I stayed at one of city’s only 5 star hotels with own outdoor spa, it was bliss

IT’S easy to get the January blues when all the festivities are over and the drudge of daily life starts once more.

But one absolute guaranteed way to pull you out of the New Year slump is a trip to what I call my happy place — the Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel.

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Slap bang in the centre of Glasgow, it’s one of the city’s few five star establishments.

And everything about the place yells luxury and relaxation.

I booked in for an overnight stay with my husband Ryan, checking in our toddler with the grandparents for the duration.

Our room was perfect with its huge comfy bed and a blissful bath complete with a shutter that could be pulled back so you can watch telly while bathing — absolute genius.

One of the best things about the Blythswood are the spa treatments on offer.

As soon as we’d checked in we popped on our fluffy dressing gowns and headed downstairs for some pampering. To banish the excesses of party season, I opted for an express facial and a back, neck and shoulders massage.

My therapist was an angel — all the aches and pains from carrying a chunky three-year-old were soothed away with an incredible massage. And the facial left me feeling fresh as a daisy.

Ryan also had a marvellous massage as well as a detox foot rub. It must have been relaxing as he said he woke himself up snoring.

At the moment, the thermal suite in the hotel is closed with new, spa facilities promised later in the year.

And while it’s undergoing refurbishment, a concept spa called THAW has opened. Guests can venture out into the chilly Scottish outdoors, in the hotel courtyard, where a hot tub, mini saunas and steam room have been set up — just remember to book in advance as it can get busy.

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After we were fully relaxed we headed back up to our room to get ready for dinner in the Iasg restaurant — named after the Gaelic word for fish.

Specialising in sustainable Scottish seafood, the menu is packed with tempting sounding options.

I started with smoked mackerel pate on rough oatcakes, one of my absolute favourite dishes — and it didn’t disappoint.

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For my main I had one of the specials — grilled langoustines. The delicately flavoured shellfish was cooked simply with garlic and lemon and was totally delicious.

Ryan started with Cumbrae Oysters served with lemon and tabasco before tucking into a perfectly cooked steak.

A couple of cracking cocktails finished our fantastic meal and we headed upstairs with full tummies for a wonderful night’s sleep, free from toddler-related interruptions. One of my new rules for hotel stays, since I became a mum and lost my regular lie-ins, was to always opt for room service breakfast if it’s on offer.

It avoids having to get showered and dressed early — and you can enjoy someone cooking your brekkie while you laze in bed.

A tasty Scottish breakfast with all the faves, including black pudding and haggis, was delivered to our room at 9.30am and we savoured every chilled out mouthful still in our dressing gowns.

GO: GLASGOW

ROOMS at the five star Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel start at £189.

The THAW experience package, which includes bed and breakfast for two people with two 55-minute treatments and access to THAW is £380 midweek and £405 at the weekend.

For more information log on to: kimptonblythswoodsquare.com

The Blythswood offers a standard noon check-out which allows a leisurely morning and to top off the indulgent overnight — and make the most of our free time — I had a very bubbly bath while watching a movie with a cup of tea.

It doesn’t get much better than that.

We reluctantly headed home in the afternoon, much restored and ready to tackle the year ahead, safe in the knowledge that we’d be back to our happy hotel soon.

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