September Spa of the Month | VOYA Seaweed Baths

Imagine relaxing back into a luxurious steaming bath of fresh seawater and wild organic seaweed… This month we transport you to VOYA Seaweed Baths, one of only a few dedicated seaweed bathhouses in Ireland.

Enticing customers from all over the world – 40,000 every year! – to the beautiful surroundings of Strandhill on the West Coast of Ireland, VOYA Seaweed Baths has become a popular landmark along the Wild Atlantic Way. What’s more, it now boasts a brand-new rooftop bathing area, continually evolving to provide the best experience for its visitors. 

SEAWEED BATHING

The therapeutic properties of wild seaweed have long been known along the Irish Coast. In fact, at the beginning of the 20th Century there were an estimated 300 seaweed bathhouses in Ireland.

Seaweed bathing is the simplest and purest of the organic treatment processes available at VOYA Seaweed Baths. The detoxifying properties of the seaweed deeply moisturise skin, increase circulation and promote healing. You can begin with an optional steam treatment to open your pores, before immersing in a bath of hand-harvested seaweed from the Atlantic Coast of Ireland. Designed to relax the muscles and the mind, seaweed bathing also supports skin re-generation and renewal while combating the effects of ageing.

RUNNING IN THE FAMILY 

Neil Walton, Founder of VOYA Seaweed Baths, first heard about the benefits and properties of seaweed bathing from fellow professional athletes while he was studying sport & competing in Australia. Having experienced seaweed therapy himself & being amazed at the detoxifying results, Neil investigated the origins of seaweed therapy in his home village, Strandhill in Co. Sligo. 

In 2006, VOYA was then created as a sister brand by Neil's Brother, Mark Walton, and his wife Kira, and developed into the internationally award-winning range of products and treatments we are proud to offer today. VOYA was the world’s first range of seaweed-based organic cosmetics, and are also available to purchase at VOYA Seaweed Baths.

The Walton family have been conscious of preserving the tradition of seaweed bathing from the very start and continue to respect the environment today. All seaweed used in the baths is donated to organic farms and gardens to use as a mineral-rich fertiliser.

RENEWABLE SOURCE

Ireland is the least densely populated country in Europe and the West Coast of Ireland is also the least densely populated part of Ireland. In addition there is no heavy industry on the West Coast (the coastline is in excess of 5km), meaning that the waters are extremely unpolluted.

Seaweed is a fully renewable natural resource and is a fantastic source of minerals, trace elements, and vitamins that it absorbs from the seawater. Over 800 different species of seaweed have been identified in Irish waters, and like at VOYA, all the seaweed used in the Seaweed Baths in Strandhill is hand-harvested to promote rapid regrowth.

BATHING EXPERIENCES

At VOYA Seaweed Baths, no matter how you choose to experience your bath, you can be sure that it will be a unique and detoxifying experience. Seaweed Baths, Aroma Salt Baths and Mud Infused Detox Baths are all available to offer you a moment of calm and relaxation. 

You can treat yourself to your very own private bathing room with a single traditional bath and combined steam/shower enclosure. However, if there are two of you there is an array of options for you to choose from, including twin and deluxe twin rooms with two traditional baths, or for a special occasion the Wild Atlantic View Room offers two soothing, hot baths while you watch the waves of the Wild Atlantic Ocean crash below.

 For an added touch of luxury, we would recommend the Knocknarea Suite or the Ocean Voyage Suite, both of which are suitable for two people and are private suites with rooftop balconies for you to completely unwind and escape the everyday. The Knocknarea Suite offers views of Knocknarea Mountain and Queen Maeve’s Cairn, and the beautiful Ocean Voyage Suite allows you to take in unrivalled, panoramic views of the Wild Atlantic Ocean.

De-stress in pure luxury as you enjoy your opulent bath and breathtaking views, it really is the most exquisite bathing experience. All rooms also contain award-winning VOYA products.

THERE’S MORE!

If you want to opt for something different on your trip to VOYA Seaweed Baths, the good news is that there is also a variety of organic treatments on offer, which are perfect for those who are seeking an effective yet naturally detoxifying experience. Why not try The Bathhouse Massage, an invigorating massage that rejuvenates your skin by deeply infusing it with organic seaweed oil, or the Tangle Me Up Body Wrap, an all-over body treatment with a full body brush and a luxurious warm seaweed body mask to relax tired muscles and relieve fatigue.

And don’t forget, you can continue to soak up the views of the Atlantic Ocean from many of the bustling cafes and restaurants in Strandhill, the home of VOYA Seaweed Baths. Strandhill is a beautiful village with adventures on every corner – a truly proud stop on the surf coast of the world’s longest defined coastal touring route.

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For more information on VOYA Seaweed Baths, please visit their website here. On their website you can read more about the benefits of seaweed bathing, and of course the full VOYA treatment offering.

You can also follow VOYA Seaweed Baths on Facebook and Instagram.