Energise Pentney Health Club & Day Spa

The gym at Energise Pentney may be members-only, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your fitness goals at home. Thrash out some laps in the 12m indoor pool, then let the outdoor vitality massage tired muscles. But if that’s not enough, massages are a real speciality here, so just lay back and let an accomplished therapist with knot-untying no-how work their magic.

Prefer to exercise in the great outdoors? Bring your Fitbit and your walking boots because the leafy village of Pentney and its surrounding countryside are perfect for a stroll, power walk or run in beautiful surroundings.

Take a 2.5-mile circular walk around the village to spot donkeys, chickens, horses and even alpacas. Fancy a longer hike? Another circular walk takes you across countryside and along the peaceful river Nar on a route called the Nar Valley Way.

You’ll get a great view of the Narborough Bone Mill on the opposite bank - it was once used for grinding up bones from local slaughterhouses for agricultural fertiliser.  The mill stopped operating in the late 19th century, but the waterwheel and the foundations of the main mill building remain.

You’ve nurtured your soul at the spa and worked out your body in the gym. Now it’s time to show your tastebuds a little luxury. Energise Pentney sells snacks and drinks to keep hunger pangs at bay while you relax, but you don’t have to travel too far to find something more substantial. 

Nearby King’s Lynn has lots of well-known high-street restaurants. But its Bank House bar, restaurant and brasserie on the historic quayside comes highly recommended and boasts stunning riverside views.

If you’re here from Easter to October, the Apple Cafe makes a lovely spot for light lunch or a slice of cake. Seven miles from Energise Pentney, it's set in West Acre Gardens, where the beautiful walled garden has a sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley (creator of the Angel of the North) who lives on the estate. 

In the mood for some pub grub? The Bedingfeld Arms in Oxborough is a country inn with great food, and it’s adjacent to the National Trust’s Oxburgh Estate if you wanted to make a day of it. Slightly further away but worth the drive for the atmosphere is The Dabbling Duck, a much-loved gastropub offering everything from breakfast to wood fired pizzas, set in the beautiful village of Great Massingham. 

Yes there is, so come on in, the water’s lovely! Indoors, the swimming pool is 12m long so there’s plenty of room for some invigorating laps. Forgot your goggles? There’s a range of Zoggs swim accessories available to buy at the welcome desk - they’ve thought of everything here. Outside, the vitality pool with its massage water jets is kept at a toasty 36C all-year round, making it a must-try.

It does! Spoil yourself after your indulgent spa day by booking into one of the three self-catered cottages at Energise Pentney. Called Nar Valley Cottages, they’ve been lovingly refurbished by their new owners in a homely, farmhouse style. There are three to choose from and they’re all just a stone’s throw from the health club:

The Cart Lodge - a spacious converted barn that sleeps up to six people, with vaulted ceilings, beautiful exposed beams and a cosy log burning stove. 

The Threshing Barn - this artfully rustic converted barn surrounded by outdoor space sleeps up to six and is set across two floors.

The Gig House - a two bed, single storey cottage with tasteful decor and a log burning stove that sleeps up to four people.

For spa packages, arrival times vary so do check your booking confirmation. For overnight stays at Nar Valley Cottages, your cottage will be available from 4pm on your day of arrival, and you need to vacate by 10am on your day of departure.

Energise Pentney is situated in picturesque Pentney, a leafy West Norfolk village on the river Nar. With an enviable position between King’s Lynn and Swaffham, it makes a great base from which to explore the Norfolk countryside and coastline. 

It’s family-owned and lovingly-run by Tan and Hannah, who took it over in November 2018.

Just a 25-minute drive takes you to Norfolk’s famous Sandringham Estate, the much-loved country retreat of the late Queen. Pop in to Swaffham Museum and learn about Howard Carter, the former Swaffham resident who excavated the tomb of Tutankhamun. Or head north to the coast and enjoy a day at Holkham beach and a visit to Holkham Hall, a huge stately home with a host of attractions and events.

The minimum age for treatments, spa packages and thermal experiences at Energise Pentney is 18, but little ones are welcome to stay in Nar Valley Cottages if you’re here to make a break of it. They can have a splash about, too - family swim times are from 3pm to 6pm each weekday, and 10am to 3pm at the weekend.

Yes it is. There are two disabled parking spaces, accessible changing rooms and step-free access to reception, hallways, the gym and spa.

While dogs are allowed in Nar Valley Cottages (Energise Pentney’s beautiful on-site self-catering cottages) they aren’t allowed to set a paw inside the spa. 

No, but there is one within striking distance. Swaffham Golf Club is less than a 15-minute drive away and it’s a real hidden gem of a course. Expect a challenging, well maintained course with fast greens, friendly members and welcoming staff.