It’s another world down there.

If it’s been years since you spent some time in the mystical microclimate of Glengarriff, then hear this; now is the time for a return visit.

The grand old Eccles Hotel & Spa is luring staycationers and daytrippers alike with a host of new restorative experiences to enjoy, all of which start with a private session in their heavenly Thermal Spa Garden.

The Warming Massage Experience is the one to book first, especially if your aim is to achieve a miraculous level of relaxation in a short amount of time. Guests begin their morning by taking in the epic views of Glengarriff Harbour while sipping a mimosa or prosecco from the bubbling hot tub.

Next, you can soothe away the stresses of normal life in the scenic sauna, before a bracing dip in the plunge pool (highly recommended for a fast release of feel-good endorphins) and another jacuzzi session to warm up again.

Once you’re suitably unwound, your therapist will guide you into one of The Eccles’ custom-built treatment rooms for a luxurious trio of a back, neck, and shoulder massage, facial massage, and scalp and hair massage treatment.

Using warm oils by the organic brand VOYA, this experience combats aches and pains, releases tension, and leaves skin glowing. Following your treatment, you can relax and unwind in the sea view Relaxation Suite whilst enjoying a VOYA herbal tea.

When you’re eventually ready to float out the door, it’s up to the pretty Harbour Bar for a delicious two-course lunch, all included in the €130 deal.

Trust us; you won’t want to leave afterwards.

In fact, foodies would be wise to stay over and enjoy dinner in the hotel’s Garnish Restaurant, where chef Eddie Atwell’s artful dishes regularly leave diners raving.

Atwell, who arrived in West Cork after almost two decades in the industry, working in esteemed restaurants such as the Michelin-starred Lenclume in Cumbria, grows most of his produce in the hotel’s gardens and polytunnels right outside the door.

The food is as fresh as it is beautiful. We feasted on scallops and curried lamb croquette, surf and turf with rump steak, garlic prawns and chimichurri and the sweetest seasonal dessert of rhubarb pudding with frozen yoghurt, delighting at the elegant presentation of each perfect plate.

After a nightcap in the atmospheric lobby (the hotel was built in 1890 and has hosted many famous guests, including writers William Makepeace Thackeray, George Bernard Shaw and William Butler Yeats) you can retire to your luxe bedroom, hoist open a sash window and fall asleep with a gentle sea breeze fluttering the curtains.

In the morning there’s one last treat in store with a decadent breakfast before a ramble in the Bamboo Park across the road or a short ferry trip to Garnish Island to enjoy the beauty of its famous 19th-century Italian Gardens.

The Eccles Hotel Spa Warming Massage Experience package is currently available for €130pp, including Thermal Spa Garden use, mimosa, prosecco or cordial, massage, herbal tea and lunch. To book or to enquire about overnight stays, call 027 63390 or email wellness@eccleshotel.com. Visit eccleshotel.com for more.