taking some time for peace and quiet.

Indeed, many of the other guests were solitary creatures, padding the corridors like monks, rapt in quiet contemplation and fluffy robes.

However, I should clarify the ‘‘nothing naughty’’ part nothing naughty, that is, for ingesting, but make no mistake, chocolate flows like water at Temple. You can’t eat it, but you can surely get slathered in it as part of the Ishi Chocotherapy ritual.

The spa virgin had plumped for this treatment and, for weeks previously, her children’s eyes had grown wider with every detail leaked about her impending date with dark and white chocolate, which included a mini facial and full body massage. At the end of the treatment she was given a square of chocolate, which she secreted in the folds of her robe to bring back as proof to the bairns.

I considered wrestling her for it or chewing part of her cocoawafting arm off, but I was distracted by the offer of a predinner constitutional.

Chocolate wraps are all very well for spa virgins but for those of us with more fastidious tastes, Temple also offers a range of Yon-Ka treatments, based on pure essential oils of lavender, cypress, rosemary, thyme and geranium.

My Secret de Beaute head-to-toe reviver began with a full body exfoliation, skin hydration and massage, and moved on to a foot massage and mask and finished with a Hydralessence facial.

No square of chocolate for me, but on returning to our room I spied a tasty fruit plate which I tucked into in front of the plasma screen TV.

Not content with having bubbled away the guts of an hour in the hydrotherapy pool, the spa virgin showed her inexperience in such matters by running the whirlpool bath in our suite, which sat elevated in the corner window that jutted out into the balcony.

The cows shook their heads and moved on in the field below.

‘‘You’ll wash away all the chocotherapy!” I hollered.

‘‘Only hair washing is allowed before dinner.”

We ooed and ahhed our way through dinner, taking time and pleasure over each mouthful and refusing the slices of brown bread and champ so we could have dessert guilt-free.

The spa virgin had a sliver of panacotta with red berries and I had a round of piquant sorbets, then retired to the lounge for tea, where I lost the healthy eating plot and downed half the sugar cubes in the bowl.

The next morning we chose from a beneficial range of breakfasts, which included a granola smoothie, porridge and honey, and scrambled eggs. Only I’m not sure how healthy they are if you have all of them - and cereal from the buffet - as the people at the table next to us did.

Another constitutional followed, after which the spa virgin had her bubble bath and then we were ready for our yoga class. Temple offers a daily programme of free yoga, walking, posture and relaxation classes.

In addition, you can avail of its personal training services which include a fitness assessment, exercise tips, nutritional consultation, life coaching and body composition analysis.

The mix of treatments, services and catering on offer makes the hotel a hit for bespoke conferences and company brainstorming outings too.

As a hardened ashtanga practitioner, I found the yoga a bit soft for me but the others in the class seemed to enjoy it.

The offer of different levels of classes would improve Temple’s service and its commitment to caring for the body. And nothing increases your feelings of wellness like a decent sweat and stretch.

Still, Temple shows up the fact that most spas’ use of the word ‘‘wellness’’ is something of an oxymoron.

Declan and Bernadette know that you can’t rejuvenate the body if you overindulge the palette along with the senses.

And despite Temple’s efforts to keep it a secret, many of their happy customers know it too.

Galway road through Horseleap and keep your eyes peeled for a right-hand turn. If you pass a yellow B&B on the left you’ve gone too far.

What it costs: each package is full board and includes the use of all facilities and the option to join the yoga, walking, posture and relaxation classes.

A two-night stay Friday to Sunday, including a full-body massage, reflexology or Yon-Ka facial costs €470 per person or €425 mid-week.

Other packages include a golf and spa break, a girls’ get together, a stress reliever break for men and a mum-to-be spa day.

Who to contact: see www.templespa.ie, tel 057-9335118 or email reservations@templespa.ie.

To book meeting space e-mail meetings@templespa.ie.